Cancer Connection’s annual Community Health Forum, held on October 25th, featured an inspiring and informative presentation on “State-of-the-Art Cancer Care: Hope, Innovation, and Humanity in Oncology.” The presenter, Prakash Vishnu, MD, FACP, engaged the audience in a fascinating review of the progress that has been made in understanding cancer, the new ways of treating it, and the importance of quality of life after treatment. Dr. Vishnu works at Bartlett Medical Oncology Center part-time and is an associate professor at University of Washington School of Medicine.
In addition to hearing Dr. Vishnu’s presentation, participants gathered valuable information from local health-related agencies, and enjoyed a healthy lunch, a hallmark of the annual health forums.
During the forum, Cancer Connection presented the following awards: Medical Professional of the Year: Alex Gonnsen, R.T. (T); Survivor of the Year: Larry Olson; Philanthropist of the Year: Petersburg Beat the Odds Committee; Corporate Sponsor of the Year: AB Cleaning Services; Volunteer of the Year: Tish Griffin Satre.
Cancer Connection is grateful to the following individuals, businesses and organizations for their contributions to the forum. Community Health Forum Sponsors: Alaska Imaging; Alaska Run for Women; Alaska Technical Solutions; Aurora Integrated Oncology Foundation; Bartlett Regional Hospital; Cancer Connection Board of Directors; Juneau Auto Mall; Southeast Radiation Oncology Center; and State of Alaska Department of Health. Helpful Contributors: Breeze In; Centennial Hall staff; Core Design and Consulting; Jacque Farnsworth; Richard Hebhardt; Juneau Arts and Humanities Council; PEO Chapter D (Diane Champion; Sharon Denton; Rita Dienst; Marianne Dierkman; Sherie Dye; Adele Fanning; Mary Lou Gerbi; Lydia Heidemann; Paula Kalbrener; Amy Lujan; Hazel McWilliams; Jeanette Miller; Melinda Pearce; and Bobi Trani); Printing Trade Company; SEARHC Community Wellness Nutrition Services; and Leslie Wood. Exhibitors who supplied important health-related resources: American Association of Retired Persons (AARP); American Red Cross of Alaska; Aurora Integrated Oncology Foundation; Bartlett Regional Hospital Diagnostic Imaging; Bartlett Home Care and Hospice; Healing Touch Alaska; Let Every Woman Know; Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC); and Southeast Radiation Oncology Center.
If you or someone you know in Southeast Alaska needs support related to a cancer diagnosis, please contact our office: admin@cancerconnectionak.org or call 907-796-2273.
Jean Findley is the Cancer Connection office manager.