AdMeTech CEO Cited For Work In Combating Health Disparities
BOSTON, June 25, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A Boston non-profit leader today is being cited for her work in combating health disparities.
Dr. Faina Shtern, President and CEO of AdMeTech Foundation, was honored for her work in eliminating health disparities by the Center for the Elimination of Health and Social Inequities and Disparities (CEHSID) at its 1st Annual Health Disparities Conference and Community Awards Ceremony in Boston.
Dr. Shtern has been providing regional, national and international leadership in realizing AdMeTech's mission for expediting the development and implementation of advanced diagnostic tools for improved prevention, early detection and treatment of prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is the most common and the second most lethal malignancy in American men. According to AdMeTech Foundation, more than 600 Massachusetts men will die each year of this disease, even though it is curable when detected early. Men of color are impacted disproportionately, with 2.5 times higher mortality.
In March, AdMeTech Foundation announced the launch of a statewide prostate cancer education and awareness campaign, with primary focus on men at higher risk, including individuals of color, family history and increasing age. This campaign is supported by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) and statewide advocacy groups, including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Massachusetts Prostate Cancer Coalition, Men of Color Health Awareness of YMCA and the NAACP's New England Area Conference. The campaign seeks to save lives, improve quality of life, and reduce health care costs.
After seven years of working in the Boston community, CEHSID has emerged to be a leader in combating health and social inequities and disparities in some of Boston's most challenging neighborhoods. CEHSID provides health education to over 60,000 men, women and children in Greater Boston and Massachusetts each year.
"I am truly honored to be chosen for this community award, particularly because we strongly support CEHSID's mission to end social inequities and disparities. AdMeTech has been spearheading a Massachusetts model of national and international leadership in recognizing prostate cancer as a public health priority and a major health care disparity. In Boston, African American men have 6% higher mortality and Hispanic men have 40% higher mortality compared to the statewide average mortality in these communities. For our city, with its world leading hospitals, this situation is unacceptable," said Dr. Shtern.
"Dr. Shtern is a passionate voice for prostate cancer research, awareness and education. She realizes that serving the underserved is imperative if we are going to address the growing number of deaths caused by prostate cancer. CEHSID is proud to present her with the Community Award for her tireless work," said Dalton A. Skerritt, President and CEO of CEHSID Inc.
Dr. Shtern is a founding member of AdMeTech's Board of Directors, and she has served as President and CEO since December 1, 1997. From January 1990 to October 2000, Dr. Shtern worked for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in a number of leadership positions. She served as Associate Director for Research and Technology Affairs at the U.S. Public Health Office on Women's Health, Office of the Secretary of the DHHS, where she organized and directed the Federal Multi-Agency Consortium for Imaging and Other Technologies to Improve Women's Health between early 1997 and 1999. Prior to that, she served as Chief, Diagnostic Imaging Research Branch of the National Cancer Institute between 1990 and 1997. In these DHHS positions, she focused on the advancement of breast cancer imaging and image-guided focal treatment. She led development, standardization and implementation of the full-field digital mammography, breast MRI, precisely targeted (stereotactic) needle biopsies, advanced ultrasound and other novel technologies that have transformed breast cancer care and become standard today.
Between 2000 and 2002, Dr. Shtern served as Director of Radiology Research at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School. Between November 2000 and March 2008, she was also Director of Research at the Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital Boston, and Harvard Medical School. In these positions, her leadership resulted in the creation of multi-disciplinary, large-scale research programs dedicated to the advancement of patient care.
After receiving her M.D. from Chernovets Medical School in Ukraine (the former USSR) and completing her residency in internal medicine at Staten Island Hospital in New York City, Dr. Shtern was appointed as a Clinical and Research Fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in 1984, where she was later promoted to the position of the faculty member in 1987.
About AdMeTech Foundation: A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Boston, MA, AdMeTech Foundation established the Manogram® Project providing international leadership for groundbreaking programs in research, education and awareness in order to advance early detection and treatment of prostate cancer (www.admetech.org).
About CEHSID, Inc.: For 7 years, CEHSID has been a leader in combating health and social inequities and disparities in some of Boston's most challenging neighborhoods. CEHSID partners with community events to help drive health awareness and to link the communities of Boston and beyond to many health, social, human and support services.
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SOURCE AdMeTech Foundation
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