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The Executive Council of the Susan F. Smith Center for Women's Cancers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a dedicated group of women devoted to Defying Cancer. Established in 2002, the Executive Council dared to believe that through education, advocacy,
and fundraising, they could change the trajectory of women's cancers. The diverse and accomplished members understand that cancer is a disease that impacts women like themselves — and are challenging the status quo.
Education
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Susan F. Smith Center faculty members, Dipanjan Chowdhury, PhD, Eric Winer, MD, and Jennifer Ligibel, MD, share a laugh during the panel discussion at a recent Susan F. Smith Center Executive Council event.
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The Executive Council shares information on the latest research and treatment of women's cancers through a variety of programs including breakfast and luncheon events, lecture series and on-line forums. Through programming, these women educate thousands
who in turn share their knowledge with thousands more.
Advocacy
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Trustee and Susan F. Smith Center Executive Council member, Deborah First, proudly shows off an OOFOS recovery shoe. OOFOS has been a corporate sponsor of the Susan F. Smith Center Executive Council events since 2018.
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The Executive Council is focused on raising awareness about the Susan F. Smith Center to cultivate individual and corporate advocates. The group's goal is to partner with a range of companies and organizations who, like the Executive Council, are committed
to philanthropic support for research and treatment of women's cancers.
Fundraising
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Laurie Glimcher, MD, President and CEO of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, discusses being one of the Smith Center Innovation Grant recipients at the 2019 Susan F. Smith Center Breakfast event.
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The Executive Council is an essential philanthropy network for the Susan F. Smith Center. Since 2002, more than $19 million has been raised for the Center. Today, the funds raised go to the Smith Center Innovation Fund, which provides
grants for Smith Center Faculty and scientists to pursue early-stage, lifesaving research in women's cancers that otherwise would not be funded.
See a list of the generous donors to the Executive Council 2021 fundraising efforts.
In the past four years, the Smith Center Innovation Fund has supported 12 research projects. One example of the impact a Smith Center Innovation Fund grant is the work of Christina Dieli-Conwright, PhD, MPH,
and Alexi Wright, MD, MPH. With their grant, these Dana-Farber researchers were given essential funding for their investigation into the role of physical exercise in preventing the distressing side effects
of chemotherapy in patients with ovarian cancer.
The Executive Council embraces every opportunity to encourage like-minded individuals and corporations to Defy Cancer by joining the Council in their mission of education, advocacy, and fundraising.
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Susan F. Smith Center for Women's Cancers Executive Council
Honorary Chair
Susan F. Smith∞
Founding Co-Chairs
Tracey E. Flaherty
Jane P. Jamieson*
Beth F. Terrana*
Executive Council
Kimberly Amsden
Meredith Beaton Starr
Sandy Cassanelli
Anne Columbia
Diane Davidson
Deirdre Dunn
Hazel Durand
Deborah S. First*
Barbara Freedman Wand
Alicia Grasfeder
Janit S. Greenwood
Susan James
Geremia
Janie Haas
Mary Kralis Hoppe
Matina Horner
Sarah Kalil
Leslee Kiley
Bette Ann Libby
Susan Loconto Penta
Pamela Martin
Barbara Marx
Joy Paradissis Playter
Terrie Perella
Jennifer Potter-Brotman
Shannon Robins
Jill Stansky
Kathleen Stansky
Sandra Stratford, MD, MSc*
Laura Van Zandt
Kathleen Whelan
*Dana-Farber Trustee
∞In Memoriam
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2020-2021 Smith Center Innovation Fund Recipients and Projects
Thanh Barbie, MD
Optimizing Therapeutic STING Agonism for Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Christina Dieli-Conwright, PhD, MPH
Alexi Wright, MD, MPH
Exercise as a Preventive Agent to Combat Immobility in Patients with Ovarian or Endometrial Cancers Receiving Chemotherapy - The MOBILITY Study
Anna Weiss, MD
GEnetic Testing For All breast Cancer patienTS (GET FACTS) Randomized Clinical Trial