Carney presented Public Service Award by American Society of Clinical Oncology
CHICAGO, Ill. — U.S. Representative John Carney (D-DE) has been recognized by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) for his long-standing efforts to prevent cancer and help those battling the disease. ASCO presented Carney with its Public Service Award, which is given annually to a person involved in legislative, political action, or community service activities that impact public awareness about cancer, its causes, cures, or treatment. Previous recipients of the award include Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Sen. Ted Kennedy, and former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop. The award was presented on Sunday, June 1, at ASCO’s annual meeting in Chicago. See video of the award presentation here: http://goo.gl/KwKGBB.
“It’s a tremendous honor to accept this award in the presence of so many outstanding physicians and patient advocates all working for the same cause,” said Congressman John Carney. “Delaware has made significant progress in the fight against cancer in recent years. We’ve introduced preventative measures, such as the statewide smoking ban and access to screenings for everyone regardless of income. And we’ve worked to help those battling the disease by providing comprehensive treatment for those without insurance and working to reduce prescription drug shortages. We still have a long way to go, and the key to continued improvement is strong leadership and guidance, especially from our physician community. I look forward to continuing our work together.”
Congressman Carney was nominated for the Public Service Award by Sandra Swain, MD, FACP Past President of ASCO and Chair of the Special Awards Selection Committee.
Representative Carney has shown tremendous leadership in improving the lives of people with cancer,” said Dr. Swain. “He has addressed numerous issues in cancer care and we are honored to recognize him for his exemplary public service.”
Congressman Carney has been a member of Delaware’s Cancer Consortium since its creation in 2001, and for more than a decade chaired the Consortium’s Disparities Committee. During that time, he helped lead the successful implementation of Delaware’s colorectal cancer screening program.
The program led to a 41% reduction in colorectal cancer mortality rates among Delaware African Americans, and an increase in screening rates for all Delawareans to 74%, among the highest in the nation. Congressman Carney co-authored a study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology which evaluated the program and its adaptability in other states. The article can be viewed here: http://goo.gl/1Nw9Xz.
“It is a pleasure working with Congressman Carney in the fight against cancer," said Nicholas J. Petrelli, M.D., Bank of America-endowed medical director of Christiana Care Health System’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute. "He has a deep dedication to preventing cancer and helping patients who are battling it. And he tries to achieve these goals by working as a community, whether it’s here in Delaware with the members of the Cancer Consortium, or in Congress with representatives from both parties. He’s a strong leader and an example for policymakers across the country, and I look forward to working with him for many years to come because he continues to challenge us as physicians to be better at our jobs.”
In 2012, Congressman Carney introduced the Drug Shortage Prevention Act, which included measures to ensure that more critical prescription drugs are produced by manufacturers and reach the patients who need them. Since 2005, prescription drug shortages have quadrupled, and many of the shortages impact cancer treatment drugs. Provisions of the Drug Shortage Prevention Act were signed into law by President Obama to bring more efficiency to the manufacturing and distribution processes, and require the FDA to take specific actions preventing shortage problems before they impact patients.
About ASCO
Founded in 1964, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is the world’s leading professional organization representing physicians who care for people with cancer. With nearly 35,000 members, ASCO is committed to improving cancer care through scientific meetings, educational programs and peer-reviewed journals. ASCO is supported by its affiliate organization, the Conquer Cancer Foundation, which funds ground-breaking research and programs that make a tangible difference in the lives of people with cancer. For ASCO information and resources, visit www.asco.org. Patient-oriented cancer information is available at www.cancer.net.
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