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Volume 9 . Issue 20 . Winter 2007-08
UPDATE is published annually by EXPEDITION INSPIRATION . 501 (c) (3) #91-1646381640 North Main . Box 4289 . Ketchum, Idaho 83340 . Tel 208 726-6456 . Fax 208 725-2091 . Email ei@expeditioninspiration.org
www.expeditioninspiration.org
COMMITTED TO RAISING AWARENESS AND FUNDS TO AID IN THE ERADICATION OF BREAST CANCER
DEAR FRIENDS,
As I enjoy the Holiday Season, I am reflecting onExpedition Inspiration and the year that has gone by and what I want to share with you, our partners anddonors, is that EI is kicking!Here are four highlights for me… and, they are only a small part of all that has been happening.First, attending the
Annual Laura Evans MemorialBreast Cancer Symposium;
actually sitting in onthe final day’s consensus discussion, hearing thechallenging debate, sensing the collegiality andcommitment of these brilliant minds gathered toexplore what the next, new opportunity for breakthrough researchmight be and how these world renowned scientists can WORK TOGETHER to achieve progress. The experience only re-enforcedthe importance of EI’s mission and the great work of the Medical Advisory Board; Chair, Angela DeMichele, MD, MSCE, andExpedition Inspiration’s Scientific Advisor, Marc Lippman, MD. You, our generous donors, can take credit for providing seed fund-ing for some of the recent, new discoveries in understanding thisdisease and developing better treatment methods that has led to thesignificant drop in mortality rates. Based on what I experienced,you can be sure your contributions will fund the next wave of advancements as well.Second, participating in Expedition Inspiration’s
Castle Peak Climb
and seeing Advisory Board member, Courtney Kapp achieveher goal of climbing the five highest peaks near Sun Valley, Idaho infive years – Courtney rocks! For me, carrying a prayer flag to thesummit to honor the courageous women (and men) who joinedfounder Laura Evans and Peter Whittaker on the first ExpeditionInspiration climb of Mt. Aconcagua thirteen years ago is always areminder of how blessed those of us are who survive, how much Imiss those who have not survived, and that “Until there is a cure,there will be a climb!”
Nancy Knoble has served on the EIFBCR Board since 2000. She was among the three women to summit Mt. Aconcagua with EI’s founder, Laura Evans in 1995.
Third, meeting with nearly all the
membersof the Aconcagua Climb
in Aspen thisSeptember for one of our many reunions; therelationships that formed as a result of breastcancer and the Aconcagua Climb – was awe-some. The bond only grows stronger.Expedition Inspiration has been, and willcontinue to be, a source of healing, strength,courage and joy for all who are part of the work… in whatever capacity!Fourth, getting to know and love our
new Board Members.
The past two years havebeen a time of tremendous growth forExpedition Inspiration. We have recruited, what I think of, as our next generation of “BC warriors.” SuzanneMulenos, Evie Sauers, Kathryn Hendrickson, Robert Vestal, MD, Andrew Johnston, Juli Watson, MSN, CRNP and StephanieOlson have brought energy, talent, focus and huge commitment tothe organization. Never have we had a Board as active and com-mitted as we have today. Credit for getting us here goes to ourChair, Heidi Mickelson. Thank you, Heidi.Please read this newsletter. Experience the energy – MoonlightSnowshoeing, Take-A-Hikes, public forums, and recent researchgrants made – all in our effort to find a cure while enhancing thelives of those diagnosed now. As Laura Evans would say,“Expedition Inspiration Kicks Ice!” A special thank you, to you, our generous donors,as it is YOU, who have made this tremendous progress possible!
Until there is a cure, there is a climb…
Nancy KnobleVice Chair, Board of Directors
YOUR DONATIONS AT WORK
ELEVENTH ANNUAL LAURA EVANS MEMORIALBREAST CANCER SYMPOSIUM
“THE TRANSFORMATION OF BREAST CANCER MANAGEMENTFROM CLINICAL CARE TO CLINICAL SCIENCE”February-March 2007
Top researchers from around the world convened in Sun Valley, Idaho to partic-ipate in Expedition Inspiration’s interactive meeting, which encourages the freeexchange of ideas and current research. The roster included scientists from multi-disciplines. The world-renowned meeting was again chaired by ExpeditionInspiration Scientific Advisor,
Marc Lippman, MD
, one of the world’s leadingauthorities in the field of breast cancer.Expedition Inspiration’s unique format encourages interactions not easily fos-tered by traditional scientific meetings. As
Julie Gralow, MD
, Chair of Expedition Inspiration’s Medical Advisory Board said,
“This is the dawning of a new era. We’re looking at lots of different genes and proteins. We can design therapies against them. I think of it as personalized treatment. Individually it’s not just think- ing of it as one disease. The most exciting advance to cancer is that we can individ- ualize treatment.”
The 2007 Symposium was generously underwritten by a grant from
Bristol-Myers-Squibb.
