Roswell Park Recognizes Staff, Community Supporters at Eva M. Noles Program

Scholarship in tribute to Buffalo’s first African-American nurse awarded; several recognized for disparities outreach

Lindsay Frazier, a Telephone Interviewer in the Department of Health Behavior at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, earned the $2,000 Eva M. Noles Scholarship Friday, December 2 at the fourth annual Eva M. Noles Recognition Program at Roswell Park. The annual program honors the legacy of Eva M. Noles, RN, Buffalo’s first African-American registered nurse and a longtime Roswell Park employee who served in many leadership roles at the Institute, including as Director of Nursing.

Frazier joined Roswell Park’s staff in 2007 and has been a volunteer for the Buffalo/Niagara Witness Project, an outreach program operated through the Office of Cancer Health Disparities Research. She is pursuing a degree in medical technology at the University at Buffalo and plans to continue her work in healthcare, helping to fight health disparities in the Buffalo area. “From her first days with us, Lindsay has committed herself wholeheartedly to the Roswell Park mission,” said Reggie Clark, Roswell Park’s Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion. “She has contributed as both an employee and a volunteer, and now we have a great opportunity to reward that commitment — which embodies the work, spirit and legacy of Ms. Noles — and help her achieve her career goals by providing a scholarship toward her studies in medical technology.”

LaVonne E. Ansari, PhD, CEO and Executive Director of the Community Health Center of Buffalo, Inc., gave the keynote address at the program, during which several Roswell Park staff members and volunteers were recognized for their role in providing cancer education and preventive outreach to underserved communities throughout Western New York. Among those recognized were Charley Ferguson of the Buffalo Bills Alumni and MAN UP, or Minorities Allied for the Need to Understand Prostate Cancer; Kenneth Turner of Roswell Park’s Community Advisory Steering Committee; Maria Torres, a volunteer with the Esperanza y Vida program; and Nancy Spencer, a volunteer with the Buffalo/Niagara Witness Project.

Staff and volunteers were also recognized for their contributions to Cruisin’ for a Cure, a prostate cancer education and screening event held at Roswell Park in September, including several community partners: James Anderson, Roland Bittles, Charles Chandler, Jr., Charles Chandler III, James Dorsey, Sandi Dorsey, Deborah Gabriel, Karen Hall, Ramon Heron, Angela Leavy, Michael Sweeney and David Von Derau, Jr.

Media Contact

Annie Deck-Miller, Senior Media Relations Manager
716-845-8593; annie.deck-miller@roswellpark.org