National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship Honors Richard Pazdur, MD, and Ellen Goodman
On October 21 in Washington, DC, the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) hosted a reception to honor Richard Pazdur, MD, and Ellen Goodman.
Special guest Robert M. Califf, MD, Deputy Commissioner for Medical Products and Tobacco at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), presented the NCCS Public Service Leadership Award to Dr. Pazdur. A distinguished researcher and leader in clinical trial design and drug development in advanced colorectal cancer, Dr. Pazdur is the Director of the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the FDA. The Public Service Leadership Award is given to an individual whose efforts have advanced cancer survivorship in the public sector.
The inaugural Jessie Gruman Award for Patient Engagement was presented to Ms. Goodman, a Pulitzer Prize–winning columnist, author, and founder of The Conversation Project, a widely celebrated national public health campaign that works to change the way people talk about and prepare for end-of-life care. The award was established with a grant from the Center for Advancing Health to honor the legacy of Dr. Gruman, a tireless advocate and leader in patient empowerment.
The NCCS advocates for quality cancer care for all people touched by cancer and provides tools that empower people to advocate for themselves. Founded by and for cancer survivors, NCCS is a leader in advocating for policy changes that promote quality of care and quality of life after diagnosis. The organization strongly believes in evidence-based advocacy that reflects the needs of cancer patients to effect policy change at the national level.
The NCCS also interviewed Dr. Pazdur and his wife, Mary Pazdur, MSN, CRNP, about the future of oncology research and treatment; how their appreciation of oncology drew them together; and how their experiences with cancer—both personal and professional—have impacted how they view the patient experience. You can watch their entire interview here.
The content in this post has not been reviewed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Inc. (ASCO®) and does not necessarily reflect the ideas and opinions of ASCO®.
