ADAO 12th Annual International Asbestos Awareness and Prevention Conference
“Where Knowledge and Action Unite”
April 8 – 10, 2016
Location: Crystal Gateway Marriott in Washington D.C.
Register Here
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Posted on March 14, 2016
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) is proud to present a new weekly series “Meet the Speakers and Honorees“, highlighting one or several attendees at our highly-anticipated 12th Annual International Asbestos Awareness & Prevention Conference! The ADAO Conference, which will take place on April 8-10, 2016 in Washington, DC, combines over 30 expert opinions, victims’ stories, and new technological advancements from more than 6 countries into one united voice raised for asbestos awareness. ADAO is the only U.S. nonprofit that organizes annual conferences dedicated solely to preventing exposure and eliminating asbestos-caused diseases. Register today!
Session II Speakers: Brad Black, MD; Keith A. Cengel, MD, PhD; Raja Flores, MD; Tanis Hernandez; Christine Oliver, MD, MPH, MS; Lou Williams; Paul Zygielbaum; Mavis Nye
Session II Moderator: Arthur L. Frank, MD, PhD
Keynote Speaker: Paul Brodeur, Award-winning Investigative Journalist and Author of Expendable Americans and Outrageous Misconduct: The Asbestos Industry on Trial
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Brad Black, PhD has been the Medical Director and CEO for the Center for Asbestos and Related Disease in Libby, Montana since 2000. He has been a physician in the Libby medical community since 1977 and became the Lincoln County Health Officer in 1984. Beginning in 1999, he worked closely with Dr. Alan Whitehouse, a Spokane, WA pulmonologist, for 9 years. Since 2000, Dr. Black has had the opportunity to care for thousands of patients and this longitudinal observation of progressive pleural fibrosis has led to a clear characterization of Libby amphibole asbestos disease. CARD continues to provide asbestos health screening and care to a population with significant Libby Amphibole exposure and related diseases. In 2008 he presented at the National Institute of Health/National Cancer Institute about the progressive pleural fibrosis and mesothelioma identified in those exposed to Libby amphibole asbestos. He was instrumental in initiating research on Libby amphibole asbestos health effects. His work has expanded into research leading to an association with pulmonologists and occupational medicine specialists from multiple academic centers around the U.S. In 2010, Dr. Black became an adjunct professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. He has collaborated on a number of professional journal publications, and most recently he participated in a National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences working group that developed a publication on the non- neoplastic, pleural endpoints. Today, Dr. Black continues his dedicated efforts to providing excellent healthcare, outreach, and research for asbestos related diseases.
Keynote Speaker: Paul Brodeur was a staff writer at The New Yorker for nearly 40 years. During that time, he wrote the first major account of the health hazards associated with exposure to asbestos, as well as many other articles on the subject. This work won the National Magazine Award, a Sidney Hillman Foundation Award, and awards from the American Association of Trial Lawyers and the American Bar Association. Brodeur has also received recognition for writing pioneering articles about chemical depletion of the ozone layer, and the health hazards of exposure to microwave radiation and the electromagnetic fields given off by power lines. His short stories have appeared in many magazines, and he has published more than a dozen books, including several novels. Among them is The Stunt Man, which was made into a film starring Peter O’Toole. His most recent work is an historical novel titled, The Scout’s Account: In the Shadow of the Mayflower, which tells the story of 17th Century New England from the point of view of a Native American.
Keith A. Cengel, MD, PhD, is an Associate Professor and Director of the Photodynamic Therapy Program in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a board certified radiation oncologist specializing in diagnosis and treatment of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. His clinical trial and translational research laboratory efforts are focused on improving outcomes for patients treated with ionizing radiation therapy or photodynamic therapy.
Raja Flores, MD, is the Chairman of Thoracic Surgery, Ames Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery, at Mount Sinai Medical Center in NewYork City. Dr. Flores helped pioneer the use of intraoperative chemotherapy for mesothelioma. He led a multi-center trial designed to improve patient outcomes. In addition, he changed the surgical management of pleural mesothelioma cancer with a landmark study comparing extrapleural pneumonectomy and pleurectomy/decortication. With over 100 related publications to date, his energies and commitment to the plight of mesothelioma patients remains paramount.
Arthur L. Frank, MD, PhD, (Moderator) is a physician board certified in both internal medicine and occupational medicine and currently serves as Professor of Public Health and Chair of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at the Drexel University School of Public Health in Philadelphia. He is also a Professor of Medicine (Pulmonary) at the Drexel College of Medicine. He also holds a position at Drexel as Professor of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering. A life-long academic, Dr. Frank has previously taught at Mount Sinai, the University of Kentucky and in the University of Texas System. He has served many governmental agencies in the US and has carried out research and has been a governmental advisor internationally. Trained in both occupational medicine and internal medicine, Dr. Frank has been interested in the health hazards of asbestos for more than 35 years. He has published a great deal of work on the hazards of asbestos, and clinically cared for asbestos effected patients. He has lectured internationally about the problems of asbestos, and worked in many settings looking at the diseases caused by this material. His research interests have been in the areas of occupational cancers and occupational lung diseases, as well as agricultural safety and health. For thirty-seven years he held a commission in the U S Public Health Service (active and inactive) and served on active duty both at the NIH and at NIOSH. Arthur is the ADAO Science Advisory Board Co-Chair.
