For Immediate Release
May 1, 2008

BUFFALO, NY- Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) and its partners, the American Cancer Society (Eastern Division), the American College of Surgeons and the New York State Department of Health are hosting the inaugural WNY Cancer Coalition Summit, May 2, 8 am - 12:45 pm at Holiday Valley, Ellicottville, NY.

The Summit, designed for health professionals, advocates and educators working in cancer care, is a grassroots approach to the implementation of the New York State Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan (NYSCCCP) which outlines goals and strategies to reduce the burden of cancer in New York State by the year 2010.

Invited speakers and their topics include:

• Dave Momrow, MPH, Senior Vice President for Cancer Control, American Cancer Society, Eastern Division – “Conception & Birth of the New York State Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan”
• Kristen Admiraal, Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, New York State Department of Health – “Implementation of the NYSCCCP”
• Stephen Edge, MD, Interim Chair of Department of Surgery, Roswell Park Cancer Institute – “American College of Surgeons and Commission on Cancer Perspective”
• Hillary Clarke, Regional Advocacy Director and Federal Issues Manager, American Cancer Society, Eastern Division – “Access to Care”
• Christy Widman, Partnership Program Coordinator, National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service of New York – “Tools & Resources – Cancer PLANET”
• Ashwani Rajput, MD, FACS, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Department of Medicine, RPCI – “Summary of Current Activities and Next Steps”

This activity was planned in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of Roswell Park Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society, American College of Surgeons and the New York State Department of Health. RPCI is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to sponsor continuing medical education for physicians and has designated this continuing medical education activity for a maximum of 3 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. 

For more information or to register for the Western New York Cancer Coalition Summit, contact Kristen Admiraal at KRA01@health.state.ny.us or (518) 408-1264.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation’s first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers. Roswell Park has affiliate sites and collaborative programs in New York, Pennsylvania, and in China. For more information, visit RPCI’s website at www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or e-mail askrpci@roswellpark.org.

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