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News Archive - Progress Newsletter Fall 2002 Online

Notes from around the Cancer Center

• The Cancer Center Says Goodbye To a Good Friend
• Merajver presented with two awards for leadership, research at U-M Cancer Center
• Caring Quilts & Dolls
• U-M Serves as the Medical Sponsor for the Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk

 

The Cancer Center Says Goodbye To a Good Friend

On Tuesday, April 16, 2002, Robert Urich, actor and benefactor to the U-M Cancer Center, lost his battle with sarcoma. Max Wicha, M.D., U-M Cancer Center director, and Laurence Baker, D.O., deputy director of the Cancer Center and program leader for sarcoma, expressed their thoughts and appreciation for Robert Urich, "who has been both a patient and a supporter of our Cancer Center and its sarcoma program for several years. He used his celebrity, even in a time of great personal difficulty, to advance the public's awareness and science's understanding of sarcoma, and for this we owe him a lasting debt of gratitude...Tomorrow's sarcoma patients, and perhaps those with other forms of cancer as well, will benefit from the fruits of the research that his foundation is designed to support."
Robert and his wife Heather established the Urich Fund for Sarcoma Research at the Cancer Center more than two years ago. He was active in raising funds for the Center, with sales of T-shirts and autographed photos available through his web site. He sponsored the first Robert Urich Golf Classic on November 19, 2001.

Heather Urich, Wayne Gretzky, Emeril Lagasse and Ed Wilson will co-chair The Robert Urich Memorial Golf Classic & Tribute Dinner Gala on October 27 and 28 at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California. For more information, please contact Janet Roth at (734) 615-0665.

 

Merajver presented with two awards for leadership, research at U-M Cancer Center

Sofia D. Merajver, M.D., associate professor of internal medicine and director of the U-M Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk Evaluation Program, was recognized with two awards for her exceptional leadership and research at the U-M Cancer Center.

In April, the Ford Motor Company presented Dr. Merajver with the 2002 Ford Leadership in Health Award. Dr. Merajver's peers at the U-M Cancer Center nominated her for this award to acknowledge her commitment to breast and ovarian cancer research. As part of the award, she will receive a $10,000 stipend to further her research at the Center.

The award, which is the first of its kind, was established by the Ford Motor Company to acknow-ledge a U-M Cancer Center faculty member's excellence in leadership and service in research, patient care and/or teaching each year.

Then, in June, Dr. Merajver was presented with the 2002 ARVON Women of Achievement Award by the Miss Michigan Scholarship Organization. The award is presented each year to a Michigan woman who has served as a role model in the fields of leadership and service. Last year, Michigan's First Lady, Michelle Engler, was the first woman to receive this award.

The Organization specifically selected Dr. Merajver for the award for her volunteer work throughout Michigan, which it says reflects her dedication to patient-centered research and medical care. As the award's recipient, Dr. Merajver will also receive $500 to donate to the Michigan charity of her choice.

For her work with breast cancer and ovarian research, Dr. Merajver has also received funding from the grass roots West Michigan organization Tempting Tables, the Muskegon Country Club Ladies Golf Association "Rally for a Cause" and the Players That Care Foundation. In addition, her work is funded by the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Army Breast Cancer Research Program, the Susan G. Komen Breast Foundation and several U-M research initiatives.

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Caring Quilts & Dolls

Dinosaurs are my favorite!" "The colors are so bright!" These are the comments U-M Cancer Center Pediatric Hematology/ Oncology caregivers hear from children and teens as they carefully choose a special quilt during their early weeks of treatment. Through the kindness of several community quilting groups, youngsters and teens confronting the challenges of cancer and other serious illnesses are comforted by warm and cozy quilts. These beautiful, bright quilts uplift the spirits of children and families with their whimsical fabrics and color designs. Many of the youngsters cuddle in the soft quilts during clinic or hospital visits and the long trips home.

Various quilting enthusiasts, representing Midland Quiltmakers, the St. John's Episcopal Sanford Lighthouse Church "Loveknots" Quilters of Midland, carefully piece swatches of fabric into childlike designs. The St. George's Episcopal Church Quilters of Milford also sew beautiful creations that fold into pillows

as gestures of support. Other community groups and individuals make afghans, hats, scarves and mittens for children, teens and adults undergoing therapy. For the past several years, Detroit Hadassah has sewn and delivered medical play dolls to the Child and Family Life Program, enabling children to personalize the creations and "play through" medical experiences.

Indeed, the quilts, dolls and other handmade gifts reflect the compassionate thoughts of those who care from afar and are gentle deeds nurturing the hearts of all.

 

U-M Serves as the Medical Sponsor for the Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk

from left to right: walkers Patricia Settimi and Anne Anderson Cooper; Marcy Waldinger, Cancer Center Administrator and Dan Hayes, M.D., clinical director of the Breast Oncology Program.

 

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