AstraZeneca Announces Winners and Recognizes Unsung Heroes of Oncology in 2020 Cancer Community (C2) Awards

“The pace at which oncology care is progressing is both rapid and extraordinary,” said Chatrick Paul, Head of US Oncology, AstraZeneca. “We know that coming together as a community is essential to advancing cancer care and realizing meaningful change for cancer patients. This could not be more true than now when COVID-19 has disrupted efforts of the healthcare community to screen, test and diagnose cancer patients in a timely manner. We know that together, through this program, we can remove barriers to care, transform health systems and support patients beyond our medicines.”

“Cancer impacts millions of Americans and is something no one should ever have to experience alone,” said Jeremy Abbate, Publisher, Scientific American Custom Media. “This year’s winners and finalists collectively embody the sentiment and purpose of the C2 Awards. We are humbled to share their heartfelt stories of dedication and sacrifice to instill new hope for those across our country facing a cancer diagnosis.”

The C2 Awards feature four categories, recognizing the community in the following ways: extending quality care to underserved communities, improving the patient experience, advancing precision medicine and doing something tangible and inspiring for patients. Winners will each receive $50,000 donation to “pay forward” to a non-profit organization serving the cancer community.

The 2020 Cancer Community Awards Recipients

The C2 Catalyst for Change award celebrates those who significantly improve access to cancer care for underserved populations.

• This year’s winner is Lynette Bonar, Chief Executive Officer at Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation in Tuba City, Arizona. Bonar established the first cancer facility on an American Indian reservation and is the first Navajo woman to helm a Navajo health care system. In the six months since its opening, 159 Navajo, Hopi, and Paiute patients have been treated, and the clinic is now bringing local cancer care to 75,000 American Indians who previously had to drive 200 to 400 miles to the nearest cancer care center.

• Finalists included Greensboro Health Disparities Collaborative (GHDC) in North Carolina, whose mission is to establish structures and processes that respond to, empower and facilitate communities in defining and resolving issues related to disparities in health; and Stephenie Kennedy-Rea, EdD, Director of Cancer Prevention and Control at West Virginia University Cancer Institute who established a Lung Cancer Survivorship Program (BRIDGES), partnered with the Patient Advocate Foundation to launch the WV Lung Cancer Project, and is developing a mobile lung cancer screening program to better serve rural residents.

The C2 Catalyst for Care award recognizes those who enhance the experience of care for patients during their cancer treatment.

• This year’s winner is Jill Kincaid, founder of Chemo Buddies in Evansville,Indiana. Kincaid founded Chemo Buddies to overcome loneliness in chemotherapy treatment rooms. Since its founding, Kincaid has transformed chemotherapy treatment spaces from stark infusion chairs to a living room environment for patients. More than 100 volunteers are now involved in bringing comfort, smiles and laughter to more than 250 patients each day.

• Finalists included Cancer Support Community Greater Philadelphia, an organization that provides free social support and education to those impacted by cancer; and Ulman Foundation,which provides direct services such as patient navigation and free lodging for patients aged 15-39 as well as their loved ones.

The C2 Catalyst for Precision Medicine award honors those who improve personalized treatment for cancer patients.

• This year’s winner is Dr Lincoln D. Nadauld, Vice President and Chief of Precision Health and Academics at Intermountain Healthcare, where he oversees the clinical implementation of precision medicine across Intermountain’s 24 hospitals and 160 physician clinics. Nadauld founded the Intermountain Precision Genomics program with a vision of improving health through precision medicine without increasing healthcare costs. Dr Nadauld and colleagues published their findingsin Oncotarget, showing precision medicine approaches that double patient survival (52 weeks versus 26 weeks) while decreasing weekly associated healthcare costs (23 percent decrease).¹ As a result of this publication, more than 4,000 advanced cancer patients are annually offered precision medicines as a standard of care at Intermountain.

• Finalists included Indiana University Health Precision Genomics Program, which utilizes cutting-edge genomic and informatics technology to tailor individualized treatment plans for cancer patients; and Razelle Kurzrock, Director at Center for Personalized Cancer Therapy at UC San Diego Health Science,who tailors treatments for specific patients to increase the likelihood of successful outcomes.

The President’s Award, selected by AstraZeneca, honors those who make a tangible and inspiring difference for patients and their loved ones.

• This year’s President’s Award winner is Richard Dean, member of the Johns Hopkins Hospital Patient and Family Advisory Council who helped develop the Johns Hopkins Hospital Oncology Urgent Care Center so patients could bypass the emergency room and directly access professional oncology treatment. Dean dedicated himself to improving cancer care while losing both his wife and daughter to ovarian cancer.

Nominations were evaluated by an esteemed panel of multidisciplinary community leaders, including Edward Abrahams, PhD, President, Personalized Medicine Coalition; Meghan Gutierrez, CEO, Lymphoma Research Foundation; Erin McAllister, formerly at BioCentury; Audra Moran, President & CEO, Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance; Dr Barbara Gitlitz, MD, Medical Oncologist, Keck School of Medicine of USC; Dr Geoffrey Oxnard, MD, Thoracic Oncologist, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Dr Keith Winfrey, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer, New Orleans East Louisiana Community Health Center; and Leah Fine, Director, Centers of Excellence Program, GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer.

More details on finalists and winners can be found here.

About YOUR Cancer

The C2 Awards are part of the YOUR Cancer Program, a broader initiative launched by AstraZeneca to spotlight those at the forefront of cancer research and patient support who are contributing toward eliminating cancer as a cause of death. YOUR CANCER aims to convene, engage, and highlight the full breadth of the oncology community, utilizing four pillars: a digital partnership hub profiling community resources and perspectives, an awards program recognizing the unsung heroes of oncology, state-level roundtables with local policymakers and advocates, and media and speaking engagements profiling community oncology leaders.

About AstraZeneca in Oncology

AstraZeneca has a deep-rooted heritage in Oncology and offers a quickly growing portfolio of new medicines that has the potential to transform patients’ lives and the Company’s future. With at least six new medicines to be launched between 2014 and 2020, and a broad pipeline of small molecules and biologics in development, we are committed to advance Oncology as a growth driver for AstraZeneca focused on lung, ovarian, breast and blood cancers. In addition to our core capabilities, we actively pursue innovative partnerships and investments that accelerate the delivery of our strategy, as illustrated by our investment in Acerta Pharma in hematology.

By harnessing the power of four scientific platforms – Immuno-Oncology, Tumor Drivers and Resistance, DNA Damage Response and Antibody Drug Conjugates – and by championing the development of personalized combinations, AstraZeneca has the vision to redefine cancer treatment and one day eliminate cancer as a cause of death.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in four therapy areas - Oncology, Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism and Respiratory & Immunology. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information, please visit www.astrazeneca-us.com and follow us on Twitter @AstraZenecaUS.

About Scientific American Custom Media

Scientific American’s award-winning Custom Media team (SACM) develops targeted, strategic content programs in partnership with corporations, governments, and academic institutions. SACM operates as a division separate from the magazine’s Board of Editors to create highly engaging, one-of-a-kind media programs for thought-leading audiences. From mini-documentaries or custom events to standalone magazines and native content series, SACM offers its partners opportunities to build compelling and distinct narratives that convey their brand values and unique stories.

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