Leadership Awards

Colorado Cancer Coalition Announces 2008 Leadership Awards Winners

Outstanding Community Health Educator/Advocate

Southwestern Colorado

BJ Boucher, Coordinator, Women's Wellness Connection, GWD, 1800 E. 3rd Ave, Ste 101, Durango, CO, 81301, 970-259-3527, BJBoucher@cancer.org

This award honors an individual or organization that has exemplified outstanding outreach, navigation of and education to underserved communities in the area of cancer prevention and control. BJ was instrumental in starting up the Women's Health Coaliton of SW CO which advocates Community Cancer education & Support to women and men undergoing cancer treatment. The financial support is for non-medical emergencies and the main focus of this group is cancer prevention through education. BJ works not only in this community but travels extensively to promote programs with a focus again on cancer prevention through wellness checkups, mammograms and education. She promotes participation from volunteers in the community for Health Fairs and a Speakers Bureau through WHC on Breast and Cervical Health. Outstanding Individual!

Western Slope

Mary Kuhn, Former Regional Coordinator, Women's Wellness Connection, 2667 Paradise Way, Grand Junction, Colorado, 81506, (719) 241-4923, mmkuhn@hotmail.com

As a community outreach coordinator, her responsibilities were to recruit and refer eligible women to the program through marketing, media, and one on one education of eligible women 40-64 years of age. Like me, Mary has seen many changes in the evolution of CWCCI/WWC. Since it's first inception as a "research" program under the Federal "Waxman" grant, in 1991. She has spoken to thousands of women over the years to spread the word aobut this most worthy program. She exemplifies the true character of what it takes to "be there" for women who need help and a way to get to it.

Not only has Mary achieved expertise in these areas, but she has also become an icon in the counties that she served, lending herself to the creation and development of organizations such as Boosum Buddies (amongst others). She has always strived to maintain an involved and upbeat relationship with her partner organizations. She has established open lines of communitcations with the American Cancer Society and has volunteered her time for the Colorado Cancer Coalition's Breast Cancer Task Force and the Cervical Cancer Task Force on both the state and national levels. She like other coordinators working out in the local communities, with the people, has become a viable resource that should not go unnoticed.

Northern Colorado

Lupe Harbison, Health Care Coordinator, Women's Resource Center, 424 Pine Street, Suite 201, Fort Collins, CO, 80524 , 970-484-1902, lharbison@womens-resource.org

For the past eight years, Lupe has dedicated her life's work to providing low income women in Larimer County with access to services for breast, cervical and ovarian cancer screenings, diagnostics and treatment. She is willing to step up every day to care for her clients as they navigate the health care system and get the care they need. Many times, she is considered their angel as she works with them. The client's needs are always first with Lupe. That passion to serve comes across in the most loving way. Lupe is truly an incredible advocate and navigator for low income women in Larimer County. Lupe creates access to care for women in Larimer County by creating and cultivating relationships with providers to encourage them to take patients at little or no cost. She has saved lives by securing assistance from these providers. She has also increased the education levels regarding women's health throughout the county. Today more women than ever are accessing services to become well women.

Southeastern Colorado

Tracy Samora, Colorado Colorectal Cancer Coordinator, St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center, 2004 Lake Avenue, Pueblo, CO, 81004, 719-557-4547, tracysamora@centura.org

Tracy has been an instrumental leader in the Southern Colorado region from her volunteering with the American Cancer Society and managing the Pueblo offices of the American Cancer Society. She is currently the leading coodinator for the state wide initiative screening the underserved population for colorectal cancers. She maintains a positive and strong attitude with each and every patient and goes above and byond her job duties every day. She coordinates special events for survivors such as National Cancer Survivors Day and leads the Dorcy Cancer Center fundraising event at the Colorado State Fair Tough Enough to Wear Pink Rodeo.

Outstanding Innovative Project

Jane Hajovsky, Executive Director, Colorado Cancer Research Program, 2253 South Oneida Street, Denver, Colorado, 80224, 303 777-2663, jhajovsky@co-cancerresearch.org

This award is given to a project that has utilized innovative approaches to promote healthy communities by developing information and services to help cpnsumers cope with cancer while improving the quality of their lives and or using research or technology to make an impact on the well being of Colorado citizens.

Ms. Hajovsky’s recent endeavors include the creation of a community outreach program. This program services indigent oncology patients diagnosed at the Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital – Caritas Clinic. Services include the screening of oncology patients for clinical trials. Once enrolled, the patient receives nursing care and navigation assistance through the program. The beginnings of this program were supported through a Susan G. Komen for the Cure grant. The community outreach program had humble beginnings and some initial failures. Today, the outreach program is blossoming. CCRP has enrolled close to 15 minority patients through the oncology practice of Hesky, Fisher, Luknic, and Cook. (2008 statistics). These successes are due in large part to Ms. Hajovsky’s commitment to underserved oncology populations. Ms. Hajovsky’s foresight includes expanding our current community outreach program to four Front Range sites. It is our hope and Ms. Hajovsky’s vision to replicate some of our early successes on a state-wide basis. Ms. Hajovsky strong commitment to reduce health disparities and equalize access to sound oncology care is the basis for her tireless work. Ms. Hajovsky’s efforts are simply noteworthy and deserve recognition. The Colorado Coalition leadership awards are an excellent venue for this acknowledgement. Thank you for your consideration.

Outstanding Researcher/Research Project

Matthew Wiener, PharmD, CEO, Pharmatech, Inc., 789 Sherman Street, Suite 600, Denver, Colorado, 80203, 720-917-8400, mattw@pharmatech.com

This award is presented to a researcher or research project hat has made significant strides in addressing the cancer burden as articulated in the Colorado Cancer Plan.

Matthew Wiener, PharmD is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pharmatech, Inc. Dr. Wiener received his doctorate in pharmacy from Columbia College of Pharmacy and his Bachelors of Science in pharmacy from the Brooklyn College of Pharmacy. Dr. Wiener is a clinical research pharmacist and has held directorship of a private practice research center. During Dr. Wiener’s tenure at Pharmatech, he has successfully conducted trials in many major therapeutic areas, most recently in the oncology sector managing Phase I, II, III and IV studies. Under Dr. Wiener’s leadership, Pharmatech has established exclusive relationships with various pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies.