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When Dr. Karen Toppi moved to Palm Coast eight years ago, she noticed a void in the community. There was nothing in regard to women’s breast and gynecological health.

Rather than just accept the void, she decided to do something about it.

“I recognized the lack of education and awareness for women in this community, and I developed a passion to educate and find the appropriate funding so we can get these patients, educated, evaluated and treated as needed,” she said.

That’s where it all began.

In October 2004 — just four months after coming to town — she held her first breast health seminar. The all-day event, which was a grassroots operation, had lectures and question-and-answer sessions from specialists in the medical field. There were survivor stories and education about imaging and the latest chemotherapy and surgery options.

The event has taken place every year since 2004, with the exception of this year. At the first event, there were 45 people. Last year, there were 200.

Toppi, who is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology, practices gynecology and gynecological surgery at her Palm Coast-based office. She began in the medical field 16 years ago.

In addition to the yearly seminars, Toppi was key in helping Florida Hospital Flagler offer free mammogram screenings to women under the age of 50 — a program that started about four years ago.
Because of her work, Toppi was recently named Flagler County’s leader in breast health.

She was presented with the 2012 Charles M. Burkett Award for Advancement in Women’s Health, presented by Susan G. Komen and the Florida Beast Cancer Foundation on Saturday, Sept. 29, at the fourth-annual Daytona Beach Breast Health Symposium. (The award is given to two recipients each year — one in Flagler County and one in Volusia.)

“I don’t like surprises, but I was pleasantly surprised because this will hopefully be the stepping stone I need to get my nonprofit foundation approved by the government,” Toppi said Monday.

Because Flagler County has one of the highest breast cancer rates in the state, Toppi said she wants to start a nonprofit organization that can help women get financial and medical help.

Toppi’s brainchild: Hope to Help Foundation, a 501c3 that will provide education and access to needed health care for women with breast and/or gynecological cancers who are underprivileged or in need of funding.

“I want to be able to provide access and treatment to women in need, and get funding to increase education and awareness for the patients in this community,” she said.

Toppi said she’s in the process of applying for the nonprofit foundation now. She estimates that within three years the foundation can access at least “hundreds of thousands of dollars” in government funding.

“With that (money), we’re going to provide education, access to health care that’s needed for those who are underinsured or uninsured, so they can get screened, evaluated and treated and put through some system,” she said.

She hopes to have the foundation established and functioning by Jan. 1, 2013. Ideally, it will attract physicians who will provide surgery and necessary care.

"I've seen one too many women struggle to gain access to screening mammograms or evaluation to diagnosis or treatment to those with high suspicion of a breast or gynecological cancer,” Toppi said. “I would love nothing more than this to be an instrument to turn hope and help into educating women about certain aspects of their health, and in turn enable them to recognize a potential problem and have the ability and access to provide potentially life-saving treatment.”

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