|
|
|
 A group of judges and lawyers in New York joined to create the legal community's response in that state to the breast cancer epidemic among women. Functioning like a bar association, the Judges And Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert ("JALBCA") was formed in 1992, with New York's Chief Judge, Judith S. Kaye, as its Honorary President. Its operating Co-Presidents are Hon. Helen E. Freedman and Roy L. Reardon, Esq. Among its several activities, this unique legal organization sponsors an annual symposium each October, in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and in memory of its first Executive Director. The symposium is designed to tackle, using courtroom style, cutting edge issues in health law and health policy which confront breast cancer patients. 0ctober 1998 was no exception. On October 6, JALBCA was joined by co-sponsors Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer's ("MSKCC") Post-Treatment Resource Program and the Health Policy Program of Pace University Law School. Chief Judge Kaye presided as the "McLaughlin of JALBCA" while a panel of experts sat in the hot seats. The 1998 program was divided into three segments: a summary of the most recent medical advancements in breast cancer research by the world renowned oncologist, Larry Norton, MD, Chief of Breast/Oncology at MSKCC; recent findings by the HHS inspector General on the institutional review boards which oversee clinical testing in the U.S.; and issues surrounding the too-seldom discussed subject of pain management. The banner panel of experts, who subjected themselves to rigorous questioning by a panel of New York judges, included Kimberly Calder (Associate Executive Director of NABCO; Kathleen Foley, MD of MSKCC; Larry Norton, MD of MSKCC, Carl Coleman, Esq. (General Counsel of New York Task Force on Life and the Law), and Mark Yessian (HHS, Region I). JALBCA's projects are implemented on a volunteer basis and consist of educational and outreach programs. In addition to the Annual symposium, which challenges experts in an interdisciplinary way to confront the cutting-edge health/health law/health policy issues of our time, one of its other major projects is the October Courthouse Alert. As part of the Courthouse Alert, breast cancer literature is distributed in several languages throughout New York State courthouses and JALBCA schedules licensed providers with mammography vans to conduct breast cancer screening in their vans at or near courthouse sites. The Courthouse Alert project is implemented through the fifteen chapters of the Women's Bar Association of the State of New York. JALBCA also arranges for Brown Bag Lunches at the workplaces of legal employers, featuring guest speakers and videos in order to learn about breast self-examination. A special Hotline also is available for members of the legal community to speak with members who are breast cancer survivors. For further information about JALBCA, you can call its office at (212) 683-6630. Honorary President Hon. Judith S. Kaye Co-Presidents Hon. Helen E. Freedman Roy L. Reardon, Esq. Vice Presidents Bonnie S. Edwards, Esq. Hon. Shirley Werner Kornreich Barbara A. Ryan, Esq. Secretary Susan R. Solomon, Esq. Assistant Secretary Hon. Barbara I. Panepinto Treasurer Hon. William C.Thompson Assistant Treasurer Marvin Moskowitz, Esq. Board of Directors Hon. Myriam Altman Ruth Axelrod Sheila L. Birnbaum* Hon. Lawrence Bracken Hon. Richard Braun Hon. Joan Carey Susan Cohen Pamela Colker Hon. Betty W. Ellerin Myrna Felder* Ilene P. Fern Hon. Fern Fisher-Brandveen Hon. Anita R. Florio Joyce Funda Martha L. Golar* Andrea Hill Hon. Barbara Kapnick Sandra C. Katz* Susan J. Kohlmann Debra J. Lennon Hon. Jonathan Lippman Cecelia F. Marcus Joan E. McNichol Hon. Sondra Miller* Hon. E. Leo Milonas* Hon. Karla Moskowitz* Hon. Juanita Bing-Newton Hon. Paula J. Omansky Bettina Plevan, Esq. Hon. Charles Ramos Barbara Reede Barbara Paul Robinson Cynthia Rubin Fern Schair Hon. Jacqueline W. Silbermann* Phyllis C. Solomon Ellen M. Spodek Damaris Torrent * Indicates Past Co-President Executive Director Jennifer Fiorentino |
|
|
|