Mary Pasquinelli, DNP, to receive James L. Mulshine, M.D., National Leadership Award for her establishment of lung cancer screening program

Nov 3, 2021

For Immediate Release

Lisa Berry Edwards
Managing Director, External Affairs
Prevent Cancer Foundation
lisa.edwards@preventcancer.org
703-519-2107

Alexandria, Va. (Nov. 3, 2021) — Mary Pasquinelli, DNP, a specialist in pulmonary and medical oncology based in Chicago, will receive the James L. Mulshine, M.D., National Leadership Award on Thursday, November 4. This award is given annually to an individual who has had a profound impact on reducing the toll of early thoracic disease on the health of Americans and people around the world. Pasquinelli is being honored for her work establishing a lung cancer screening program to benefit medically underserved communities.

The Prevent Cancer Foundation^® will present the ninth Mulshine Award at the 18^th annual Quantitative Imaging Workshop. The workshop focuses on the advancement of the use of quantitative low-dose computerized tomography (LDCT) for detection and management of early thoracic disease—lung cancer, COPD and cardiovascular disease—three of the top four leading causes of death in the U.S.

The lung cancer screening program Dr. Pasquinelli created is at a federally qualified health center on the West Side of Chicago. Additionally, she published a series of highly regarded papers on her team’s screening activities with a deep interest in overcoming health disparities through the implementation of lung cancer screening.

“The James L. Mulshine, M.D., National Leadership Award allows us to recognize someone in the medical community whose significant contributions are creating better outcomes for those with or at increased risk of developing lung cancer, COPD or cardiovascular disease,” said Carolyn Aldigé, founder and CEO of the Prevent Cancer Foundation. “Our award winners, including this year’s winner, Mary Pasquinelli, have worked hard to make our world a better place, and they should be honored accordingly.”

Past recipients of the award:

2020 – Daniel C. Sullivan, M.D. for his work in founding and chairing the Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers Alliance (QIBA). QIBA is committed to transforming patient care by making radiology a more quantitative science.
2019 – Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D., Former Director, National Cancer Institute, for his design, implementation and management of the largest and most expensive clinical trial in its history, the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST).
2018 – Sharon Y. Eubanks, U.S. Department of Justice, for her work as the lead Justice Department prosecutor in the landmark racketeering trial against Big Tobacco, a case which defied predictions and was won by the government.
2017 – The late John Walsh, President and CEO of the COPD Foundation and President and Founder of the Alpha One Foundation.
2016 – Laurie Fenton Ambrose, President and CEO of the Lung Cancer Alliance, for her efforts to guide patient advocacy groups in successful efforts to gain coverage of lung cancer screening by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
2015 – Claudia Henschke, Ph.D., M.D., Mt. Sinai Medical Center, as a pioneer of the use of low-dose spiral CT to screen for lung cancer.
2014 – CVS Health, award accepted by Nancy Gagliano, M.D., CVS Chief Medical Officer, in recognition of the company’s bold decision to discontinue the sale of tobacco products in their stores.
2013 (Inaugural year of the Award) – Cheryl G. Healton, DrPH, President and CEO, Legacy Foundation and Dean of the College of Public Health at New York University, in recognition of over 25 years of tireless work in public health, specifically on tobacco control.

This year’s workshop will take place November 4-5 as a virtual event, with the award ceremony happening on November 4. Registration is closed, but those interested can view a recording of the award ceremony on November 5.

For more information about the Quantitative Imaging Workshop and the award, visit the Prevent Cancer Foundation website.

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About the Prevent Cancer Foundation^®

The Prevent Cancer Foundation^® is celebrating 35 years as the only U.S. nonprofit organization focused solely on saving lives across all populations through cancer prevention and early detection. Through research, education, outreach and advocacy, we have helped countless people avoid a cancer diagnosis or detect their cancer early enough to be successfully treated.

The Foundation is rising to meet the challenge of reducing cancer deaths by 40% by 2035. To achieve this, we are committed to investing $20 million for innovative technologies to detect cancer early and advance multi-cancer screening, $10 million to expand cancer screening and vaccination access to medically underserved communities, and $10 million to educate the public about screening and vaccination options. For more information, please visit www.preventcancer.org.