OPEN FORUM
Expedition Inspiration also hosted an Open Forum, in conjunction with theEleventh Annual Symposium. Featured Speakers included
Julie Gralow, MD,
Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington and
Angela DeMichele, MD,
Associate Professor of Medicine at Abramson Cancer Center,University of Pennsylvania. A highlight of the Open Forum was a “Question and Answer” Session, where the nearly 100 community attendees had the opportuni-ty to ask specific questions of these renowned medical experts. “
One of the most enjoyable and stimulating events during Expedition Inspiration’s Medical Symposium is the Open Forum. The researchers get to share their advances with the community for whom their research is intended and get to understand far more clearly the con- cerns and hopes of women and their families about breast cancer. Remarkably, after an initial period of some shyness, Open Forum community attendees realize there are no ‘stupid questions’ and that truly understanding some of the ways in which treat- ment is being transformed are genuinely exciting,”
comments Dr. Lippman, who was Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine, University of MichiganHealth System at the time. A very special thank you to
Mountain West Bank
in Ketchum, Idaho and
Genentech
for generously sponsoring this Open Forum.
YOUNG INVESTIGATORAWARDS IN 2007
Thanks to your generous donations, ExpeditionInspiration was able to fund two Young Investigator Awards in 2007.The Medical Advisory Board reviewed severalapplications for Young Investigator Awards and was very impressed withthe scope and diversity of the applicants. After much debate, a decision was made to support the research of
NorahHenry, MD, PhD, University of MichiganComprehensive Cancer Center
, titled
“A Pilot Study to Characterize Musculoskeletal Changes with Ultrasonography in Women with Breast Cancer Treated with Aromatase Inhibitors,”
and
Vijayakrishna Gadi MD, PhD, University of Washington Medical Center
in support of hisstudy titled,
“Fetal Michrochimersism in Normal Human Breast and Breast Cancer.”
Both of these young investigators have been invit-ed to join the faculties of their respective institu-tions. These grants from Expedition Inspirationcome at a critical time in the development of theircareers as clinical breast cancer scientists and juniorfaculty members.
2www.expeditioninspiration.com
Your donations truly make a difference to people battling Breast Cancer. Currently, in additionto the Annual Laura Evans Memorial Breast Cancer Symposium, Expedition Inspiration is fundingseveral important studies. Read about the research your generous gifts are supporting.
Dr. Marc Lippman, EI Scientific Advisor moderates Open Forum
}{
“HAVE YOU HEARD…”PUBLIC FORUM
Boise, Idaho
“Have You Heard…”
was presented by Expedition Inspiration on June 25,2007 at St. Luke’s Anderson Center in Boise, ID. This Public Forum was gener-ously co-sponsored by St. Luke’s Mountain States Tumor Institute and St. Luke’sBreast Care Services. A special presentation was made by Julie Gralow, MD, Associate Professor,University of Washington.
Dr Gralow
presented the latest in breast canceradvancements in diagnosis, treatment, and research. Also participating were
Kathleen Grant, MD
Hematology-Medical Oncologist at California PacificMedical Center in San Francisco,
Ronald Dorn, MD
radiation oncologist atMountain States Tumor Institute and
Robert Vestal, MD
a clinical pharmacology consultant in Boise. All are members of EI’s Medical Advisory Board.
“Have You Heard…”
was a unique opportunity to learn from the best medicalprofessionals in Idaho and top researchers and physicians from around the country during the
“Ask the Experts”
session. Thank you to all who made it a success.
www.expeditioninspiration.com3
TWELFTH ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM
The Twelfth Annual Laura Evans MemorialBreast Cancer Symposium
is scheduled forMarch 5-9, 2008. This year’s topic is, “NewTherapeutic Approaches To Breast Cancer.”The important medical meeting will be con-ducted under the leadership of Dr. MarcLippman, EI Scientific Advisor and Chairman,Department of Medicine, Leonard M. MillerSchool of Medicine University of Miami. Anoutstanding field of contributing doctors andresearchers will participate in EI’s worldrenowned Symposium. Your continued sup-port of Expedition Inspiration enables theorganization to host this unique medical meet-ing. Thank you!
SAVE THE DATE
OPEN FORUM
Thursday, March 6, 2008
You are invited to attend ExpeditionInspiration’s Open Forum, to be held in con- junction with our Twelfth Annual MedicalSymposium. This is a special opportunity tolearn from the world’s foremost experts in thefield of breast cancer research. See you at theLimelight Room of the Sun Valley Inn in SunValley, Idaho – 5:00 to 7:00 PM. Thank you to
St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation
for spon-soring the 2008 Open Forum.
DIANA SHARPLESS, PhD
Development Director
Diana Sharpless, PhD is delighted to be on boardas Expedition Inspiration’s new DevelopmentDirector. She brings a wealth of experience andlooks forward to the challenge of broadening EI’sappeal in the non-profit sector. Her backgroundas an art therapist provides an eclectic outlook onthe human condition. As an artist, she conveys herpassion for wilderness through photography and public speaking on thehealing powers of nature. Serendipitously, Diana now finds herself involved with a dedicated Board of Directors and a committed staff who believe ‘
until there’s a cure, there’s a climb’
. During off-hours she can be found hiking in thesurrounding hills with her dog, Obo.
ANGELA DeMICHELE, MD
Expedition Inspiration is pleased to announcethat Angela DeMichele, MD has accepted theposition of Chair of the Medical Advisory Board. She will take over for Julie Gralow,MD, who will remain on the Medical Board.Thank you to both Drs. Gralow andDeMichele for their dedication.
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