CURE Media Group Announces the 2018 MPN Heroes®

CRANBURY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- CURE Media Group, which services over a million patients, survivors and caregivers across an industry-leading multi-channel platform devoted solely to cancer updates, research and education, will honor eight individuals who have made a difference in the field of rare blood cancers known as myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) tonight at the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego in California.

“Every year, we look forward to honoring these outstanding caregivers and advocates who have made a difference in the lives of people with MPNs,” said Michael J. Hennessy Jr., president of MJH Associates Inc., parent company of CURE Media Group. “We congratulate each MPN Hero for their heroic contributions every day in the field of MPNs or in the individual lives of people with MPNs.”

Keynote speaker Scott Hamilton, Olympic champion, best-selling author and cancer survivor, will join in honoring these eight remarkable individuals. Inspired by his own journey with testicular cancer and pituitary brain tumors, as well as the loss of his mother to cancer, Hamilton launched the Scott Hamilton CARES (Cancer Alliance for Research, Education and Survivorship) Foundation. This nonprofit organization provides education, supports research, hosts survivorship programs for patients and caregivers and works to fund innovative therapies and treatment. Hamilton serves on the board of directors of the Provision CARES Center for Proton Therapy in Knoxville, Tennessee.

This year’s event honors outstanding caregivers, advocates, patients and medical professionals who have gone above and beyond to make a difference in the MPN community.

The following individuals were recognized in the Commitment to the Individual category:

• Jean Diesch was diagnosed with polycythemia vera (PV) in 2009 and subsequently devoted herself to creating a culture of information and acceptance for people living with MPNs. Diesch’s advocacy efforts have created an extensive and wide-ranging network of education, awareness and support and allow her to focus on helping others in the MPN community.
• Lori Jemison, RN, is the clinical coordinator for the malignant hematology team at Froedtert Hospital. Since joining the team, Jemison has made a habit of going the extra mile for her patients. She has also developed MPN patient-focused resources and support group events that center on topics to help her patients successfully manage their conditions.
• Celia Miltz has been active in the MPN community for decades. When her 16-year-old daughter was diagnosed with essential thrombocythemia (ET) in 1997, Miltz dedicated herself not only to raising awareness of this rare, chronic blood cancer but also to raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for MPN research through Friends of ET, an organization she founded.
• Jaden Persaud, at 12 years old, has already raised over $2,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. After his mother was diagnosed with an unclassified, nonspecific MPN, Jaden dedicated himself to helping her and giving back to the MPN community. He also started the charity Stuffies for Survivors.

The second category honors MPN specialists whose efforts have helped the broader MPN community:

• Angela Fleischman, M.D., Ph.D., is a dedicated and well-respected researcher at the University of California, Irvine, who investigates the disease development of MPNs. In addition to engaging in wide-ranging clinical research, Fleischman has spent years developing and organizing patient-centric MPN educational events and resources. She is currently investigating many different areas of MPN.
• Richard French’s daughter Amber was diagnosed with ET in 2003. French called on his decades of experience as a broadcast professional to create a public service announcement highlighting information on MPNs. Sharing the announcement with hundreds of TV stations, French was successful in using media to increase awareness of MPNs on a national scale.
• Bob Rosen, MBA, decided to take action after he was diagnosed with PV in 1997. He dedicated himself to furthering scientific research focused on MPNs, founding the MPN Research Foundation, which has become a leading organization driving research into MPN-related fields and has raised millions of dollars for MPN research and discovery.
• Marcy Worthington plays a long-standing, key role at the MPN Education Foundation’s biannual Joyce Niblack conferences. She is also a list owner for the support group MPN-NET, allowing her to interact with many other people living with MPNs. Worthington always takes time to send someone vital information that they can share with their doctor to help both the patient and the health care professional make the most informed decisions.

The MPN Heroes® Recognition Program is made possible by the generous support of Incyte Corporation, a global biopharmaceutical company that discovers and develops novel medicines to meet serious unmet medical needs in oncology and other diseases. The honorees are nominated by patients and caregivers for their extraordinary contributions and dedication. To raise awareness and to enhance research, Incyte will make a monetary donation in honor of the MPN Heroes to organizations to help individuals living with MPNs. Individuals or entities supported through funding or directed by Incyte are not eligible for consideration or recognition as MPN Heroes.

Visit https://www.curetoday.com/mpnheroes/heroes to learn more about this year’s MPN Heroes and the 2018 Recognition Program Rules and Judges.

About CURE Media Group

CURE Media Group is the leading resource for cancer updates, research and education. It combines a full suite of media products, including its industry-leading website, CUREtoday.com; innovative video programs such as “CURE Connections®”; a series of widely attended live events; and CURE^® magazine, which reaches over 1 million readers, as well as the dynamic website for oncology nurses, OncNursingNews.com, and its companion, Oncology Nursing News^® magazine. CURE Media Group is part of the Cranbury, New Jersey-based MJH Associates Inc. family of businesses, which includes the acclaimed OncLive^® (http://www.onclive.com) platform of resources for the practicing oncologist. For more information, visit http://www.curetoday.com or http://www.mjhassoc.com.

About Incyte

Incyte Corporation is a Wilmington, Delaware-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of proprietary therapeutics. For additional information on Incyte, visit the company’s website at http://www.incyte.com.

Follow @Incyte on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Incyte.

MPN Heroes® is a registered trademark of Incyte. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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