On Thursday, Sept. 27, the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship hosted its annual Rays of Hope® event, inviting a panel of experts to discuss quality cancer care in the U.S., hosted by Susan Dentzer, Editor-in-Chief of Health Affairs. NCCS also honored Amanda Bennett, Executive Editor, Bloomberg News, and author of The Cost of Hope, and Amy J. Berman, Senior Program Officer, The John A. Hartford Foundation, Inc., for their work to raise awareness of cancer survivorship.
Moderator Susan Dentzer lead the panelists in a lively discussion about the issues confronting cancer survivors who are pursuing quality cancer care; fundamental changes in the U.S. health care system through the implementation of the Affordable Care Act; and the gaps in cancer care quality and delivery.
Panelists:
- Amanda Bennett, Executive Editor, Bloomberg News, Author, The Cost of Hope and Pulitzer Prize winner
- Amy J. Berman, RN, Senior Program Officer, The John A. Hartford Foundation, Inc.
- Stuart Butler, Ph.D., Director, Center for Policy Innovation, The Heritage Foundation
- Harold Freeman, MD, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention
- Scott Gottlieb, M.D., Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
- Clifford A. Hudis, M.D., Chief, Breast Cancer Medicine Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 2013 President-Elect of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
- Thomas Smith, M.D., Director of Palliative Care, Johns Hopkins University, Sidney Kimmel Cancer CenterNCCS presented Amanda Bennett with the Natalie David Spingarn Writer’s Award for shedding light on the role of hope in cancer survivorship and raising awareness of many of the critical issues people face as they challenge a cancer diagnosis. In her book, The Cost of Hope, Amanda Bennett uncovers the medical and financial facts of her husband’s illness, presenting the price—as well as payoffs—of hope through her personal experience with cancer.NCCS also recognized Amy Berman with the President’s Award for her choice to preserve her quality of life when faced with an advanced cancer diagnosis. Since her personal experience, Berman has been a vocal advocate for palliative care and quality-of-life choices for people with terminal illnesses.NCCS advocates for quality cancer care for all people touched by cancer and strongly believes in evidence-based advocacy that reflects the needs of all cancer survivors to effect policy change at the national level. NCCS actively provides input on proposed policies that ensure access to health insurance for quality care; the highest quality patient-centered cancer care; and the removal of barriers to quality care.
2012 Rays of Hope Photo Album
