Georgia Cancer Coalition Announces Its First Ever Georgia Cancer Summit

ATLANTA, Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The Georgia Cancer Coalition (GCC) is proud to announce that the “Georgia Cancer Summit” will take place November 2-3, 2005 at the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel. This first-ever statewide meeting is the only gathering of its kind devoted to sharing information about cancer including prevention, treatment options, current research trends, and survivorship issues.

The Georgia Cancer Summit will begin at 8:30 AM on November 2 and conclude at 3:30 PM on November 3. The Summit will provide useful information on topics relating to emerging research; collaboration; policy issues; cancer prevention and education; caregiver support; workplace programs; clinical trials; palliative care; and, patient navigation. The Summit is presented by the Georgia Cancer Coalition, with funding from the Georgia Department of Human Resources, the Georgia Health Foundation, and the American Cancer Society. The conference is co-sponsored by the Georgia Cancer Coalition and the Curtis & Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute.

A highlight of the conference will be the unveiling of the Institute of Medicine’s study on behalf of the Georgia Cancer Coalition. The study creates a template for measurement of quality cancer care statewide. At the summit, Coalition partners from across the state will begin the process of developing a new strategic plan for the next five years, after hearing from President William Todd about the impact of the Coalition in its first four years of existence.

Notable presenters and speakers include William Todd, Georgia Cancer Coalition; Dr. Eddie Reed, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Jack Shipkoski, American Cancer Society; and, Distinguished Cancer Scholars Dr. Michael Eriksen of Georgia State University, Drs. Karen Glanz and Joseph Lipscomb of the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, Dr. Shuming Nie of Georgia Tech, Dr. Veena Rao of Morehouse School of Medicine, Dr. Martha Terris of Medical College of Georgia, and Dr. Andrew Karellas of Emory University. Hamilton Jordan will be presented with the First Georgia Cancer Coalition Founders’ Award.

The Summit in intended to provide information for physicians, allied health professionals, survivors, health care administrators, human resources executives and managers, and community members interested in being involved in the ongoing fight against cancer in Georgia. Anyone interested in issues related to cancer is welcome at the summit and advanced credits have been applied for.

For more information and registration for the Georgia Cancer Summit, visit www.georgiacancer.org or call 404-584-7720.

Georgia has one of the highest rates of cancer in the nation. The Georgia Cancer Coalition was founded in 2000 to bring the public and private sectors together to reduce the burden of cancer for Georgia’s residents. Bill Todd, President of the Coalition, notes that the mission of the Georgia Cancer Coalition “is to bring all of our state’s abundant resources to bear as we strive to lessen the burden of cancer. The Coalition has created a partnership that challenges the public and private sectors, academic and clinical institutions, and individuals and advocacy groups to dedicate their efforts toward a single goal of reducing the human suffering and untimely deaths attributed to cancer.”

Georgia Cancer Coalition

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CONTACT: Terri Theisen of Theisen Consulting, +1-404-213-9322, orttheisen@earthlink.net, for The Georgia Cancer Coalition