IT ’ S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS YEAR THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI ‘ I CANCER CENTER REACHED ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY AS WELL AS 25 CONTINUOUS YEARS OF NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE ( NCI ) DESIGNATION !
The unrelenting presence of COVID-19 resulted in a scaled down celebration on August 14 to highlight the UH Cancer Center ’ s many significant achievements . Members of the Cancer Center and its valued community partners convened with limited in-person attendance in the UH Cancer Center ’ s Sullivan Conference Center , while the majority of attendees joined by Zoom webinar .
Local media personality and cancer survivor Billy V served as the Master of Ceremonies , and opening and closing blessings were officiated by Kahu Aaron Mahi . In-person and virtual attendees included dignitaries , UH administrators , Cancer Center faculty and staff , community partners , donors , friends , and supporters .
Those who shared remarks included UH President David Lassner , PhD ; Governor David Ige , and Lt .
Governor Josh Green , MD ; U . S . Congressional members Ed Case , Brian Schatz , and Mazie K . Hirono ; NCI Director Norman Sharpless , MD ; State Senator Sharon Moriwaki ; UH Board of Regents Chair Randy Moore ; President and CEO of the Queen ’ s Health Systems , Jill Hoggard Green , PhD , RN , representing the Hawai ‘ i Cancer Consortium ; and Mary Piette , wife of founding UH Cancer Center Director , the late Lawrence H . Piette , PhD . Joe W . Ramos , PhD , Interim Director of the UH Cancer Center , eloquently summarized 50 years of the Cancer Center ’ s research achievements .
The 50th Anniversary celebration was supported by generous donations from the Friends of the UH Cancer Center and Royal Kona Coffee .
Top left : Interim Director Joe Ramos highlights the UH Cancer Center ’ s accomplishments of 50 years ; Top right : Billy V , popular local media personality and cancer survivor , served as emcee ; Bottom right : A screenshot of some of the local and national Zoom participants ; Bottom center : Wahine Hula Akala , the “ Pink Ladies of Hula ,” participated in a pilot study to determine if hula had positive biochemical and psychosocial effects on women diagnosed with cancer ; Bottom left : Interim Director Joe Ramos displays a congratulatory certificate from the Hawai ’ i State legislature while flanked by Sen . Sharon Moriwaki , UH President David Lassner , and Rep . Greg Takayama .
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