Chapel Hill, NC - The UNC Breast Center Advisory Board met for the last time on May 13 for a tour of the new NC Cancer Hospital and a wrap-up meeting with program leaders and UNC Lineberger director Dr. Shelley Earp.

The Board was formed in 1997 to increase public awareness, promote the interests, and advance the priorities of the UNC Breast Center to bring the best in breast cancer research, treatment and prevention to the people of North Carolina and beyond.

“This Board has been actively involved in the development of the UNC Breast Center,” said Dr. Shelley Earp, UNC Lineberger director. “Their energy, commitment and experience helped us improve the level of compassionate care we provide our patients. We are forever grateful to them for their expertise and advocacy.”

Over the years, Board members provided invaluable counsel and feedback to the UNC Breast Center physicians and staff on key issues related to the patient experience at the UNC Breast Center. Their suggestions led to changes in the program to improve the patient experience.

Board members served as ambassadors and advocates in the community. They helped to script and develop a successful promotional video and brochure for the UNC Breast Center and led outreach efforts to community groups.

They volunteered for numerous awareness, outreach, and fundraising events including the Tickled Pink women’s cancers fundraising event, the celebration of the Breast Center’s 10th anniversary, the NC Triangle Komen Race, and the Patient and Family Resource Center.

The first UNC Breast Center members to work with the Board were Drs. Bill Cance and Mark Graham and nurse practitioner Susan McKenney. Drs. Lisa Carey, David Ollila and Carolyn Sartor have been with the Board for more than seven years.

Since 1997, 33 women have served on the Board, and two members died of cancer: Ilene Nelson (2001) and Jeanne Peck (2009).

With the opening of the new NC Cancer Hospital, a Patient and Family Advisory Board will be created to represent a range of cancer types. It will serve in a similar capacity to that of the UNC Breast Center Advisory Board, the first patient advisory board at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and UNC Health Care.

UNC Health Care system senior vice president for system affiliations and UNC Breast Center Advisory Board member Mary Beck leads a tour of the new NC Cancer Hospital

Seated (l-r) Lee Garret, Lillie Atwater, Linda Brown Standing ( l-r) Robin Hutchison, Dr. Shelley Earp, Coolie Monroe, Hulene Hill, Dr. Susan Palmer, Vivian Marbury, Dr. David Ollila, Mary Beck, Joan Boone