News Release

August 21, 2007

Contact: Christopher DeFrancesco, 860-679-3914
e-mail: cdefrancesco@uchc.edu

Patrice Bedrosian, 203-379-4840
e-mail: patrice.bedrosian@cancer.org

Health Center, Cancer Society Continue Partnership

Offering Cancer Patients the Best of Both

FARMINGTON, CONN. – The University of Connecticut Health Center has renewed its collaborative agreement with the American Cancer Society, New England Division. It’s a continuation of a partnership first formed in 2004 to provide comprehensive and best-practice cancer information, care and support services.

“This is just the latest chapter in our longstanding relationship with the American Cancer Society,” says Carolyn D. Runowicz, M.D., director of the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at the UConn Health Center, and the Society’s immediate past president. "No longer is it acceptable to just provide excellence in care for patients with cancer, but we need to provide comprehensive care -- including the psychological, social and family issues affecting our patients. This partnership enhances our ability to do this."

Earlier this year, the Health Center started offering newly diagnosed patients customized Personal Health Manager kits and free access to the Society’s vast Cancer Resource Network. The Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center is the first site in New England to offer these resources to patients.

Under the collaborative agreement, the Health Center and the Society continue to work together to:

• Provide all newly diagnosed cancer patients with high quality, timely and understandable information though the Cancer Resource Network.
• Educate medical providers on new advances in all aspects of cancer care, from prevention and diagnosis to treatments and palliative care.
• Provide supportive services to patients at the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center including Society programs such as Reach to Recovery, Look Good Feel Better, and Road to Recovery.
• Promote awareness about cancer prevention and early detection among the nearly 5,000 employees of the UConn Health Center.
• Provide evidence-based cancer prevention and detection initiatives for colon cancer and breast/gynecological cancer prevention programs.
• Partner in statewide comprehensive cancer control implementation, community health events, and Society activities including Daffodil Days campaign, Relay For Life and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.
• Showcase Society-funded research programs active at the Health Center.
• Network within the greater Hartford community to share new information about cancer care, especially prevention and early detection services.

“The American Cancer Society is always striving to educate the public about today’s many advances in cancer prevention, early detection and patient services,” says Sarah Shafir, state vice president of cancer control. “We actively seek to collaborate with local hospitals to help provide the best possible care to men and women who are diagnosed with cancer, and promote the overall goals of the American Cancer Society to eliminate cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and service.”

A photo of (from left) Mary Murphy, major gifts officer, American Cancer Society, Sarah Shafir, M.P.H., state vice president for cancer control, American Cancer Society, Valerie Gallo, M.P.H., community executive for cancer control, American Cancer Society, and Carolyn D. Runowicz, M.D., director of the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at the UConn Health Center, is available at: http://www.uchc.edu/ocomm/images/images_news/cancersociety.jpg. 

The Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center provides a full spectrum of cancer services, from education and prevention strategies to early detection services, innovative, state-of-the-art treatments, reconstructive surgery, rehabilitation and support services. In addition, the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center is committed to excellence in research, education and community outreach and to train and develop future leaders in basic, translational and clinical cancer research. For more information, visit http://cancer.uchc.edu/.

The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering, and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy, and service. Founded in 1913 and with national headquarters in Atlanta, the Society has 13 regional Divisions and local offices in 3,400 communities, involving millions of volunteers across the United States. For more information anytime, call toll free 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org. 

The University of Connecticut Health Center includes the schools of medicine and dental medicine, the UConn Medical Group, University Dentists, and John Dempsey Hospital, a Solucient Top 100 Hospital® 2006. Founded in 1961, the Health Center pursues a mission of providing outstanding health care education in an environment of exemplary patient care, research and public service. To learn more about the UConn Health Center, visit our website at www.uchc.edu.

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