JOPLIN, Mo.—Freeman Women’s Pavilion in Joplin will expand its services to the Neosho community by establishing the Gary Duncan Women’s Pavilion. This expansion to Freeman Neosho Hospital will equip Neosho with state-of-the-art digital mammography, providing a seamless continuum of care between the two cities.

This establishment of digital mammography was made possible by the generosity of an anonymous donor who requested that this new, life-saving diagnostic facility be named in honor of Gary Duncan, Freeman Health System President and Chief Executive Officer. In August, Duncan announced his retirement after 36 years at Freeman. Last month, Freeman Board of Directors announced the appointment of Paula Baker as its new president and chief executive officer, beginning January 1, 2012. 

“This donation will literally save lives,” said Daxton Holcomb, Freeman Neosho President. “Unfortunately, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime. Thanks to the availability of digital mammography at Freeman Neosho, it is our hope that we can help women catch this disease as early as possible. For some, this early detection may mean the difference between life and death.” 

Holcomb said it is fitting for this new diagnostic imaging suite to be named after an individual who has dedicated so much of his professional career to ensuring that the community receives the highest quality healthcare. On November 3, Freeman Neosho celebrated the establishment of the Gary Duncan Women’s Pavilion by holding a “film cutting” ceremony in honor of its transition from the use of film mammography to digital.

Digital mammography offers the best technology available for breast cancer screening. Breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer among women in the U.S., preceded only by skin cancer. Deaths linked to breast cancer have declined throughout the past two decades, thanks largely to improved diagnostic screening such as digital mammography.

Digital mammography uses compression and X-rays to examine a breast, capturing a digital image on a computer. When compared to film mammography, digital offers greater contrast, detail, and penetration of dense breast tissue. Through the use of digital mammography, a radiologist can manipulate an image to better examine breast tissue.

The Gary Duncan Women’s Pavilion will open officially on November 7. To schedule a mammogram, call 417.347.7777.

About Freeman Health System
Not-for-profit, community-owned, and locally governed, Freeman Health System is a 407-bed, three-hospital system. Based in Joplin, the fourth largest metropolitan area in Missouri, Freeman provides comprehensive healthcare and behavioral health services to an area that includes more than 450,000 residents from Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com or facebook.com/freemanhealthsystem. Follow Gary Duncan, Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer, at twitter.com/freemanceo.