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Obama Names Alabama Family Physician Benjamin To Be Surgeon General
President Obama on Monday nominated Alabama family physician Regina Benjamin, founder of the Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic, to be the U.S. surgeon general, the AP/Detroit Free Press reports (Neergaard, AP/Detroit Free Press, 7/13). Benjamin"s clinic serves a low-income community of about 2,500 and has earned a national reputation treating all patients, regardless of their ability to pay. Benjamin founded the clinic in 1990 and repeatedly rebuilt it after two hurricanes and a fire (Zhang, Wall Street Journal, 7/14). In 2008, she received one of the MacArthur Foundation"s $500,000 "genius grants" (Lloyd, USA Today, 7/14). In 1995, Benjamin became the first black woman to be elected to the American Medical Association Board of Trustees. Benjamin also has served as associate dean for rural health at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine (Bellantoni, Washington Times, 7/13). In 2002, she became president of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, making her the first black woman to be president of a state medical society (Mostrous/Shear, Washington Post, 7/14).Benjamin is a "devout Roman Catholic," according to the New York Times. The administration did not disclose her views on abortion. Benjamin routinely prescribes oral contraceptives, but the clinic does not have the facilities to perform abortions, according to nurse Audrey Bosarge, a colleague of Benjamin"s (Harris, New York Times, 7/14). In his announcement, Obama said Benjamin understands the needs of the low-income and uninsured U.S. residents, which makes her uniquely qualified to serve as surgeon general during health care overhaul negotiations (Wall Street Journal, 7/14). In accepting the nomination, Benjamin vowed to ensure that "no one falls through the cracks as we improve our health care system." Benjamin"s nomination requires Senate confirmation (AP/Detroit Free Press, 7/13).

Science Magazine Spotlights 20 Years Of CF Research
An article in Science magazine this month highlights several promising new CF therapies, including VX-770 and VX-809 developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, as part of a look back at key moments in CF research since the discovery of the CF gene 20 years ago.
News of the day
Looking For Excellence - NHS Alliance Launches Acorn Awards 2009
Entries are invited for the 2009 NHS Alliance Acorn Awards. This year, the awards, which recognise excellence in primary care, have nine categories. Since last year, the NHS Alliance introduced a new category, Pharmaceutical Services Commissioning, which has been designed to showcase Primary Care Trusts which are excelling at world class commissioning of pharmaceutical services.
Mental Health

Bone Cancer Research Trust Calls For New Treatments For Bone Cancer

The Bone Cancer Research Trust is calling for new treatments for bone cancers affecting children and young people. This includes osteosarcoma and Ewing"s sarcoma, the two most common forms of primary bone cancer. A study funded by the Bone Cancer Research Trust published in 2009 shows that the survival of children and young adults with bone cancer in the UK has not improved for 20 years.(1) More research is urgently needed to find new treatments. When new treatments are developed, they must be introduced without delay to avoid any more young people dying of this disease. On average a young person cured of this disease would have another 60 years of life. One new treatment for osteosarcoma that improves survival is currently being considered for funding by NICE. BCRT is asking that this drug be made available as quickly as possible. Michael Francis, chairman of the BCRT said "Too many of the children and young people with bone cancer still die from their disease. We need to make bone cancer a priority and we urgently need more research to identify effective new treatments. The Government needs to play its part and streamline the process for introducing new treatments into the UK." To support people affected by bone cancer, the Bone Cancer Research Trust is holding an Awareness Week during 20 - 27 June 2009. The theme for the week is the need to improve survival for these young people: this means greater priority, more research and new treatments. The week will finish with the 3rd Conference for bone cancer patients and their supporters, to be held in St Albans on Saturday 27 June. The conference will cover recent research and will give patients and their families the opportunity to question experts in bone cancer. Twenty eight year old Hannah Millington, from Bromsgrove, who has been treated for osteosarcoma says, ""Awareness Week and the Patients" and Supporters" Conference are key events for patients. They are an opportunity to raise awareness about this awful disease and to meet other people who are affected. Bone cancer is quite rare and it is easy for young people with the illness to feel extremely isolated." The Awareness Week is supported by, the Teenage Cancer Trust, Sarcoma UK, Cancer 52 and the Rarer Cancers Forum. Reference (1): Incidence and survival of childhood bone cancer in northern England and the West Midlands, 1981-2002. Eyre et al. British Journal of Cancer. Volume 100, Issue 1. January, 2009 About bone cancer The two commonest forms of bone cancer are osteosarcoma and Ewing"s sarcoma. Both of these cancers most commonly occur between the ages of 10 and 25. Because these cancers can spread to other parts of the body, even when the tumour is detected at a very small size, treatment includes chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is intended to destroy the tumour cells which have spread to the rest of the body and to shrink the main mass of tumour cells. Successful treatment also requires another form of treatment to the main mass of tumour. For osteosarcoma this is usually surgery to remove the main tumour and may involve replacing the affected bone with a metal alternative or amputation. Ewing"s sarcoma is similarly often treated with surgery, but treatment also includes radiotherapy which is intended to kill any residual cells. Around 400 patients are diagnosed each year in the UK with primary bone cancers. Bone Cancer Research Trust


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