Applications on for Avon Global Breast Cancer Scholar Program

MANILA, Philippines - The Avon Foundation for Women has announced a call for applicants for the second class of the Avon Global Breast Cancer Clinical Scholars Program, which will train breast cancer specialists living outside the United States at 12 leading Avon Foundation-funded US breast cancer centers beginning May 2014.

The goal of the Avon Global Scholars program is to provide advanced training to doctors so they can bring new skills and information to their home countries that will improve the treatment and care of breast cancer patients.

Breast cancer ranks as one of the leading causes of cancer mortality among women globally, in both developed and developing countries.

Many developing countries experience lower survival rates because they do not have breast cancer awareness or early detection programs and experience critical shortages in trained breast cancer specialists and services.

The 2014 Avon Global Breast Cancer Scholars Program will bring 24 physicians to the United States for a four- to eight-week intensive training/preceptorship in breast cancer surgery, pathology, breast imaging (radiology), medical oncology, clinical trial design and community and public health at Avon Foundation-funded breast cancer centers in the US.

The Avon Foundation Scientific Advisory Board and host institution mentors will select the Avon Global Scholars through a rigorous two-stage review.

The inaugural Avon Global Scholars program in 2012 received 85 applicants from 22 countries, of which 25 scholars from 14 countries — from Armenia to Zambia — were selected.

Avon Philippines is proud to recognize Dr. Alex Tan from the Davao Regional Hospital in Davao City, who spent his time at the University of California Los Angeles-Olive View Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, and Dr. Gemma Leonora Uy, from the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital in Manila, who spent her time at the Georgetown University-Capital Breast Care Center, Washington DC in 2012 as an Avon Global Breast Cancer Clinical Scholar.

On his stint as part of the Avon Global Breast Cancer Scholars Program, Tan said, “I believe I can help make a difference in the fight against breast cancer by developing enhance programs for breast cancer awareness, diagnosis and education. Improving our treatment protocols and technical knowhow are ways of striving toward an innovative endeavor in improving outcomes.”

The 2014 Avon Global Breast Cancer Clinical Scholars will study at the following 12 Avon Foundation-funded institutions, selected for their excellence and advancements in breast cancer research, treatment and access to care. Each institution will host two Avon Global Scholars:

• Boston Medical Center (Boston, Massachusetts)

• Emory University - Grady Memorial Hospital (Atlanta, Georgia)

• Georgetown University-Capital Breast Care Center (Washington, DC)

• Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, Maryland)

• Magee-Women’s Hospital, University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

• Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston, Massachusetts)

• New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia University Medical Center (New York, New York)

• Northwestern University (Chicago, Illinois)

• Sinai Urban Health Institute (Chicago, Illinois)

• University of California Los Angeles – Olive View Medical Center (Los Angeles, California)

• University of California San Francisco – San Francisco General Hospital (San Francisco, California)

• Washington University St. Louis (St. Louis, Missouri)

“Our first class of Global Scholars is back in their home countries applying new advanced skills to improve both the treatment and care of women facing breast cancer in their countries. We are pleased we will be bringing 24 new physicians to the United States in May 2014 to receive training from some of the best breast cancer doctors in the US,” said Marc Hurlbert, Ph.D., executive director of the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade.

Breast cancer specialists living outside the US can apply online to the Avon Global Breast Cancer Clinical Scholars Program. The initial stage of the application process, which requires a letter of intent, is due Dec. 9.