Broward Teen Launches Nonprofit to Fund Breast Cancer Screenings in Ukraine, Inspired by Mother’s Diagnosis

Isabel Gurvitch, a 17-year-old student at American Heritage Schools in Broward County, serves as chief executive officer of MammogramMe, a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to breast cancer screenings across the United States and Europe. The organization partners with Adonis, a private healthcare network operating in Ukraine, to fund approximately 30 mammograms monthly while simultaneously supporting treatment costs for diagnosed patients.

Gurvitch’s commitment to the cause stems directly from her mother Anna’s breast cancer diagnosis, which was discovered during a routine medical checkup. The experience exposed Gurvitch to the significant barriers Ukrainian women face in accessing preventive healthcare, particularly the financial constraints that prevent many from prioritizing medical screenings.

Co-founded in 2023 alongside Mahika Jassal, a student at the American School of Warsaw in Poland who serves as chief financial officer, MammogramMe currently assists patients like Tatiana, a mother of two and grandmother undergoing lumpectomy and radiation treatment for stage II breast cancer. The two teens maintained their friendship despite geographic separation following Russia’s 2022 military invasion of Ukraine, having previously been classmates in Kyiv during fourth grade.

Gurvitch, who aspires to become a gynecologist, emphasizes the critical importance of mammography as an essential health service. She highlighted that breast cancer manifests in numerous forms, including invasive lobular carcinoma, which often remains undetectable until advanced stages when a palpable lump may not be present.

Gurvitch urged the public to consider the women in their lives who lack access to affordable screening services. She stressed that preventable losses occur regularly because individuals cannot afford the cost of a single mammogram.