According to Mount Sinai, Black men are 70% more likely to be diagnosed with and nearly 2.5 times more likely to die from prostate cancer compared to white men. Early and consistent screening for prostate cancer can help physicians detect the disease at an earlier stage, increasing patients’ likelihood of survival. However, many communities lack access to preventive healthcare services. To help bridge this gap, philanthropist Robert F. Smith donated $3.8 million to Mount Sinai to create a mobile screening unit that brings prostate cancer testing directly to at-risk populations.
The donation funded a proposal prepared by Dr. Ashutosh (Ash) Tewari, Director of the Department of Urology at Mount Sinai. The Mount Sinai Health System Robert F. Smith Mobile Prostate Cancer Screening Unit now visits neighborhoods in Harlem, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island. Since launching in 2022, the unit has screened over 9,000 patients (as of early 2025).
Ahead, we highlight some of the progress the mobile screening unit has made to help increase early detection of prostate cancer in Black men and other at-risk populations. We also share ways Smith has helped increase prostate cancer awareness through the Robert Frederick Smith Precision Oncology Center of Excellence at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago and his support of the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
Helping At-Risk Populations Access Life-Saving Health Services
The idea behind launching a mobile prostate cancer screening unit was to supply essential healthcare services directly to at-risk populations. By bringing doctors and cutting-edge medical equipment into New York neighborhoods, Mount Sinai meets patients where they are and starts important conversations about prostate cancer. This community outreach initiative also raises awareness about the importance of early detection. Patients can also schedule follow-up appointments to ensure that they address health issues that may be detected during screenings.
The unit visits neighborhoods three times a week and screens between 25 and 30 patients per day on average. During a routine screening, medical professionals measure the patient’s vital signs, test their blood for prostate-specific antigens (PSAs) and infections, scan the bladder and conduct an EXACTVU micro-ultrasound, a rectal exam and genomic testing.
The Mobile Prostate Cancer Screening Unit saw more than 1,800 patients in the first eight months. Of all the patients screened, 15-18% had PSA levels above 2.5, indicating that further testing was necessary.
How Smith Continues to Raise Prostate Cancer Awareness
Years after the launch of the Mount Sinai Robert F. Smith Mobile Prostate Cancer Screening Unit, Smith continues to raise awareness about prostate cancer risks and the need for early detection. With the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF), he helped support the development of a genetics-based test for the early detection of prostate cancer, called the Smith Polygenic Risk Test for Prostate Cancer. Smith also helped fund the Robert Frederick Smith Precision Oncology Center of Excellence at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago, IL, the only VA in the United States that has parity in outcomes between Black men and other patients..
Follow Smith on LinkedIn to learn more about how his contributions to prostate cancer research, early detection and treatment have impacted the lives of at-risk individuals.
