Photo Credit: Washington Talent
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Hayley Cooke
Hayley.Cooke@preventcancer.org
703-837-3692
Alexandria, VA — On Thursday, April 25, the Prevent Cancer Foundation® recognized leaders in cancer prevention and early detection at the 2019 Dialogue for Action® Laurels Awards Luncheon. The Laurels Awards are presented annually to leaders in health equity, national leadership and community service. This year, a Special Award for Lifetime Achievement was also presented to Dr. Bernard Levin.
The awards ceremony was moderated by Susan Dentzer, a highly-respected thought leader, journalist and author in health and health policy. The Laurels Awards are part of the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s Dialogue for Action®, an annual conference on cancer screening and prevention.
“We are thrilled to honor our 2019 Laurels Awards winners,” said Carolyn Aldigé, Founder and CEO of the Prevent Cancer Foundation®. “They have dedicated their careers and much of their lives to reducing health disparities and increasing access to cancer prevention and early detection services in their communities and beyond. Their contributions will leave a lasting footprint on public health for years to come.”
Laurel Award for Health Equity – Dr. Sanjeev Arora
Sanjeev Arora, M.D., FACG, MACP is the Director and Founder of the ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) Institute. He is a distinguished professor of medicine with tenure in the Department of Internal Medicine at University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. He developed the first teleECHO clinic in 2003 in response to a growing hepatitis C crisis. TeleECHO has since expanded to cover more than 70 disease areas and complex issues at over 250 partnering organizations in 34 countries. Dr. Arora has received numerous awards for his contribution to improving health equity globally.
Laurel Award for National Leadership – Dr. Cynthia Jorgensen
Cynthia Jorgensen, Dr.PH is the lead for Education, Training and Communication at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Viral Hepatitis (DVH), where she is responsible for leading the development and implementation of the Know More Hepatitis C campaign and the award-winning Know Hepatitis B national multimedia, multi-lingual education campaign. Dr. Jorgensen has been with the CDC for almost 30 years, where she has applied her expertise in behavioral science, health education and communications to a variety of health topics, including cancer, genomics, and HIV/AIDS. Additionally, Dr. Jorgensen is an adjunct associate professor at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health. She is the recipient of many teaching and professional awards for her exceptional mentorship and knowledge.
Community Leadership – Chien-Chi Huang
Chien-Chi Huang is the Founder of the Asian Breast Cancer Project and the Executive Director of Asian Women for Health. She is a breast cancer survivor and a committed advocate and community organizer working on behalf of Asian communities in the greater Boston area. Ms. Huang has provided capacity building, technical guidance and network enhancement to community-based organizations and providers serving Asians Americans across Massachusetts. She is a participant in the Disparities & Health Equity Workgroup of Massachusetts Comprehensive Cancer Prevention & Control group and also brings her expertise to several committees focused on health equity and community.
Special Award for Lifetime Achievement – Bernard Levin, M.D., FACP
Bernard Levin, M.D., FACP earned his medical degree in South Africa. He held academic appointments at the University of Chicago and then served as chair of the Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology and Digestive Diseases at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center until his appointment in 1994 as vice president for Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences. He retired from MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2007 and was appointed Professor Emeritus. He has served as a chair of the American Cancer Society’s National Advisory Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, founding co-chair of the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable, president of the International Society of Gastrointestinal Carcinogenesis and founding chair of the World Gastroenterology Organization Foundation. He serves on the editorial board of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. He is co-chair of the Scientific Review Panel of the Prevent Cancer Foundation®. His research interests include molecular markers for early detection of colorectal cancer and methods for enhancing public awareness of colorectal cancer prevention.
About Dialogue for Action®
The Dialogue for Action® is an annual national conference that convenes a diversity of stakeholders committed to realizing the lifesaving potential of cancer screening and prevention for all communities. The Dialogue emphasizes evidence-based cancer screening according to guidelines.
The Dialogue for Action® includes the mandated guidelines-driven cancer screenings (colorectal, cervical, breast and lung cancer screenings) and also covers issues related to other cancer screenings (e.g., prostate, oral and skin).
To learn more about the 2019 Dialogue for Action® visit dialogueforaction.org.
About The Prevent Cancer Foundation®
The Prevent Cancer Foundation® is one of the nation’s leading voluntary health organizations and the only U.S. nonprofit organization focused solely on cancer prevention and early detection. Founded in 1985, it has catapulted cancer prevention to prominence and fulfills its mission through research, education, outreach and advocacy.
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