Parkview Packnett Family Cancer Institute (PFCI) gifted Ivy Tech Community College Fort Wayne a Francine’s Friends Mobile Mammography Coach on Friday, Jan. 24 at the Steel Dynamics, Inc. Keith E. Busse Technology Center.
“This coach has been a beacon of hope and early detection for so many women. We are thrilled to see it embark on a new chapter of service, this time helping students explore their futures,” said Denise Andorfer, director, Parkview Health Foundation. “This donation reflects Parkview’s commitment to education, innovation, and community partnerships, and we’re excited to see how Ivy Tech will transform it to inspire and engage young minds across the region.”
The 40-foot-long Mobile Mammography Coach was retired after 13 years of providing care to thousands of women. The PFCI got a new bus that began touring the region in December 2024, made possible through funding from the Parkview Health Foundation. Donor contributions covered the cost of the new vehicle, ensuring the continuation of mobile mammography services at 250 sites across northeast Indiana.
The coach will be retrofitted by students as a mobile exploration lab the College will use to attend career exploration events at middle and high schools across the 11-county service area. During those events, students may be exposed to agriculture, robotics, welding simulation, and machine tool technology.
“We’re grateful to Parkview for their continued support and this incredible opportunity to share our mission with Northeast Indiana,” says Dr. Kim Barnett-Johnson, Chancellor of Ivy Tech Fort Wayne and Warsaw. “This donation will not only give high schoolers a new way to experience the College, but it gives our students a unique project that is both challenging and collaborative.”
Retrofitting the coach will be a multi-semester project completed through several academic programs including automotive, machine tool, welding, advanced manufacturing, industrial maintenance, and advanced automation robotics technology.
The College plans to have the coach up and running by Fall 2025.
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor's degree.
