Founding Organizations and Core Leadership

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The Breast Health Global Initiative (BHGI) is an ongoing program, founded by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Leadership / Executive Committee

BHGI CO-FOUNDER, CHAIR & DIRECTOR
Benjamin O. Anderson, M.D.
Full Member, Epidemiology
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Professor of Surgery
Director, Breast Health Center
University of Washington Medical Center
Seattle, Washington

"We have a wealth of knowledge about saving lives from breast cancer when we have all the resources in place. The Breast Health Global Initiative addresses how to put into practice optimal breast healthcare measures in countries where healthcare resources, and awareness, are limited, and where cultural barriers need to be overcome."

Dr. Anderson is Professor of Surgery at the University of Washington in Seattle. He was recruited to join the University of Washington Breast Care and Cancer Research Program in 1994 and served as the breast program's Clinical Medical Director from 1998 to 2003. As the Director of the University of Washington's Breast Health Center, Dr. Anderson's has devoted his clinical practice to the care of patients with breast cancer and breast health issues. Dr. Anderson received the American Cancer Society Career Development Award for breast cancer research in 1995 and received a joint faculty appointment at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and from 1998 through 2001 served as Associate Program Head for the Hutchinson's Breast Cancer Research Program. Dr. Anderson is the President for the American Society for Breast Disease (ASBD), 2005-2007.

In 2002, Dr. Anderson founded the Breast Health Global Initiative, an international project to define guidelines for breast cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment in countries with limited health care resources. As the BGHI Chair and Director, Dr. Anderson has worked to integrate the development of practical breast health care guidelines into a research framework to promote health care outcomes analysis. He is now focusing BHGI on implementation and study of the Guidelines through international pilot projects to test and validate them, and create modular healthcare programs.

BHGI CHAIRMAN, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Gabriel N. Hortobágyi, MD, FACP
Professor and Chairman of the Department of Breast Medical Oncology Nellie B. Connally Chair in Breast Cancer, Director of the Breast Cancer Research Program
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas Director of the Breast Cancer Research Program
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston, Texas

"Breast cancer recognizes no frontiers: it is a global problem. If we applied all we know today about optimal treatment of breast cancer throughout the world, we would save several hundred thousand lives every year. The Breast Health Global Initiative is an ongoing global alliance and international inquiry into the challenge of improving breast health care around the world. A key step in improving health care is to establish general guidelines for breast health care. The purpose of The Breast Health Global Initiative is to publish "GUIDELINES for International Breast Health Care" oriented to countries with limited resources. Equally important, our purpose is to be a hub for linkages between the clinical, advocacy and public health research communities to advance systemic change for improved breast health care through collective engagement."

Dr. Gabriel N. Hortobágyi chairs the Department of Breast Medical Oncology and directs the Breast Cancer Research Program at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, where he holds the Nellie B. Connally Chair in Breast Cancer. Dr. Hortobagyi is immediate past-President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2006-2007. He is one of the world's leading authorities on the use of chemotherapy for breast cancer.

BHGI Executive Committee Member
Diana Rowden
Vice President, Health Sciences
Susan G. Komen for the Cure

"Susan G. Komen for the Cure's approach has always been based on community solutions and collaborative efforts. The Breast Health Global Initiative is a perfect example of both philosophies. It is a collaborative effort of healthcare professionals, breast cancer advocates and other experts from around the globe, and the efforts are focused on finding solutions that are responsive to local needs, resources, and cultures. The goal is to reduce disparities in breast cancer outcomes and ultimately to save lives around the world."

Diana Rowden has been actively involved in the fight against breast cancer since she was diagnosed with the disease in 1991 at the age of 38.

The year following her diagnosis, she began volunteering with Susan G. Komen for the Cure on their national toll-free help line 1.800.I'M AWARE. She later served on Susan G. Komen for the Cure's executive committee, first as vice-chair of education then as vice-chair of grants. She was named chair-elect for 1996 and then chair of the national board for 1997–1998. After her tenure on the board, Diana continued to represent the Foundation on a number of national and local breast cancer committees and boards. In November 2002, Diana joined Susan G. Komen for the Cure staff as Affiliate Service Manager, in December 2004 assumed the position as Director, International, in 2007 she was appointed Vice President of Health Sciences.

Joe Harford, PhD
Director, Office of International Affairs (OIA), National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Cancer recognizes neither political nor geographic boundaries. Throughout the world, cancer is becoming an increasingly serious public health issue, with malignancies now killing more people worldwide each year than AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined. By 2020, there are projected to be 20 million new cancer cases worldwide each year, with 70% of these occurring in developing countries. The National Cancer Institute is pleased to be a part of the Breast Health Global Initiative, which addresses the issue of breast cancer in low and middle income countries, and pleased to be a supporter of the next BHGI Global Summit on International Breast Health in Hungary in 2007."

Dr Harford has responsibility for a number of interactions involving the NCI and non-US cancer research institutions. He chairs the Strategic Advisory Group of the Ireland-Northern Ireland-NCI Cancer Consortium and is the NCI liaison to the Middle East Cancer Consortium (MECC), the US-Japan Cooperative Cancer Research Program, the Afrrican Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), and the International Network for Cancer Treatment and Research (INCTR). For a number of years, he has represented the United States on the Governing Council of the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). In 2006. Dr. Harford was named the Strategic Leader for the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) in their strategic direction called Knowledge Transfer.

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	Founding Organizations and Core Leadership
	The BHGI Alliance
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