Congressional Spouses Honor Three for Cancer Prevention

WASHINGTON—The Congressional Families Action for Cancer Awareness honored three individuals for their dedication to cancer prevention outreach at its Seventh Annual Awards Luncheon.

Katie Couric, co-anchor of NBC’s “Today” show, was honored for increasing awareness of the value of colon cancer screening. Since losing her husband Jay Monahan to colorectal cancer in January 1998, Ms. Couric has taken her personal loss and turned it into a positive action by educating others about cancer prevention. In October 1998, she spearheaded a five-part series on colorectal cancer that aired on “Today,” “NBC Nightly News,” and MSNBC. Ms. Couric also recently launched her own organization to fund colorectal cancer research and to spread the message of early detection.

Deborah Insley Dingell, whose husband is a representative from Michigan, received the award for her advocacy in cancer prevention, treatment, and care in Michigan. Mrs. Dingell is vice-chair of the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, and serves on the advisory boards of the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the NIH Advisory Panel for Women’s Research.

Richard Hirsh, MD, chief of the Division of Diagnostic Radiology, Akron City Hospital, and assistant professor of radiology, Northeastern Ohio University (see photo), was recognized for founding Radiology Mammography International, a nonprofit organization that provides mammography and radiology equipment and cancer education to developing countries. Since the organization’s inception, Dr. Hirsh has led missions to Honduras, Armenia, Cuba, and Nicaragua.

The Congressional Families Action for Cancer Awareness program was founded in 1991 by the Congressional Club and the Cancer Research Foundation of America. Led by Linda Bachus, congressional spouse from Alabama, it is a bipartisan outreach effort by the families of Senate, House, Cabinet, and Supreme Court members. Congressional spouses work in their respective states and home districts to focus constituents’ attention on the importance of cancer awareness.