The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation hosted its 2020 Awards Program on Facebook Live Sunday, Nov. 22 at 9:00 PM ET. The virtual program recognized the 2020 award recipients – Dr. Michael Becich, Heather Von St James, and Jack and Ellen Brown – who were to receive their awards in-person during the 2020 International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma, which was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
These annual awards acknowledge individuals and/or organizations who through their work have helped advance the mission of the Foundation to eradicate mesothelioma as a life-ending disease.
Learn more about the deserving award recipients below.
The Pioneer Award
This award recognizes individuals who are pioneering scientific advances in mesothelioma research and treatment.
Presented by:
Tobias Peikert, MD, Mayo Clinic
Recipient:
Michael J. Becich, MD, PhD, Chair and Distinguished University Professor, Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Over the past couple of decades, Dr. Michael Becich has been steadfast in his commitment to mesothelioma research. He established the National Mesothelioma Virtual Tissue Bank (NMVB) — the only national tissue and data repository exclusively dedicated to mesothelioma.
As a member of the research community and specifically a proponent of mesothelioma research, Dr. Becich has been a strong advocate for the research component of the Foundation. His research is funded by the CDC, NCATS, NCI, NHLBI, and NLM and includes clinical phenotyping of patients for genomic/personalized medicine, tissue banking informatics, clinical informatics, and bioinformatics with a special emphasis on data sharing. Throughout his career, Dr. Becich has authored 166 publications. He has also selflessly volunteered his time in support of the Foundation’s Board of Directors from 2013 to 2018.
Dr. Becich is Associate Vice Chancellor for Informatics in the health sciences at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
Bruce Vento Hope-Builder Award
This award recognizes an individual or individuals who create hope for mesothelioma patients and their loved ones through advocacy.
Presented by:
Sue Vento
Widow of Congressman Bruce Vento (Minnesota) and former member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors
Recipient:
Heather Von St James
Heather Von St James is a 14-year mesothelioma warrior and ardent advocate for the mesothelioma community and the Foundation, where she serves as founding co-chair of the Community Advisory Board (CAB) with Katie Jamieson.
In this role, Heather has spent the last several months building the CAB’s 18-member roll with Katie, ensuring the group has members that reflect every part of the mesothelioma journey. The CAB initially focused on how the Foundation could serve the mesothelioma community’s needs during the pandemic, including providing input on interview topics for the Foundation’s MesoTV content series. To complement the medical and treatment focused MesoTV interviews, Heather and Katie led videos that included a demonstration of acupressure (as known as tapping) and a “life after treatment” panel discussion with four fellow mesothelioma warriors.
Heather’s advocacy also includes regularly sharing her experiences as a mesothelioma warrior in prominent publications and at events around the country. Since 2018, she has been nominated and a finalist for Patient Leader Hero by WEGO Health — an organization connecting the healthcare community with the experience of its network of 100,000+ patient leaders.
In addition to all of this, in 2007 Heather turned the first anniversary of her lung removal into a fundraiser she calls Lung Leavin’ Day. This annual Fundraise for Meso event on February 2 has raised over $40,000 for the Foundation through the Von St James Travel Fund, which helps patients cover travel costs related to treatment or consults with mesothelioma specialists.
Klaus Brauch Above and Beyond Award
Presented on behalf of the entire mesothelioma community by the Foundation’s Board of Directors, this award is named in honor of Klaus Brauch, the Foundation’s very first volunteer, and recognizes an engaged and exemplary individual or individuals who has worked to advance the Foundation’s mission through fundraising, advocacy, awareness, and/or education.
Presented by:
Patrick Forde, M.B.B.Ch., Johns Hopkins
Recipients:
Jack and Ellen Brown
Jack and Ellen Brown organize The Em’ for Emily in their hometown of Greer, SC, to honor the life and legacy of their daughter, Emily Brown Kocis, a wife, mother, and peritoneal mesothelioma warrior who passed away at 28 in January 2017.
This week-long fundraiser encompasses Mesothelioma Awareness Day (September 26), a dine and donate event, a Ride for the Em’ cycling event, and a golf tournament. Following a successful inaugural fundraiser in 2017, the Browns have made The Em’ for Emily an annual Fundraise for Meso event and have since raised $65,000 for the Foundation toward mesothelioma research and the Patient Travel Grant Program.
Originally scheduled for Oct. 3, this year’s The ‘Em for Emily was postponed until 2021 to protect the safety and wellbeing of the event’s volunteers, supporters, and players.
