Session Summary: Cancer camps provide a powerful opportunity for improving the lives of children and their families. In the aftermath of ACS's withdrawal from camps support, we know their are plenty of questions (and probably concerns) about what the Society IS doing to support childhood cancer issues now. This interactive session will provide an update on the Society's childhood cancer activities in research, programs, and advocacy, highlighting how together with camps we can play from each others' areas of strength collaboratively to enhance quality of life for all children with cancer and their families.
Session Objectives: Improve understanding of ACS activities in childhood cancer and importantly, answer audience questions about our engagement and hear audience ideas/input for looking ahead.
Bio: Rebecca Kirch is the American Cancer Society’s Director of Quality of Life & Survivorship. Based in Washington, DC, she provides strategic direction and coordination for the Society’s national agenda addressing quality care and quality of life issues for all adults and children facing cancer and its aftermath. Through research, programs, and advocacy, these initiatives include a suite of policies and practices that integrate palliative care for managing pain, symptoms and stress, psychosocial care for emotional support, impairment-driven rehabilitation for addressing disability, and enhancing person-centered and goal-directed clinical communication skills. Rebecca’s efforts were honored with the Center to Advance Palliative Care’s 2013 Innovation Award. Her achievements in the national pain policy arena were recognized earlier with the American Academy of Pain Management’s Legislative Policy and Advocacy Award. Marking her 14 year anniversary with the Society in June, Rebecca previously served on the senior leadership team of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), the Society’s advocacy affiliate, as Associate Director of Policy and earlier, as Deputy Director of its federal lobbying team. She has a law degree from Boston College Law School and an undergraduate degree in Biology from Wells College.
Contact: Rebecca Kirch American Cancer Society Rkirch@cancer.org
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