SOME THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THE RALPH LAUREN CENTER FOR CANCER CARE AND PREVENTION IN HARLEM 1. The Ralph Lauren Center provides free or low-cost cancer screenings, access to diagnostic procedures and treatment for the uninsured or people who lack sufficient medical coverage. Everyone receives the highest quality of care regardless of financial resources. 2. The center is a joint venture between Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, one of the preeminent cancer hospitals in the world, and North General Hospital, a community hospital in Harlem. 3. Harold P. Freeman, M.D., the founder of the Ralph Lauren Center, is among the nation’s most accomplished cancer surgeons. A founding director of the NCI Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities, he served as national president of the American Cancer Society. Dr. Freeman pioneered the Patient Navigation Program; based on his model, the Patient Navigator and Chronic Disease Prevention Act was signed into law by President Bush in 2005. For 25 years, Dr. Freeman served as director of surgery at Harlem Hospital. 4. A new endoscopy suite will help significantly improve colon-cancer survival rates of people living in Harlem. 5. The first 1,000 men who sign up for a free prostate- or colon-cancer screening at the Ralph Lauren Center this fall will receive an exclusive invitation to a reception with basketball greats. For the second year in a row, the National Basketball Association’s NBA Cares initiative is teaming up with the center to encourage men to be screened for cancer. 6. The staff, led by medical director Brian Harper, M.D., is made up of first-class oncologists, hematologists and palliative-care experts on staff at both Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and North General Hospital. 7. The center offers cancer support groups and counseling services for patients and their families. 8. Polo Ralph Lauren designers assisted in the interior design of the facility. The walls of the center feature artwork representative of the African-American and Latino experience. 9. An on-site pharmacy and laboratory expedite drug deliveries and lab work for patients. 10. The center offers classes in yoga and qigong, nutrition workshops and healthy cooking demonstrations. To register, call: 212-987-1777, ext. 5349. Download A Printer Friendly Version Of This Section