• 12/10/2004
  • WASHINGTON DC
  • U.S. Newswire- National Press Club

Hill is presented the award by Dean Mike Alfano of NYU, a longtime oral cancer advocate

Brian Hill, founder of The Oral Cancer Foundation, has received a prestigious advocacy award from the Friends of the National Institute of Oral and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) at the National Press Club. The annual event recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to oral health causes in the preceding year. Hill’s award was for excellence in public service media, and reflects his efforts in developing web based information for patients, caregivers, and professionals in the area of oral cancer, and a national television effort to raise the awareness of oral cancer in the minds of the American public. Previous recipients of the award include Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona MD, Special Olympics CEO Timothy Shriver, Governor Jeb Bush, and Betsy Latiff of the Sjorgren’s Syndrome Foundation.

Acceptancespeech reiterates Hill’s focus on early detection to save lives

Hill, an oral cancer survivor himself, dedicates his time not only to patient advocacy issues in relationship to this disease, but to the broader issue of the early detection and diagnosis of oral cancer through opportunistic screenings by dental and medical professionals. When caught in its early stages it can be 80 to 90 percent survivable. Unfortunately, the disease is currently found as a late stage disease 66 percent of the time, with significantly poorer survival rates in the 30 to 40 percent range. The statistics related to the death rate from oral cancer have not significantly improved in decades. The foundation that he started has made proactive change in this situation the cornerstone of its goals. About The NIDCR — The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), located on the campus of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, is the world’s leading sponsor of research and research training in biomedical and behavioral sciences to improve and promote dental, oral, and craniofacial health. The institute has pioneered a wide variety of health improvements for the American people.