Tanis Hernandez, MSW, LCSW is the Administrative Director at the Center for Asbestos Related Disease in Libby Montana since 2002. She is a licensed clinical social worker who has extensive experience in assisting and counseling individuals, families and communities regarding chronic health and mental health issues. In 2000 the Libby community realized that a community-wide asbestos exposure had occurred resulting in a declaration of an environmental public health emergency in 2009. She has been one of the primary individuals involved in addressing the biological, psychological and social needs of the affected population. Today she is responsible for clinic oversight, program development, grant management, political advocacy, and coordination of behavioral research activities.
Mavis Nye, United Kingdom, was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2009. She turned her battle with mesothelioma into something positive, and decided to raise awareness and educate people about mesothelioma through speaking at many different conferences, in the British Parliament, as well through local and national newspapers, radio, and television. Additionally she has published two books, Meso Warrior, and Years as a Meso Warrior, with all proceeds donated to Mesothelioma UK and Hazmat Professionals Foundation, a foundation created with love to help and support those who are affected by asbestos-related illnesses. She also offers a support network to other mesothelioma sufferers and their families, either by internet, telephone or personal visits, through the group UK Meso Warriors. She and her husband Ray both have a strong social media presence and both have blogs discussing life with mesothelioma, from the perspective of the sufferer and the caregiver.
Mavis has extensively researched the incurable disease and knows of every medical trial and medication associated with mesothelioma and asbestos. She is currently on a new drug trial which is showing promising signs of buying extra time with her life. Her trial of MK3475 has brought her complete shrinkage through turning on her immune system and her stem cells have locked into the cancer cells and turned them off. Mavis received the British Citizen Award for Service to Healthcare at the House of Lords nominated by the Meso Warriors UK.
Christine Oliver, MD, MPH, MS, FACPM is President of Occupational Health Initiatives, Inc. She is an Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and an Associate Physician in the Department of Medicine (Pulmonary and Critical Care Division) at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Board certified in internal medicine and in preventive (occupational) medicine, Dr. Oliver’s primary specialty is Occupational and Environmental Medicine, with an emphasis on occupational lung disease. She is the Co—Director of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital. There she evaluates and cares for patients with a variety of occupational and environmental diseases, including asbestos-related diseases, occupational asthma, interstitial lung disease associated with exposure to beryllium and silica, and building-associated illness. Dr. Oliver is a Fellow of the Collegium Ramazzini and has done research and published in the area of occupational lung disease, with a focus on asbestos-related disease. She has lectured frequently on this topic.
Dr. Oliver is responsible for medical surveillance of a group of public school custodians employed by the City of Boston and exposed to asbestos during the course of that work. She consults on medical-legal issues related to asbestos and other workplace exposures. She was an an active participant in the implementation of medical aspects of the 1991 Worker’s Compensation Reform Act signed into law in Massachusetts.
Lou (Louise) Williams, is a mother, grandmother, and wife living with mesothelioma. Lou lost her father aged 54, in 1985 to pleural mesothelioma. Ever since she has been a passionate and dedicated asbestos awareness advocate, working to raise support in her home country of Australia as well as around the globe. In 2001 she was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma and bravely fought that with extensive surgery and chemotherapy. Unfortunately in 2009 she was then diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, which required major extensive treatment yet again. Although her battle has been never ending, and quite often unforgiving, Lou has remained positive. Her strengths shine through with her giving of hope, love and support to victims and their care givers. On April 5th 2014 Lou will be awarded the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization’s (ADAO), 2014 Alan Reinstein Award. This award recognizes Lou’s commitment to education, advocacy and support to countless patients and families around the world. Lou has served on boards of anti-asbestos support organizations since 2003, and is the Australian Director of the Global Ban Asbestos Network (GBAN), Social Media Awareness Officer of the Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia (ADFA), and a volunteer for the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO).
Heather Von St. James, in 2005, at the age of 36, and only three months after giving birth to a beautiful daughter Lily Rose, Heather Von St. James was diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Upon learning of this life-altering diagnosis, Heather, together with her husband Cameron, embarked upon a search to find the best mesothelioma treatment care available. Their search eventually led them to Dr. David Sugarbaker, a world renowned mesothelioma specialist. Dr. Sugarbaker recommended a relatively new surgical procedure called extrapleural pneumonectomy, a groundbreaking treatment option. Although there were some risks associated with the procedure, it also carried promise for the best possible outcome. Heather, with full support from her husband and family, agreed to have the surgery. Today, Heather Von St. James is a ten-year mesothelioma cancer survivor and continues to provide unending inspiration to mesothelioma victims around the globe. She carries out her mission to be a beacon of hope for those afflicted with mesothelioma by sharing her story of faith, love and courage both as a keynote speaker at conferences and through social media forums.
Paul Zygielbaum is a retired executive and entrepreneur, whose career spans the aerospace, electric utility, electronic communications and medical device industries. Paul holds master’s degrees in engineering and applied science from the California Institute of Technology and in business administration from Golden Gate University. Paul has published technical papers, articles and reviews in the fields of aerospace research, energy technology, and medicine. He has served in many community and professional volunteer capacities. Since his 2004 diagnosis with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, Paul and his wife, Michelle, have become activists in grass-roots campaigns to ban asbestos, to protect the rights of asbestos-related disease victims and their families, and to improve medical treatment and seek cures. Paul and Michelle have three grown children and six grandchildren.
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Check back next week for the fifth “Meet the Speakers and Honorees” blog featuring to our amazing Session III Speakers.
In unity,
Linda
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, does not make legal referrals.