Marilyn A. Dubree and Dr. C. Wright Pinson are co-leaders for the initiative to eliminate paper-based processes from inpatient areas at VUMC. Anne Rayner
Anna D. Barker, Ph.D., who helps direct drug discovery and development for the National Cancer Institute, will address the importance of public-private partnerships in the fight against cancer in a lecture at Vanderbilt on Monday, Nov. 3.
The George Daniel Brooks Lectureship will be delivered at 4 p.m. in 208 Light Hall. Earlier that day, Barker will receive the Frances Williams Preston Award for Breast Cancer Awareness at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center’s annual Women’s Health Forum Luncheon.
Barker is deputy director of Strategic Scientific Initiatives at the NCI, where she oversees a wide spectrum of programs designed to accelerate meaningful progress against breast and other cancers through the discovery and development of new knowledge and technologies.
Her other contributions include helping set priorities for the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program; influencing public policy and research funding by helping to organize the 1998 MARCH: Coming Together to Conquer Cancer; leading the American Association for Cancer Research Public Science Policy and Legislative Affairs Committee; and serving with the National Dialogue on Cancer, an initiative of former President and Barbara Bush to accelerate the fight against cancer.
Barker’s own research interests have focused on drug discovery and development as well as immunotherapy. Previous roles also include senior executive of Battelle Memorial Institute, CEO of a public biotechnology company, and founder/director of a private company dedicated to the transfer and deployment of new technologies to treat and prevent cancer.
She completed her Ph.D. in immunology and microbiology at the Ohio State University.
The Brooks Lectureship, endowed by the late Frances Brooks Corzine, honors Corzine’s father, Vanderbilt University alumnus George Daniel Brooks, whose financial career was distinguished by positions as chairman and CEO of the National Life and Accident Insurance Co.
Barker is the eighth recipient of the annual Preston Award, which was created in 1996 to honor individuals who have made important contributions to the fight against cancer through advocacy and support. Nashville native Frances Preston, president and CEO of performing rights organization BMI, will present the award at the Women’s Health Forum Luncheon, which begins at 12:30 p.m. at the Loews Vanderbilt Plaza.
The luncheon includes a show of fashions from Serendipity, modeled by breast cancer survivors. The models will be escorted by Drs. Mark Kelley, Bruce Shack, and Jason Wendell — who cares for breast cancer patients — as well as Dr. Jim Bob Faulk, a star of the ongoing Resident Life series on The Learning Channel featuring Vanderbilt doctors-in-training. Metro Councilman Ronnie Greer, District 17, will also serve as an escort.
The cost for the luncheon is $20. For more information, call 936-5855.