The Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation Awards Grant To Fund Innovative Breast Surgery Training Program

Main Category: Breast Cancer
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 01 Jul 2008 - 0:00 PST

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The American Society of Breast Disease announces the creation of the Mary Kay Ash Advanced Training Program in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery. The Addison-based Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation - a leading philanthropy in the field of cancers affecting women - has approved a two-year $225,000 grant to support this innovative program to train breast surgeons in the emerging field of oncoplastic surgery.

Oncoplastic surgery is a rapidly evolving subspecialty area in the diagnosis and treatment of benign and malignant conditions of the breast. Oncoplastic surgery integrates the knowledge and surgical techniques of surgical oncology with aesthetic and reconstructive surgery.

The American Society of Breast Disease, the nation's only organization serving all healthcare professionals involved in breast cancer and disease diagnosis, treatment, and research, will administer the program. Gail Lebovic, MD, Director, Women's Health, Cooper Clinic, Dallas, Texas, who is among the nation's leading oncoplastic breast surgeons, will serve as the Program Director.

"The objective of oncoplastic breast surgery is to improve aesthetic outcomes after the surgical removal of benign or malignant tumors, and to address any other concerns the patient may have regarding size, shape, and/or symmetry of the breast," said Dr. Lebovic. "As a result, patients benefit from careful and complete preoperative assessment that uses an interdisciplinary approach to help define a comprehensive surgical plan."

"This grant is a natural extension of the Foundation's long history of supporting research involving women's cancers," said Anne Crews, a board member of the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation. "One of the missions of the Foundation is to eliminate cancers affecting women by supporting top medical scientists. We are proud to provide funding for this innovative training as well."

The support of the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation will enable the American Society of Breast Disease to announce the appointment of the program's first trainee in fall, 2008.

About the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation

The Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation was created in 1996 and its mission is two-fold: to fund research of cancers affecting women and help prevent domestic violence while raising awareness of the issue. Since the Foundation's inception, it has awarded more than $14 million to shelters and programs addressing domestic violence and $10.8 million to cancer researchers and related causes throughout the United States. To learn more about the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation, log on to http://www.mkacf.org or call 1-877-MKCARES (652-2737).

About the American Society of Breast Disease

The American Society of Breast Disease is the leading professional medical society in the United States to serve all physicians and allied professionals committed to and advocating an interdisciplinary team approach to breast cancer and disease management, prevention, early detection, treatment, and research. The Society provides professional education programs and advocates for improvements in breast healthcare.

American Society of Breast Disease