TCU hosts Smart Women: Discussions on Women’s Cancer Prevention

Fort Worth, TX

9/9/2008

TCU is hosting an event “Smart Women: Discussions on Women’s Cancer Prevention” on Saturday, Sept. 20 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Dee J. Kelly Alumni & Visitors Center on the TCU campus. The event is sponsored by TCU’s Center for Oncology Education and Research, in the Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences, and Moncrief Cancer Resources/UT Southwestern.

“The Smart Women Conference evolved from a desire to educate women on prevention and screening for all cancers; especially those that impact them the greatest,” said Dr. Suzy Lockwood, event chairperson and director of TCU’s Center for Oncology Education and Research.

Discussions on women’s cancer prevention include the following presentations: “Early Detection & Prevention of Gynecologic Cancers” with Mark Messing, M.D.; “Victory Over Breast Cancer – How Do We Get There?” with Robyn Young, M.D.; and “Can Cancer Be Prevented?” with Sara Pirzadeh, M.S., C.G.C.

Cancer continues to take a devastating toll on American women. In 2008 an estimated 270,000 will die from cancer of some kind. September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month and October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month so the event was planned in honor of the two. The Conference will be an annual event each September expanding and changing each year to focus on different cancers and new discoveries in prevention and early detection of cancer for women.

The event is free and open to the public. A continental breakfast will be served; please RSVP to s.j.barr@tcu.edu or call 817-257-6731. For more information on the Center, visit
TCU’s Center for Oncology Education and Research.

 

 

Presenter Bios:

Mark J. Messing, M.D. specializes in gynecological oncology and is board certified in gynecologic oncology and obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Messing is currently the Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Harris Methodist HEB Hospital and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of North Texas Health Sciences Center in Fort Worth. Dr. Messing is the Medical Director for the DFW Chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.

Robyn Young, M.D., currently serves as Clinical Director of the Breast Center at The Center and will direct the "Women's Center" at The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders in Fort Worth. She earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and completed her residency in internal medicine at State University of New York (SUNY) in Syracuse followed by a fellowship in medical oncology and hematology at SUNY.

Sara Pirzadeh, M.S., C.G.C. was an honors graduate from Texas A&M University with a bachelor of science degree in genetics. She received her Master’s in Genetic Counseling from the University of Minnesota. Prior coming to Ft Worth to work with Moncrief/UTSW, she worked at Columbia University in prenatal/pediatric/metabolic genetics. She now specializes in counseling for all hereditary cancer syndromes, primarily serving Tarrant County patients through Moncrief Cancer Resources.