Northwest Georgia Regional Cancer Coalition
Leadership:
| Chairman - Sandy McKenzie, VP Hamilton Medical Center |
| Vice-Chairman - Pete Weber, CEO/President Gordon Hospital |
| Secretary - Charles Stewart, CEO/President Hutcheson Medical Center |
| Treasurer - Dan Sweitzer, VP Marketing Floyd Medical Center |
| Executive Director - Gena B. Agnew |
Mission:
To reduce the number of cancer deaths and the mortality rate from cancer in Northwest Georgia.
Goals:
Prevent cancer and detect existing cancers earlier.
The initiative will work to reduce the number of cancer deaths through a focused education and screening effort, with particular emphasis on the cancers that are the major causes of death. Development of a coordinated network of public and private organizations will give NW Georgians greater access to screenings.
Improve access to quality care for all NW Georgians with cancer.
The NWGRCC wants to ensure that basic cancer care is available close to home anywhere in the state. More advances treatment will be available at medical centers in regional service areas, enabling NW Georgians to get quality medical care and participate in clinical trials without leaving the state.
Save more lives in the future.
Through work with medical schools and community oncologists, a mechanism will be put in place to extend and coordinate clinical trials. New detection and treatment methods and technology will contribute to the control of cancer. The cancer research efforts will be multi-institutional where possible.
Train future cancer researchers and caregivers.
The NWGRCC will support using nationally recognized standards for training of future cancer clinicians and development of new training programs for cancer caregivers. Provision will be made for continuing education for practicing clinicians.
Realize economic benefits from eradicating cancer.
Investment in research, expanded capacity and partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies will provide quality jobs to NW Georgians and environmentally clean additions to the economy. Private funding will help support research and launch new developments with commercial potential.
Objectives:
On a more regional note, the NWGRCC has several objectives which it has strived to achieve since its inception in 2003:
1. Improve Access and Availability of Cancer Care
2. Optimize Cancer Control
3. Utilize Evidenced Based Research
4. Improve Cancer and Wellness Education & Communication
5. Encourage Community Involvement
6. Measure Outcomes
7. Advocate for Cancer Patient Rights
8. Resource Development
9. Improve Cultural Competency & Health Literacy
NWGRCC Advisory Board
| Annette Clairy - Public Health Planner District 1-1 Joan Kines - COO Regional Radiation Oncology Center at Rome Judy Taylor, Director of Development Floyd College Robert Brinson, Jr. - CEO ePhys Pat Davis - Pastoral Care Coordinator Hutcheson Medical Center Donna Baggett - Breast Care Coordinator Hutcheson Medical Center Patti Nethery - Director Hospice and Specialty Services Hutcheson Medical Center Cynthia Simonds - President Walker County Chamber of Commerce Dr. George Lee - Family Practice Physician (Smoking Cessation Programs) Eddie Reeves - Shaw Industries Dr. Pablo Perez - Family Practice Physician (Hispanic Health Fair Organizer) Jay Dennard - Vice-President Hamilton Medical Center Jimmy Phillips - President Gordon County Chamber of Commerce (Survivor) Barbara Gibson - Director Gordon County Health Department Jesse Leazer - Georgia Rug Mills (Survivor) |