For Mark H. Katz, MD, prostate cancer screening has never been limited to the clinical setting. A Boston native who grew up in nearby Brookline and trained at Boston University, Dr. Katz has spent more than 15 years leading community-based outreach efforts. As a urologic oncologist within the Boston Medical Center Health System (BMC Health System), he has delivered prostate cancer education, risk assessment, and early detection initiatives across the same neighborhoods that helped shape his career.
That experience now informs a new model of care delivery. In partnership with Golf Fights Cancer and Man Cave Health, BMC Health System is launching a mobile screening program. The initiative is designed to expand access to prostate cancer education and screening for men ages 40 to 70. It also focuses on reaching individuals in historically underserved Boston neighborhoods, who may be less likely to have access to routine screening.
While mobile screening programs are not new, Dr. Katz emphasizes that this iteration is more clinically integrated and patient-centered. “A lot of these programs are usually run with skeleton crews,” he said. “This time, we’ll be supported by a much stronger foundation, with the staffing, equipment, and resources in place to provide a higher level of care.”
The mobile van and team will travel to community, health, and sporting events, bringing prostate cancer education and screening directly to where people already are. By meeting patients in familiar, trusted spaces, the program helps remove common barriers like travel, time, and navigating the healthcare system—making it easier to take that first step.
Screening will also focus on education and a simple PSA blood test, without the need for a digital exam. This makes the process simpler, less invasive, and more approachable for many men who may have been hesitant in the past.
The program also goes beyond screening. Patients who need follow-up care will have a clear, direct path to Dr. Katz and urologic services at BMC Health System, helping ensure they stay connected to care after their initial visit. If a patient’s PSA test results come back elevated, the van’s patient care coordinator will reach out directly to discuss the results and offer a follow-up appointment with the urology team.
By prioritizing follow-up and continuity, the initiative supports a more complete model of outreach—one that meets patients where they are, provides education, identifies risk, and introduces them to the services they need.
Boston Medical Center is proud to be ranked among the nation’s top 50 urology programs by U.S. News & World Report. As the first hospital in New England to perform robot-assisted prostate removal, we continue to lead with innovations that expand treatment choices—especially when cancer is caught early through screening.