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From left: Bob Bell, Jeff Murphy, Tony Hollingsworth, Ph.D., James Armitage, M.D., and Doug Murphy. Drs. Armitage and Hollingsworth were the first recipients of the Carol Bell Distinguished Scientist Award, named by Bob Bell and his sons, Jeff and Doug Murphy, in memory of Carol Bell, wife of Bob Bell and longtime Omaha volunteer who died from cancer in 1997. Bob Bell is vice president for community relations development for UNeMed Corporation. |
In 10 years, it’s estimated 20 million people in the world will die of cancer. One in three women likely will get cancer. For men, the odds are one in two.
But there’s good news.
There are 10 million Americans alive today as cancer survivors, said Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center. “Research is leading the way to new therapies. The chances of surviving cancer now are greater than ever before.”
The UNMC Eppley Cancer Center has grown in research funding, faculty and fundraising, Dr. Cowan said, noting it has received $11.4 million in fundraising since 1999.
Dr. Cowan’s remarks on Oct. 4 capped a day that included a campus reception hosted by Gail and Mike Yanney, in honor of Mogens and Cindy Bay, honorary chairs for the 2006 Ambassador of Hope Gala; and William Hait, M.D., Ph.D., senior vice president of Worldwide Hematology and Oncology Research for Johnson & Johnson and president of the American Association for Cancer Research. Dr. Hait delivered the Mogens and Cindy Bay Lectureship earlier in the day.
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From left: Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Eppley Cancer Center; William Hait, M.D., Ph.D; and Cindy and Mogens Bay. |
Carol Bell, a longtime Omaha volunteer who died from cancer in 1997, was the wife of Bob Bell, vice president for community relations development for UNeMed Corporation, UNMC’s technology transfer organization. Bell and his family created the Carol Bell Lectureship, the forerunner of the Carol Bell Distinguished Scientist Award.
Honorees were James Armitage, M.D., the Joe Shapiro Professor of Medicine, and Tony Hollingsworth, Ph.D., professor, UNMC Eppley Institute. They were selected for their outstanding contributions and nationally recognized research programs in addition to their strong leadership roles in UNMC Eppley Cancer Center.
Dr. Armitage, a world-renowned expert in lymphoma, was Carol Bell’s physician when she was diagnosed with cancer. He said Bell, who was the kind of patient that inspires physicians, was always smiling and upbeat.
“As a physician, it was humbling to see how much courage she showed in the face of a disease that’s fatal. It would have been very easy to be pretty bitter. It’s a great honor to have an award that’s in her name. It means a lot. This award is special to me. Bob (Bell) has become a very good friend over the years.”
In accepting his award, Dr. Hollingsworth told the audience about the influence Carol Bell has on him daily. A Carol Bell Memorial Lectureship plaque hangs on the wall in the Eppley Science Hall.
“I walk by that plaque and look at it every day,” said Dr. Hollingsworth, a leader in pancreatic cancer research. “It reminds me of her contributions and your contributions to cancer research at UNMC. It’s truly an honor to receive this award, which reflects the efforts of members of my lab over the years. Anything I’ve been able to accomplish is indicative of my crew’s effort.”
He also praised his students, post docs and technicians noting: “I was at Duke (University) for 10 years and I can tell you the students and post docs here are equal or better than any of the students we had at Duke.”