Progress Newsletter Spring 2012 - University of South Alabama ...

SHARING THE Word onBreast Cancer…One Cup at a TimeEach year an estimated 230,000 women in the United Statesare diagnosed with breast cancer. At MCI, we’re committed to“Thinking Pink” to maximize awareness of breast cancer andthe importance of breast cancer screening. This past October,MCI held its second annual “Think Pink Tea” in partnershipwith Infirmary Health System. Cookie Aftergut, breast cancersurvivor and founder of Chemoflage, an Atlanta-based non-profitorganization designed to teach women to be self-confident cancersurvivors, served as the keynote speaker. With an attendance ofmore than 200, our Think Pink Tea successfully celebrated breastcancer survivors. Mark your calendars for the upcoming 2012Think Pink Tea to be held on October 25, 2012.“WHEN MANY HEADSARE BETTER THAN ONE,”NEW SCIENTIST, 31 MARCH 2012The March 31, 2012 publication of the prestigiousNew Scientist featured an article entitled “WhenMany Heads are Better than One,” whichhighlighted the importance of translationalcancer research in bringing together scientists andphysician-scientists from a broad range of disciplinesto fight cancer. Emphasizing the critical role ofcreating an environment where clinical and basiccancer researchers communicate and collaborationsare encouraged, the article quoted Dr. Michael Boydas well as leaders at M.D. Anderson and New YorkUniversity School of Medicine. “While translationalresearch may be easy to talk about,” says Boyd, “it’shard to achieve. But when it all comes together, it’salmost magical.” Innovative approaches at MCIwere cited alongside institutions including Brown,University of Pennsylvania, University of California,San Francisco and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute,among others.“The Mitchell Cancer Institute, for example,encourages transparency among researchers,clinicians, and patients by having facilities withglass walls,” states the article.Progress | SPRING 2012 13