UAB: Comprehensive Cancer Center

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On May 19, survivors, community leaders and lawmakers gathered at the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center to commemorate the signing of Alabama House Bill 600, sponsored by Rep. Paul DeMarco, which requires the Alabama Department of Public Health to create screening programs for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer for medically under-served and uninsured people across the state. Gov. Bob Riley shared remarks about the legislation's importance and signed the new act via video. Edward Partridge, M.D., director of the Cancer Center, hopes the expansion of proven cancer screening programs will reduce the high cancer death rate of Alabama. "It is tragic when cancer causes the loss of a life, and to me it's completely unnecessary when upward of 70 percent of all cancer deaths can be prevented through screening and early detection," Dr. Partridge says, praising the new act and the many academic, legislative, public health, business and nonprofit leaders who advocated for the legislation.

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Cancer survivors, their families and caregivers joined together on June 5 to Celebrate Life, Birmingham's first-ever National Cancer Survivors Days Celebration, hosted by the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center and an all-star collaboration of cancer-related organizations. Held at the Pepper Place Saturday Market, survivors were able to visit the survivors tent where they could learn more about cancer resources in the community, receive a free tote bag, register for giveaways and enjoy complimentary massages. Guests also enjoyed a cooking demonstration by Chef Antony Osborne, dean of The Culinard, and Dr. Luis Pineda from Cooking with Cancer. The two paired to create a roasted caramelized cinnamon ice cream with jalapeño cornucopia and fresh berries that was a healthy take on dessert. Celebrating Life was sponsored by UAB Medicine and the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center. To see a full list of hosting organizations, click here.

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Claudia Hardy, M.P.A., a leader in community-based cancer research and cancer prevention at the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, was recently awarded the 2010 Susan G. Komen for the Cure Life is a Gift Award. The award recognizes an individual whose work and attitude reflect gratefulness and appreciation for the subtle and profound gifts of life. It is presented each year by the Susan G. Komen North Central Alabama affiliate and honors the legacy of Komen for the Cure volunteers Hope Smith and Kathy Leigh Hancock. Ms. Hardy is the program director for the Cancer Center's Deep South Network for Cancer Control and is a noted expert in health disparities research, minority health outreach, community prevention programs, and minority recruitment in clinical trials.

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Danny Welch, Ph.D., a renowned expert in the biology and genetics of cancer metastasis and a senior scientist at the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, has been selected to serve on the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Scientific Advisory Council. The newly established council includes more than 60 top-ranked scientists, physicians and advocates from seven nations and a wide range of disciplines who will help guide the organization's extensive research program and provide scientific review for the research grants and programs the organization funds annually.

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Alabama has done it again. For the second year in a row, our state has been rated the second fattest in the nation, according to the annual report compiled by the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. In the report, entitled "F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America's Future 2010," the underbelly of southern states that extend from Oklahoma to West Virginia tip the scales as the fattest, with Mississippi leading the way, but followed closely by Alabama and Tennessee. Researchers at the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, however, are working hard to determine what this means for cancer, as well as surviving the disease once it is diagnosed.

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Ever year, the Heath family honors the life of Jim Heath by hosting a golf tournament at Frank House Municipal Golf Course to benefit the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center's brain tumor research program. Selena Heath Miller's husband, Craig, passed away from a brain tumor in 2000. Selena and her brother Bill began the charity event upon the passing of their father, Jim Heath, in 2007. The tournament welcomes golfers of every level and ability. The cost for a four-person team is $300, which includes a light breakfast, beverages on the course, a goody bag with a commemorative golf shirt, and lunch during the awards ceremony after the tournament. Corporate sponsorships are available.

August 6, 2010
Jim Heath Memorial Golf Tournament
7:30 a.m. shotgun start
Frank House Municipal Golf Course, Bessemer, Alabama

Teams and sponsors register here

Friends for a Cure, a group of friends who came together to support another friend who has a brain tumor and raise money for the disease, hosted a golf tournament on May 3 to benefit the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center. More than 80 golfers participated in the tournament, which took place at Timberline Golf Club in Calera and raised more than $18,000 for brain tumor research. Following the afternoon round of golf, participants enjoyed dinner provided by Full Moon Bar-B-Que and a silent auction. Friends for a Cure has raised nearly $40,000 this year for brain cancer research.

On May 6, the Young Supporters Board of the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center hosted Fiesta Ball 2010 at Innovation Depot. More than 400 of Birmingham's young professionals came out to celebrate and raise funds to support the research of a young cancer scientist. The guests enjoyed a Mexican-themed night with live music, food and fun, which raised $42,000. These proceeds will help fund a competitive grant for young cancer researchers at UAB to further their research and compete for a larger federal grants.

Learn more about the Young Supporters Board