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Avon Foundation Supports Summit Addressing Racial Disparity in Breast Cancer
May 11, 2007
The Chicago Breast Cancer Summit works on reducing the disparity in breast cancer mortality rates.
In response to a report issued in October 2006 that made headlines in the U.S. about the alarming disparities in breast cancer mortality rates between African-American women and Caucasian women in Chicago, a Citywide Task Force recently gathered an unprecedented number of Chicago health care providers, cancer experts and public health officials to take part in a breast cancer summit to tackle the issue.
Marc Hulbert, Ph.D., Scientific Director and Senior Consultant, Avon Foundation, along with other cancer care experts delivered presentations and participated in working sessions addressing the three possible causes for disparities: differences in quality of mammography screenings for African-American and Caucasian women, differences in access to timely screenings and treatment, and differences in the quality of the breast cancer treatment.
The Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force was chaired by several of Chicago's most prominent public health leaders: Ruth Rothstein, former Chief of the Cook County Bureau of Health Services; Sister Sheila Lyne, RSM, CEO of Mercy Medical Center and past Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Health; and Donna Thompson, CEO of Access Community Health Network. Dr. John Ayanian from Harvard University, one of the nation's foremost national experts on racial disparities and how they relate to quality health care and treatment, delivered the keynote address.
The Avon Foundation, already a key contributor to breast cancer and research care across the city and nationwide, provided funding to support the work of the Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force. The Foundation will also review the Task Force recommendations, which are expected in October 2007, and will implement programs to overcome disparities in breast cancer.
To learn more about the work of the Avon Foundation, visit www.avonfoundation.org.
