SAN DIEGO — The American Association for Cancer Research is pleased to announce that Claudia R. Baquet, M.D., M.P.H., will present the third annual AACR Distinguished Lecture on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities, funded by Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.
Baquet will deliver her lecture, "Advancing the Science of Cancer Health Disparities: The Case for Public Trust, Bioethics, Research Literacy and Biospecimen Science," on Saturday, Oct. 27 during the opening plenary session of the Fifth AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities, in San Diego, Calif., which begins at 6:30 p.m. PT.
Members of the media who cannot attend the conference in person can listen to Baquet's lecture, along with the keynote address given by Howard Koh, M.D., M.P.H., assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, using the following information:
U.S./Canada (toll free): 1 (800) 446-2782
International (toll call): 1 (847) 413-3235
Baquet is being honored for her contributions to the science of cancer health disparities, and for laying the foundation for the field of research that is now called "health disparities," dating back to her landmark research at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and her role on the Secretary's Task Force on Black and Minority Health Chapters on Cancer and Health Services.
"We are pleased to recognize Dr. Baquet with this distinguished lectureship," said Margaret Foti, Ph.D., M.D. (h.c.), chief executive officer of the AACR. "Her outstanding leadership and research efforts in cancer health disparities have elevated the field, leading to policy change at the NCI in how race- and ethnic-specific data are included in cancer statistics. Dr. Baquet is truly an advocate for improved health care, specifically among those in underserved communities."
Founded in 2010, the AACR Distinguished Lecture on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities recognizes an investigator whose novel and significant work has had or may have a far-reaching impact on the etiology, detection, diagnosis, treatment or prevention of cancer health disparities.
"Dr. Baquet's work has been instrumental in our understanding of the issues that underlie the significant disparities in cancer outcomes for minority and underserved populations," said Chandini Portteus, vice president of research, evaluation and scientific programs for Komen. "She is highly regarded not just for her scientific and clinical expertise, but for making tangible strides toward health equity, and we are delighted that she is being recognized."
As associate dean for policy and planning at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, Baquet serves as an advocate for better health care, including issues relating to the health needs and models for underserved communities, telemedicine and rural health initiatives. She is professor of medicine and director of the National Bioethics and Health Disparities Research Center at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and also serves as director of the Maryland Area Health Education Center Program, director of the Center for Health Policy/Health Services Research and director of the Center for Health Disparities.
In 2003, Baquet became director of the University of Maryland Comprehensive Center for Health Disparities. She was formally recognized by the Maryland Senate for her work to reduce cancer disparities and most recently for her longstanding commitment to the community. In 2002, she served as the chair of the Governor's Commission for the Prevention of Infant Mortality and received the Governor's Citation for her work toward the reduction of the Maryland infant mortality rate.
Last year she received the Martin Abeloff Award for Excellence in Cancer Research, Education and Cancer Control from the Maryland Governor's Cancer Council. In 2010, she was awarded the American Cancer Society National Board of Directors St. George Award. Her other awards include: the National Institutes of Health Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Special Award for Closing the Health Gap in the Communities We Serve; the American Public Health Association's 2005 David P. Rall Award for Advocacy in Public Health; the Racial Justice Award from the YWCA of the Greater Baltimore Area; the 2004 co-recipient of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Best Practice Award for Increasing Availability of Community-Based Clinical Trials on the Eastern Shore; and the National Medical Association's Council on Concerns for Women Physicians Research Award.
Baquet received her medical degree in 1977 from Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tenn., and her master's in public health in epidemiology in 1983 from Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Md.
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About the American Association for Cancer Research
Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the world's first and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission to prevent and cure cancer. AACR membership includes more than 34,000 laboratory, translational and clinical researchers; population scientists; other health care professionals; and cancer advocates residing in more than 90 countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise of the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, biology, diagnosis and treatment of cancer by annually convening more than 20 conferences and educational workshops, the largest of which is the AACR Annual Meeting with more than 17,000 attendees. In addition, the AACR publishes seven peer-reviewed scientific journals and a magazine for cancer survivors, patients and their caregivers. The AACR funds meritorious research directly as well as in cooperation with numerous cancer organizations. As the scientific partner of Stand Up To Cancer, the AACR provides expert peer review, grants administration and scientific oversight of team science and individual grants in cancer research that have the potential for near-term patient benefit. The AACR actively communicates with legislators and policymakers about the value of cancer research and related biomedical science in saving lives from cancer.
For more information about the AACR, visit www.AACR.org.
About Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer. Today, Susan G. Komen for the Cure works to end breast cancer in the U.S. and throughout the world through ground-breaking research, community health outreach, advocacy and programs in more than 30 countries with a special focus on low-resource and developing nations. Visit komen.org. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.