2 Filipinos among Global Breast Cancer Clinical Program scholars

MANILA, Philippines - In recognition of the 20th anniversary of the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, the Avon Foundation for Women announced its first class of Avon Global Breast Cancer Clinical Scholars Program at the recently concluded Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Forum.

Of the 25 selected scholars, 2 Filipinos made it to the prestigious roster. Drs. Gemma Leonora Uy, MD and Alex Tan, MD will be training at the Georgetown University-Capital Breast Care Center in Washington DC and the University of California Los Angeles-Olive View Medical Center in Los Angeles respectively to study the latest practices in breast surgery. 

The Avon Foundation for Women Global Breast Cancer Clinical Scholars Program — first announced by Reese Witherspoon at Avon’s 2011 Breast Cancer Global Congress — provides clinically-focused scholarship opportunities for breast cancer specialists from outside the United States to receive advanced training at leading US breast cancer centers.

The Avon Foundation Scientific Advisory Board and host institution mentors selected the first class of 25 Avon Global Scholars through a rigorous two-stage review process from 85 applicants from 22 countries.

Uy and Tan joining their fellow clinician scholars in the United States for four to eight weeks of intensive training or preceptorship in breast cancer surgery, pathology, breast imaging (radiology), medical oncology, clinical trial design and community and public health. The scholars arrive at San Francisco on Sept. 10 to attend the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Breast Cancer Symposium, attended by more than 1,100 leading cancer researchers, after which they began their fellowships.

“The Avon Global Breast Cancer Clinical Scholars will receive training from some of the best breast cancer doctors in the United States and will return home with advanced skills and new information that will improve both the treatment and care of women facing breast cancer in their countries,” said Marc Hurlbert, PhD, executive director of the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade. “The scholars will be training at institutions the Avon Foundation has chosen to fund because of their excellence and advancements in breast cancer research, treatment and access to care.”

The Global Breast Cancer Clinical Scholars Program is one of Avon’s many anti-breast cancer initiatives around the world. Locally, Avon Philippines also holds the Kiss Goodbye to Breast Cancer campaign annually, with its signature walk and run events happening in key cities across the country. This year’s series, which marks the campaign’s 20th year, is themed Let’s Walk the Talk, geared towards encouraging and empowering Filipinos nationwide to become agents of knowledge to better fight the physical and emotional realities of the disease through practical and educational means.

Learn more about Avon, its products, its advocacies and its meaningful earning opportunities at www.avon.com.ph.