American Cancer Society Honors Volunteers for Distinguished Achievements in the Fight Against Cancer

May 23, 2013

ATLANTA — Four physicians and one cancer researcher whose exceptional talents and commitment have helped make progress towards finishing the fight against cancer today received prestigious awards from the American Cancer Society. At a ceremony at its 100th Volunteer and Staff Birthday Summit, the following individuals were honored: Anna R. Giuliano, Ph.D. and R. Sean Morrison, M.D., for the Distinguished Achievement in Cancer Award; Carmel J. Cohen, M.D., and Eric W. Taylor, M.D., for theNational Volunteer Leadership Award; and Edward E. Partridge, M.D., who received theSociety’s Humanitarian Award.

“We honor the service and accomplishments of these exceptional individuals for their efforts to help finish the fight against cancer,” said Vincent T. DeVita Jr., M.D., president, American Cancer Society. “As the Society marks its 100^th birthday, we celebrate these individuals and their extraordinary achievements that support our shared mission of making this cancer’s last century.”

Anna R. Giuliano, Ph.D.,was honored with the Distinguished Achievement in Cancer Award for her tireless cancer research efforts. Dr. Giuliano has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health since 1990, and is extensively published in the area of human papillomavirus (HPV) and cancer with more than 220 peer reviewed publications. She is considered a leading expert in cancer prevention both nationally and internationally. Dr. Giuliano has served as an advisor to numerous organizations focused on preventing cancer, and is a member of the medical advisory panels for the National Cervical Cancer Coalition, the Prevent Cancer Foundation, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Dr. Giuliano is the founding director of the Center for Infection Research in Cancer (CIRC) at the Moffitt Cancer Center. She also is a professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of South Florida.

Also receiving the Distinguished Achievement in Cancer Award is R. Sean Morrison, M.D., director of the National Palliative Care Research Center. Dr. Morrison is also the director of the Hertzberg Palliative Care Institute, professor of geriatrics and medicine, and Hermann Merkin professor of palliative medicine in the Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. He has served as the President of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) and is the recipient of numerous awards, including AAHPM's 2010 PDIA National Leadership Award and 2013 Excellence in Scientific Research Award; the American Geriatrics Society’s Outstanding Achievement for Clinical Investigation Award and Faculty Council and Distinguished Educator Awards from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. His current research focuses on improving the management of pain in older adults and on developing and evaluating models of palliative care delivery in hospitals and the community.

Receiving the Society’s National Volunteer Leadership Award for his decades of volunteer service to the Society is Carmel J. Cohen, M.D., professor of clinical gynecology and obstetrics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr. Cohen organized and served as director of the division of gynecologic oncology, department of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive science at the Mount Sinai Medical Center for more than 25 years. Dr. Cohen has also served as president of the New York Obstetrical Society, the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists and the Society of Pelvic Surgeons. He was a founding member and council member for the International Gynecologic Cancer Society and is currently the scientific chair of the board of the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. He is the author of 137 peer-reviewed publications, 86 published abstracts, 56 invited publications, chapters and monographs, and is a noted speaker around the world. Dr. Cohen received his B.A. from Harvard University and his M.D. degree from Tulane Medical School.

Eric W. Taylor, M.D., a radiation oncologist at EvergreenHealth in Kirkland, Wash., was also honored with the National Volunteer Leadership Award for his exceptional volunteer work with the Society. Dr. Taylor has been a volunteer for the American Cancer Society for nearly three decades and has served as an inspirational leader at all levels of the organization. In addition to his Society volunteer work, Dr. Taylor has held leadership roles in professional organizations related to his career as a highly regarded radiation oncologist, and was named by Seattle magazine as one of the area’s “top docs.” His volunteer commitment to the American Cancer Society was recognized in 1995 with the St. George National Award and in 2008 with the Society’s Cancer Action Network Volunteer Award for Excellence in Advocacy.

Humanitarian Award winner and past volunteer president of the American Cancer Society Edward E. Partridge, M.D., is a gynecological oncologist and director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Partridge is highly recognized for his work to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities, as a leader in reaching underserved populations and for his research in cervical and ovarian cancer. Co-founder of the Alabama Partnership for Cancer Control in the Underserved, his efforts also resulted in Alabama’s participation in the Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. An American Cancer Society volunteer since 1979, Dr. Partridge served as president of the Alabama Division and chair of the Mid-South Division. A member of the Society’s Board of Directors since 2003, Dr. Partridge was also instrumental in the establishment of the Joe Lee Griffin Hope Lodge in Birmingham. Dr. Partridge is chairman of the Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines Committee of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and was past chairman of the Commission on Cancer for the American College of Surgeons.

About the American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers saving lives and fighting for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. As the largest voluntary health organization, the Society's efforts have contributed to a 20 percent decline in cancer death rates in the U.S. since 1991, and a 50 percent drop in smoking rates. Thanks in part to our progress nearly 14 million Americans who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will celebrate more birthdays this year. As we mark our 100th birthday in 2013, we're determined to finish the fight against cancer. We're finding cures as the nation’s largest private, not-for-profit investor in cancer research, ensuring people facing cancer have the help they need and continuing the fight for access to quality health care, lifesaving screenings, clean air, and more. For more information, to get help, or to join the fight, call us anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

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