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Health & Fitness

Zero Breast Cancer Honors Healers, Researchers and Leaders at Annual Honor Thy Healer Program

Zero Breast Cancer, a community non-profit organization based in Marin County, honored nine individuals and businesses for their contributions to understanding breast cancer and the healing process, and for leadership in improving the community’s health. The awards were presented at the 14th Annual Honor Thy Healer program on Thursday, May 9, at the Mill Valley Community Center. Two hundred attendees included business sponsors, healthcare leaders, honoree supporters, prior honorees, public officials, breast cancer advocates and community members. One of the highlights of the evening was Honorary Chair and Keynote Speaker, Tom Scott, Director of Global Branding and Innovation at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation . Zero Breast Cancer Executive Director Janice Barlow highlighted progress in research on breast cancer and the environment. The 2013 awards and honorees are: The Community Breast Cancer Research award was presented to CYGNET Study co-investigators Louise Greenspan, MD, Kaiser Permanente San Francisco; Gayle Windham PhD, MSPH, California Department of Public Health, and Julianna Deardorff, PhD, UC Berkeley School of Public Health. This team is investigating how environmental exposures and biological and socioeconomic factors influence girl’s transitions through puberty and potential breast cancer risk. The CYGNET Study is directed through the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in collaboration with UCSF and Zero Breast Cancer, with funding from the NIEHS-NCI Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Program. In her acceptance speech, Dr. Louise Greenspan thanked everyone who worked together on the CYGNET Study and was excited about her experience at the awards program saying “It was wonderful to see how many different people and diverse organizations are working on prevention of breast cancer and in support of those with the disease.” The Healing Professional is David Gullion, MD, a medical oncologist with Marin Specialty Care and medical director of the Center for Integrative Health and Wellness at Marin General Hospital. Dr. Gullion was recognized for his humanistic approach to the medical treatment of women with breast cancer. He spoke at the event on the themes of Gratitude, Service and Courage that guide his work. The Hal Brown Shining Star honoree is exercise physiologist Regan Fedric, ACSM, CES, co-founder of Sunflower Wellness, a non-profit organization that promotes movement and exercise to improve the lives of those living with cancer. Ms. Fedric conducts cancer exercise programs at the Marin General Center for Integrative Health and Wellness, the Bay Club Marin, Smith Integrative Oncology, Rolling Hills Club and the UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center. Marin County Supervisor Kate Sears participated in the presentation of this award. The Healing Partner is clinical health psychologist Carol Kronenwetter, PhD, a private practitioner and consultant at the California Pacific Medical Center Breast Health Center in San Francisco. Dr. Kronenwetter facilitates specialized groups for women with breast cancer, advocates for their optimal treatment and recovery, and guides them through survivorship. She spoke of the power of human connections that form the basis of healing partnerships. The Francine Levien Activist honorees are Stig Westling, MBA, Jonathan Mooney, MBA and Janine Elliott, MBA, co-founders of Skip to Renew, a start-up company launched in 2009 in partnership with the Dominican University Venture Greenhouse business accelerator. Skip To Renew provides high-quality renewable, non-toxic and biodegradable industrial lubricants made from sustainably-sourced plant and algae oils, including lubricants for bicycle chain links. Ms. Elliott challenged the audience to practice environmentally sustainable policies in their everyday purchases of consumer goods. Video biographies about the honorees produced by The Big Picture Film & Video Arts, Inc. were shown during the awards presentations. Proceeds from the event support ZBC’s research and education programs. Zero Breast Cancer is a community based organization dedicated to prevention and finding the causes of breast cancer through local participation in the scientific research process. We focus on identifying environmental factors and the role they play in breast cancer at all stages of life and across generations. ###

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