White House "Cancer Moonshot" Effort Comes to Atlanta
Local experts and survivors collaborate as part of a new national conversation
ATLANTA, June 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Northside Hospital and the Cancer Support Community Atlanta are hosting the first Atlanta Cancer Moonshot Summit, which coincides with Vice President Joe Biden's national summit taking place in Washington, D.C. The Atlanta summit will be held tomorrow at 6:30 p.m.
During his State of the Union address in January, President Obama issued a call to action for all cancer stakeholders – patients, survivors, researchers, oncologists, advocates, elected officials, and community leaders – to convene under the national charge to double the rate of progress toward a cure for cancer. Named the Cancer Moonshot, the initiative is being led by Vice President Biden, who will address the summit with a video presentation.
"The Moonshot cannot be achieved by one person, one organization, one discipline, or even one collective approach," Vice President Biden said. "Solving the complexities of cancer will require the formation of new alliances to defy the bounds of innovation and accelerate the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and — ultimately — a cure. It's going to require millions of Americans speaking up and contributing what they're able. That's what the Cancer Moonshot Summit is all about."
Hala Moddelmog, president and CEO of the Metro Atlanta Chamber and former head of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, will serve as host and moderator of the Atlanta summit.
"The key to finding a cancer cure is sharing information, and that's already happening in Atlanta," said Patti Owen, director of oncology services at the Northside Hospital Cancer Institute. "For our cancer patients who become cancer survivors and live extraordinary lives, we want to take action and work together to defeat cancer."
Special guests at the Atlanta summit include Dr. Lisa Richardson, director of the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control at the CDC, and Dr. Al Soltan, president of Georgia Cancer Specialists. Panel discussions will include local cancer experts, advocates, and survivors united by the goal of finding new progress toward a cancer cure.
"Cancer is complex, and strong alliances built from the ground up can make a difference," said Christy Andrews, executive director of Cancer Support Community Atlanta. "Patients and survivors are providing important personal insights about their cancer journeys, and the Cancer Moonshot Summit will enable them to join a new national conversation."
About the National Cancer Moonshot Initiative (www.whitehouse.gov/cancermoonshot)
In his 2016 State of the Union address, President Barack Obama tasked Vice President Biden with heading up a new national effort to end cancer as we know it. The goal of the White House Cancer Moonshot Task Force is to double the rate of progress toward a cure – to make a decade worth of advances in five years.
About the Northside Hospital Cancer Institute (www.northside.com)
The Northside Hospital Cancer Institute is one of the largest and most respected providers of cancer care services in the Southeast. More cancer cases are diagnosed and treated at Northside than at any other hospital in Georgia. Our mission: utilize cutting-edge technology, bring advanced clinical research to the local community, and provide compassionate, patient-centered care to defeat cancer.
About Cancer Support Community Atlanta (www.cscatlanta.org)
Cancer Support Community Atlanta (CSC Atlanta) is the local affiliate of the Cancer Support Community, the largest professionally led non-profit network of cancer support worldwide. CSC's international network includes 170 national affiliates and 4 international affiliates that offer the highest quality social and emotional support to the millions of people touched by cancer. CSC Atlanta opened in 1997 and currently serves 8,000 visitors each year.
SOURCE Northside Hospital
Share this article