West Virginia University breast cancer expert Jame Abraham, M.D., has been appointed to the inaugural class of the Susan G. Komen West Virginia Chapter of Pink Tie Guys.

The state affiliate named eight people in West Virginia to the elite group based on their continued dedication to fighting breast cancer. Abraham, section chief of Hematology Oncology at WVU and the first Bonnie Wells Wilson Distinguished Professor and Eminent Scholar in Breast Cancer Research, was the only physician selected.

“Dr. Abraham was chosen because of his commitment to breast cancer research,” said Kim Johnson, Susan G. Komen Pink Tie Coordinator. “Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures. We hope that Dr. Abraham will continue his efforts with research and treatment to help end breast cancer.”

“I am honored and proud to be a Komen Pink Tie Guy,” said Abraham. “Komen provides major financial support both at the state and national level to the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center for WVU’s Bonnie Wells Wilson Mobile Mammography Program, which is aimed at reducing breast cancer mortality in West Virginia. By working together, we are raising the bar on breast cancer awareness and early detection, and ultimately saving lives.”

Over the next year Abraham and fellow Pink Tie Guys will serve as Komen ambassadors for breast health and represent the one in eight women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetimes.

The Pink Tie Guys were honored and given a pink tie at Komen’s first annual Pink Tie Ball fundraiser in Charleston last month.

“Seventy-five percent of the money Komen raises in West Virginia stays in West Virginia supporting local programs focused on breast health needs of medically underserved and ethnic populations,” said Johnson. “The additional 25 percent goes to the national Susan G. Komen Program for funding breast cancer research.”

For more information on the West Virginia affiliate of Komen see www.komenwv.org.

-WVU-

CONTACT: Amy Johns, HSC News Service
304-293-7087; johnsa@wvuh.com