The Max Foundation is proud to announce CEO, Pat Garcia-Gonzalez as the recipient of the National Cancer Institute Global Cancer Medicine Humanitarian Award at the U.S. National Cancer Institute 3rd Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research held in Boston on 25 March 2015.
In the award letter from the National Cancer Institute(NCI), Dr. Edward L. Trimble, MD, MPH, Director of the NCI’s Center for Global Health writes about Pat: “Our global cancer community has been inspired by your outstanding contributions to advancing cancer care equity through The Max Foundation, and as recognition of that work, we would like to honor you.”
Dr. Trimble continues, “Not only have your efforts saved numerous lives, but, to paraphrase Donald Berwick, your contributions go beyond health metrics and health indicators— your contributions will allow mothers and fathers to attend graduations and weddings they would have missed, and grandchildren to know grandparents they might never have known, and holidays will be taken, and work completed, and books read, and symphonies heard, and gardens tended that, without your work, would never have been.”
In response to the award, Pat has said, “I am humbled, excited and honored by the recognition given to me thanks to NCI’s Center for Global Health. I see this moment as an opportunity to tell the world about the great collaborations that have made my work possible, as well as a chance to reinforce our collective responsibility around creating solutions to increase global access to treatment, care and support for people living with cancer around the world.”
This is the first Global Cancer Medicine Humanitarian Award to be given at the NCI’s Symposium.
The Max Foundation is a leading global health nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating health equity. For 28 years, Max has pioneered practical, scalable, high-quality solutions to bring life-extending treatments and patient-centered health care to more than 100,000 people living with cancer and critical illness in low- and middle-income countries. Max believes in a world where all people can access high-impact medicines, where geography is not destiny, and where everyone can strive for health with dignity and with hope.
Suddenly, I noticed a man sitting just opposite to me staring at me. I thought he was annoyed at my loud voice. so I reduced my volume and kept on talking with my friend. While explaining, my eyes went towards the man. Again I noticed he was keenly listening to our conversation.
Finally the stop came! I got down with my friend and took 10 steps. I heard a voice behind me calling “Madam, madam!”
When he was initially diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, Prashant’s first concerns weren’t whether he would be able to afford treatment, it was about how much time he had left…years? Months? Would he be able to complete his degree? Would he be able to care for his father?
But his doctor reassured him. Treatment was available, and before he could worry about the cost of it, Prashant was connected with The Max Foundation and worked on getting enrolled in the access program we administer.
The story of Kankou, a 37-year-old mother and cancer survivor from Senegal, who makes a recurring, 450km, “last mile” journey to access cancer medication donated through The Max Foundation.
