Celebratory gala recognizes seven MPN Heroes™ for their commitment to people living with rare blood disorders
NEW ORLEANS (December 6, 2013) –CURE magazine,
published by Dallas-based CURE Media Group, hosted the inaugural MPN Heroes
recognition reception honoring seven individuals in the field of
myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) on December 6th in New Orleans,
La., prior to the American Society of
Hematology’s annual meeting. The celebratory event, made
possible with financial support from Incyte, honored this unique group of
individuals who have made a difference by going above and beyond the standard
of care, demonstrating leadership within the MPN community, or advancing the
science of MPNs. The celebration also featured advocacy support from community
partners: CancerCare, Cancer
Support Community, Leukemia
Lymphoma Society and the National Organization for Rare Disorders.
“In a
society where we have started to recognize a variety of cancers on national and
international levels, diseases like MPNs and other rare diseases can still go overlooked.
The goal behind this evening’s dinner was simple – we wanted to change that, to
shine a light on a remarkable group of people who are fighting hard to make a
difference in the estimated 300,000 lives of people living with MPNs,” says Kathy LaTour, two-time cancer survivor and editor-at-large of CURE. “MPNs are a group of progressive
blood cancers that can strike anyone at any age, and the Heroes we recognize
through this program have taken their level of commitment in supporting MPNs
and the people living with MPNs to a whole new level.”
The
recipients, selected by a steering committee that included patients, advocates
and healthcare professionals, were recognized in two categories, the first of
which was commitment to the individual. The four recipients in this category
included a patient, an advocate, a caregiver and a hematologist.
Elizabeth
Browning, from Goltewah, Tenn., a caregiver for her husband following his
diagnosis with an MPN, found the strength and determination to find the right
doctor and care plan which gave the couple a new outlook on life. Ron
Kruszewski, from Lake Orion, Mich., is both a patient and advocate who was
recognized for using his personal experience to seek out and help newly
diagnosed patients by offering them education and support.
CURE also recognized Sara
Goldberger, LCSW-R, from Larchmont, N.Y., who was nominated for her outstanding
capacity to increase an individual’s ability to access better care and
treatment. Goldberger, an advocate for patients with MPNs was recognized for
her tireless efforts in providing compassionate support, direction to support
services, and hope for people living with MPNs. Abdulraheem Yacoub, MD, from the University of Kansas Medical Center in
Kansas City, Kan., was recognized for his passion in advancing the research of
MPNs while going above and beyond to offer hope to patients by helping them
find the right care plan as well as access to treatments.
The second category of recipients showcased
individuals whose continuous efforts and commitment have had a resounding
impact on
the broader MPN Community. Ashley
Gould, a San Francisco-based attorney and caregiver to her father who is living
with an MPN, was recognized for her efforts to spearhead an initiative to
create an MPN community through the DNA collection of MPN patients with the
hopes to better understand their diseases. John Mascarenhas, MD, from Mount
Sinai Hospital in New York, N.Y., was recognized for his dedication to the many
MPN patients he cares for as well as the tremendous work he does for the MPN community
through his clinical research and involvement with patient support groups.
Ruben Mesa, MD, from the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., was recognized for
his outstanding patient care and commitment to ongoing research in MPNs by
educating his peers at international conferences and even completing an Ironman
Triathlon to raise money for MPN research.
“Anyone
who has gone through cancer knows that there are those in the cancer community
who go above and beyond. As a member of the steering committee, it wasn’t difficult
to see the difference each of these Heroes makes in the lives of patients with
MPN,” says Kathy LaTour. “Each of them has found a unique way to create an
impact and leave their mark on this community while pushing advocacy and
research efforts forward.”
In an
effort to further increase awareness in the MPN community, Incyte honored the
three Heroes recognized for their impact on the broader MPN community by making
a $25,000 charitable donation to an organization engaged in MPN activities on
behalf of each Hero.
“Incyte
is committed to making a difference in the lives of patients,” stated Paul A.
Friedman, MD, president and chief executive officer, Incyte. “By recognizing
those who work tirelessly on behalf of patients and the broader MPN community,
we can raise awareness of these rare blood cancers and hopefully inspire hope
in those living with these conditions.”
Supporting
the recognition of MPN Heroes and the MPN community is an ongoing effort of
Incyte’s Voices of MPN™ awareness program. For every post made on The Wall of Voices,
Incyte will donate five dollars to the MPN Research Foundation. For more information, visit www.voicesofmpn.com.
About CURE Magazine
CURE
magazine is a free, award-winning publication from Dallas-based CURE Media
Group. By combining science and humanity, CURE helps patients, survivors
and caregivers navigate the cancer journey and understand their diagnosis and
treatment, while providing tools to cope during and after cancer—ultimately
helping them to live the life they aspire to live. Through the magazine and its
associated website, an annual resource guide for the newly diagnosed, books,
and a variety of resources aimed at enhancing communication between healthcare
professionals and patients, CURE provides a wealth of resources for
everyone on the cancer journey. CURE Media Group is affiliated with McKesson Specialty Health, a division of McKesson Corporation.
About
Incyte
Incyte Corporation is a Wilmington,
Delaware-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development
and commercialization of proprietary small molecule drugs for oncology and
inflammation. For additional information on Incyte, please visit the Company's
website at www.incyte.com.
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