Scheduling a Mammogram at Intermountain Health is as Easy as Booking a Dinner Reservation

Oct 20, 2026

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Intermountain Health doctors say every woman over age 40 should have an annual mammogram

SALT LAKE CITY, UT (PRUnderground) October 20th, 2026

Booking a restaurant reservation is as simple as finding open times and clicking a button on a mobile device. Thanks to recent upgrades at Intermountain Health, scheduling an annual mammogram appointment is nearly as easy. 

"For many women one of the biggest hurdles to getting their annual screening is taking that first step and booking an appointment," said Eugene Kim, MD, system chief of breast imaging at Intermountain Health. "By making it so easy our hope is to get women in faster and at a time that works for their busy schedules."

Instead of calling in to see what times are available, women can go online to look at all nearby facilities offering mammograms and find what appointment times are open. A few clicks later and their appointment is booked.

"The best part is seeing appointment openings near you that may not be at the Intermountain Hospital you normally go to," said Dr. Kim. "If the place you normally go only has openings a couple of weeks out, you may be able to find an appointment the next day at another hospital."

For some women, they don't want to go to a different facility because they want their same radiologist. Dr. Kim notes the same radiologist who reviews their scans at one facility could be the same ones reviewing them at another because they tend to rotate hospitals depending on need.

Breast cancer affects one in eight women during their lifetime, making early detection - and annual mammography screening - a vital part of protecting women's health.

Utah has some of the lowest mammogram rates in the country and doctors are hopeful this new scheduling system will improve those screening numbers.

"Detecting breast cancer in its earliest stages means that we have several less invasive treatment options available for women," said Tawnya Bowles, MD, an oncology surgeon and regional senior medical director for oncology at Intermountain Health. "Not only is the appointment quick, but if we do need follow-up care, we have a process in place to do same-day biopsy to get results faster to the patient."

Even as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October comes to an end, Intermountain Health cancer experts remind women that cancer is a year-round disease.

Even if you couldn't get a mammogram in October there are several openings throughout the year.

"Breast cancer is a year-round disease, and the important part is to get in the habit of annual screenings," she said. "When something is on your calendar, you're more likely to stick with it, so it's important women get a screening mammogram scheduled even if it's not in October. We understand women in our community get busy taking care of day-to-day life and we don't want them to go without this vital screening. We want women to be healthy so they can be there for the people they care about and those who rely on them."

Select Intermountain Health locations do offer mammograms on Saturdays to help those who are too busy during the week.

"No matter what time of year you choose to get a mammogram it's more important to get the screening annually," said Dr. Kim. "If it's been a while since your last screening mammogram then pick the next date that fits your schedule and come see us."

 For more information on booking a screening mammography near you, click here.

About Intermountain Health

Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 34 hospitals, approximately 400 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a nonprofit health plan called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For up-to-date information and announcements, please see the Intermountain Health newsroom at https://news.intermountainhealth.org/. For more information, see intermountainhealth.org/ or call 801-442-2000.

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Avaricio storms ahead with solid 68, braces for Alcantara charge

