Ovarian Cancer National Alliance March Newsletter!

The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance welcomes two new members to our team – Andrea Glazer and Madiha Khan.

Andrea Glazer comes to us from the Jewish Council for the Aging where she served as Director of Development. In charge of annual giving, she was responsible for developing direct mail campaigns, researching and writing grant proposals, finding ways to fund research, identifying major donors and managing the donor recognition process. Andrea will join us as the Vice President for Development.

Madiha Khan previously served as the Communications and Events intern for the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance in the summer of 2008. She then joined KAI Research where she managed and monitored database systems, particularly for the National Institute of Health. Madiha is currently studying for the MCAT in pursuit of becoming a gynecologic oncologist. We are happy to have her back as the Senior Development Associate.

Join us in welcoming both Andrea and Madiha!

From the Policy Department

Action Alert
We urgently need scientists to continue searching for new treatments and screening methods for ovarian cancer. However, this work cannot continue if Congress cuts funding for ovarian cancer research.

If we don’t speak up, our Elected Officials will assume that their constituents do not care if ovarian cancer research funding is cut and the money is spent to fund other federal projects. We need to raise our voices and tell our Elected Officials to support ovarian cancer research that is so important to us! 

Now is the time to e-mail your Representative to tell them to sign a “Dear Colleague” letter that has just been released in the House of Representatives. The letter requests $30 million in funding to the Department of Defense’s Ovarian Cancer Research Program (OCRP) in 2011.

Take action now to help increase funding for ovarian cancer research.

Has your Representative signed on yet?

Click here to view the full list – updated daily.

Health Reform Update

While both Houses of Congress have passed health reform bills, there is no final proposal or definitive plan of action to enact a health reform law at this time. The House and Senate bills are different, which means neither can be enacted into law without further action.

In order to bridge the gaps between the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the Republican party, the President held a bipartisan meeting on health reform on February 25th. Leadership from the House of Representatives and the Senate were invited to discuss the concerns about the current health reform proposals and potential new proposals.

The President opened the summit with the following remarks:
My mother, who was self-employed, didn’t have reliable health care, and she died of ovarian cancer. And there’s probably nothing that modern medicine could have done about that.

It was caught late and that’s a hard cancer to diagnose, but I do remember the last six months of her life, insurance companies threatening that they would not reimburse her for her costs and her having to be on the phone in the hospital room arguing with insurance companies when what she should have been doing is spending time with her family. I do remember that.

To read the full article, click here.

What’s New?

Our 2009 Annual Report

We are delighted to present to you the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance’s Annual Report for 2009. The Report outlines our many accomplishments, made possible because of your interest in, and commitment to the organization. Thank you for your continued support and encouragement.

Click here to check it out and print your copy today.

Survivors Teaching Students Program reaches 81

The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance’s Survivors Teaching Students (STS) program has impacted the landscape of medical, nursing and physician’s assistants schools nationwide. Although, there is not yet a screening tool for ovarian cancer, the STS program educates medical professionals about the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer, so that more women will be diagnosed sooner.

The STS program is now incorporated in 81 medical schools and 35 nursing and physician’s assistants schools across the country.

For more information about this program, click here.

Upcoming Events

2010 Revlon Run/Walk 
May 1, 2010 
New York City, New York
Registration is now open!
Register today at www.ovariancancer.org/revlonrun

13 Annual Ovarian Cancer National Alliance Conference
July 10-12, 2010
Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC
July 13, 2010
Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill

Wear TEAL Day!
Friday, September 3, 2010
*first Friday in September

Update
Last week, we issued a news announcement in regards to the Avastin trial. Please visit the link below for clarification regarding this study.
www.ovariancancer.org/2010/03/01/news-announcement-avastin-trial/