Sheila Bates
VICC’s Bates lands educator award from Public Health Assoc.
Sheila Bates, manager of Community Outreach for Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, has been named the 2008 Health Educator of the Year by the Tennessee Public Health Association.
The award is given annually to an individual who displays a true passion for helping patients and the public understand the benefits of disease prevention and the latest in treatment advances.
“I am very honored,” Bates said. “Vanderbilt-Ingram's commitment to community outreach has resulted in exciting collaborations with a variety of community partners focused on the goal of reducing the burden of cancer in Tennessee. I am blessed to take part in these efforts.”
Bates is responsible for developing programs on cancer prevention and early detection that are both educational and entertaining. She serves as the Colorectal Cancer Resource Committee Chair for the Tennessee Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalition and also has implemented a pilot program providing life coaching to cancer survivors.
Anne Washburn, associate director of Patient and Community Education with Vanderbilt-Ingram, said Bates is very deserving of this award.
“Through the strong relationships she has cultivated with community partners, Sheila has been able to leverage funding and resources to ensure quality, comprehensive cancer prevention programs are available to the citizens of Tennessee. She is passionate about her work and very well respected by her peers. We are fortunate to have such a teacher working with us.”