Oct 20, 2026

Avaricio storms ahead with solid 68, braces for Alcantara charge

DAVAO CITY – Chanelle Avaricio turned in a bogey-free four-under 68 to seize a one-stroke lead over a surging Rev Alcantara in the opening round of the ICTSI South Pacific Classic on Tuesday, setting the stage for a potentially explosive second-round battle at the South Pacific Golf Club here. Avaricio looked in complete control with a steady all-around game, then broke away from a crowded leaderboard with clutch birdies on Nos. 11 and 12. Her flawless round put her in prime position to chase a third Ladies Philippine Golf Tour victory this season, but Alcantara's spectacular finish ensured that the race was far from settled. After keeping pace with Martina Miñoza through the early stages, Avaricio pulled clear with consecutive birdies to move to four-under and establish the early advantage. She carried the momentum of her recent triumph at Summit Point, where she edged Yvon Bisera by one stroke last month, into a campaign that could yet yield an even bigger prize. The multi-titled campaigner had earlier conquered the demanding Pinewoods leg before competing on the China Tour, which forced her to skip last week's tournament at Pueblo de Oro. Her commanding start on her return underscored both her readiness and her determination to strengthen her bid for the Order of Merit crown. Currently fifth in the season-long standings, Avaricio remains within striking distance with two legs left, including this week's stop. But with the race for the coveted title tightening, she needs a strong finish – potentially a sweep of the remaining tournaments – to mount a serious challenge for the season's top honor. Standing in her way is an equally determined Alcantara, who turned a shaky start into a statement round with a blistering back-nine charge. After making the turn at 38, Alcantara caught fire with five birdies over her final nine holes to card a 69, putting herself firmly in contention for what would be a breakthrough moment in her recent campaign. Pamela Mariano opened with a 70, while Miñoza slipped out of the immediate chase after closing with consecutive bogeys from No. 8 for a 71. Bisera, who captured her maiden LPGT victory at this very course in 2023, carded four birdies but gave back an equal number of strokes to settle for a 72 alongside Tiffany Lee, who arrived with confidence after beating Bisera by two shots at Pueblo de Oro to end a two-year title drought. Kayla Nocum also dropped a late stroke to miss a share of fourth, joining Bisera and Lee in the tie at fifth. Daniella Uy, Gretchen Villacencio and defending champion Sarah Ababa all struggled to opening 73s, but remain within reach of the leaders with two rounds still to play. With Avaricio setting a demanding early pace and Alcantara finding her rhythm at just the right time, the second round looms as a pivotal test. One solid round could give the leaders breathing room, but a few missed chances or a sudden scoring surge could quickly turn the leaderboard upside down – setting up a tense final-round shootout. For Avaricio, the key to maintaining her advantage is simple: keep trusting the game that delivered her a bogey-free opener. “I was very consistent with my drives and second shots, especially on the front nine,” said Avaricio, who also strung together consecutive birdies from No. 2 before producing another pair at the back. She felt she could have gone even lower after creating several opportunities on the greens. “I had a lot of birdie chances, although I missed a couple of putts. Still, I'm happy with how I played,” she said. The strong start has put Avaricio within 36 holes of a third victory this season, following her triumphs at Pinewoods and Summit Point. But with the chasing pack poised to pounce, she knows there is little room for complacency. Avaricio was also encouraged by the condition of the course, particularly the greens, which she said had improved from last year's setup. “The course is in very good condition, especially compared with last year. The greens are nicer, and the fairways have always been nice,” she said. The punishing heat, however, presented another challenge. Avaricio said she made a conscious effort to stay hydrated throughout the round, taking in plenty of water and electrolytes to maintain her energy. As for the next two rounds, she intends to stick to the plan that served her well in the opener. “I took notes during the practice round, so I'll probably stick with that – the same approach I used today,” she said. Alcantara, meanwhile, had every reason to savor her late surge after recovering from an uneven start to produce one of the day's most impressive finishes. 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But at South Pacific, where momentum can change quickly, the final word may have to wait until the last putt drops. TMT

First PH Olympian figure skater announces return to competition

Oct 20, 2026

First PH Olympian figure skater announces return to competition

Michael Christian Martinez, the country’s first Olympian figure skater, announced on Monday night that he is returning to active competition. “Anyway… I’m competing again. Good luck, knees,” Martinez said in a Facebook post. The 29-year-old Martinez said he will take part in the 2026 Philippine National Figure Skating Championships and hoped to return to international competition next year. “Honestly, I never thought I’d be making this announcement again. It’s been years since I last competed, and since then, life has changed a lot. I’ve been able to do other things, focus more on coaching, and help younger skaters with their own competitive journey,” he wrote. “But one thing I kept getting asked over the years was, When are you competing again? or Are you ever coming back? And my answer was always… probably not. But somehow people kept asking, and I guess a part of me also started wondering… why not? So after a lot of thinking and a lot of convincing (and by a lot, I really mean A LOT), I finally said yes. I’m competing again,” Martinez added. Martinez said he wanted to keep things simple and not try to recreate his days at the Olympics. “This time, I really just want to enjoy competing again. No big expectations, no unnecessary pressure. I’m also keeping things simple. Not trying to recreate my Olympic days. Just training, skating, competing, and hopefully having fun doing it again… Of course, I still have a few personal goals I want to accomplish. But we’ll get to those eventually. For now, I’m just happy to be back,” the two-time Olympian wrote. “I honestly don’t know how far this comeback will go, and maybe that’s what makes it exciting. One competition at a time. Let’s just see what happens. See you at Nationals,” he said. Martinez represented the Philippines in men’s figure skating at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia and also in the 2018 games in PyeongChang, South Korea. Following his Olympic stints, he has since become a content creator under the name MZ Viral. He suffered multiple injuries, hampering his training.

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