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February 3, 2015

The Less Cancer Campaign Convenes Experts and Advocates at the U.S. Capitol to Discuss New Efforts to Stop Cancer on National Cancer Prevention Day

Washington, D.C. – Legislators, scientists, doctors, advocates and industry will gather at the U.S. Capitol on February 4 to discuss the latest developments in cancer prevention strategies and mark National Cancer Prevention Day, a resolution introduced by U.S. Representative Steve Israel.

Less Cancer’s efforts to educate the public about stopping cancer before it starts on Cancer Prevention Day will include prominent speakers and a panel discussion led by Margaret I. Cuomo, M.D., author of ”A World Without Cancer” and Less Cancer board member.

Less Cancer’s efforts in bringing attention to cancer prevention have been heard around the globe engaging and educating millions of web and social media users. This fourth annual gathering offers a dynamic exchange of information and insights in a collaborative effort to prevent cancer.

WHEN:
9:00 a.m. Doors Open
February 4, 2015

WHERE:
The Cannon Building Caucus Room
27 Independence Avenue SE
Washington, DC

WHAT:

The day’s events are open to media and will feature high profile speakers and a panel of experts discussing the latest developments in cancer prevention:

• Special guest speaker David L. Katz, M.D. MPH will deliver The Ronald B. Herberman, M.D. Memorial Lecture.

• Rep. Steve Israel (NY) will introduce a Resolution for National Cancer Prevention Day that serves to remind people that when looking at cancer, they need to consider prevention and reducing risks for human health and the environment.

• Rep. Charlie Dent (PA), Rep. Debbie Dingell (MI), and Rep. Don Beyer (VA).

• Journalist and Team Less Cancer member Miles O’Brien will present alongside Less Cancer Bike Ride Founder Suzi Tobias.

• The 2015 Less Cancer Leadership Award will go to Film Director Jon Whelan, the director of “Stink!”, a documentary about Whelan’s quest to uncover the source of a chemical scent in his daughter’s pajamas.

• Closing speaker is Anand K. Parekh, M.D., MPH Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

WHO:

Participants in National Cancer Prevention Day at the U.S. Capitol will include:

• Guest speaker David L. Katz, M.D. MPH will deliver The Ronald B. Herberman, M.D. Memorial Lecture. Dr. Katz is recognized globally for expertise in nutrition, weight management and the prevention of chronic disease. He has delivered addresses in numerous countries on four continents, and has been acclaimed by colleagues as the “poet laureate” of health promotion. He has authored over 200 scientific papers and chapters, 15 books, and well over 1,000 columns and blogs- with a resulting social media following of roughly 500,000.
• Margaret I. Cuomo, M.D., Less Cancer board member and author of A World Without Cancer, will serve as panel moderator. Margaret I. Cuomo, MD, is a board certified radiologist, teaching professional, and national advocate for the prevention of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Her recent book, “A World Without Cancer: The Making of a New World and the Real Promise of Prevention,” presents a provocative and surprising look into the ways that profits, personalities, and politics obstruct real progress in the war on cancer.
• Film Director Jon Whelan, like most Americans, Whelan believed that if a product was on the store shelf then it must be safe. Through his investigation, Whelan discovers a culture of secrecy surrounding carcinogens in everyday consumer products that begins in corporate board rooms and extends all the way to the halls of Congress.
• Lawrence “Bopper” Deyton, M.D., Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Public Health and Professor of Medicine at the George Washington School of Medicine.
• Sandra Read, M.D., a dermatologist and past Co-Chair of the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention.
• Tom Sherman, M.D., Chairman of the Less Cancer Board, and a state legislator from New Hampshire.
• Closing Speaker Anand K. Parekh, M.D., M.P.H. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health (Science and Medicine) at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Panelists:
• Graham A. Colditz, M.D., Dr. P.H. Deputy Director, Institute for Public Health, Chief of The Division of Public Health Sciences and Niess-Gain Professor of Surgery, School of Medicine.
• John D. Groopman, Ph.D., Dr. John Groopman is the Anna M. Baetjer Professor of Environmental Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and theAssociate Director for Cancer Prevention and Control at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center in the School of Medicine.
• Christopher A. Loffredo, Ph.D., Co-Director of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program of the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University
• Deborah Raphael, Director, San Francisco Dept. of Environment.
• Marc D. Schwartz, Ph.D., Co-Director of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program of the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University.
• David Widawsky, Ph.D., Director Chemistry, Economics, and Sustainable Strategies Division Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, US EPA.

About Less Cancer
The Less Cancer Campaign is an effort of the Next Generation Choices Foundation. Formed in 2004 in response to the escalating incidences of cancer, the organization is committed to cancer prevention and breaking the cycle on increased incidence of cancer.
Next Generation Choices Foundation partners with communities to create and share online educational tools that focus on environmental health—including exposures to toxins, pesticides, healthy housing, food supply, and factory farming. The organization has been active in educating on lifestyle issues such as diet, smoking and tanning and has been instrumental in educating lawmakers. The Foundation works to protect the public through community education, policies and best practices from the legislative branch to Corporate America.

The Next Generation Choices Foundation Board is Chaired By Thomas M. Sherman, MD, and Board Members include Bill Couzens, Margaret I. Cuomo, M.D., Greg Lam, Veronique Pittman, Maryann Donovan PhD, MPH, Miles O’Brien, John Couzens, Stormy Stokes Hood, KC Graham, Larry Fisher, David MacDonald, Natalia (Ali) Pejacsevich and Ronald B. Herberman, M.D. (In memory).

Less Cancer Founder and President Bill Couzens originally hails from Detroit and is a graduate of Wayne State University. He initiated National Cancer Prevention Day as a working day to better understand the work that needs to be accomplished in the cancer prevention arena. Read his latest blog in the Huffington Post: Breaking the Cycle on Cancer