Harold P. Freeman, MD

2007-2008 BCRF Project:
Through BCRF support, The Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention continues to With support from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, The Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention continues to evaluate the role of the Patient Navigator in removing barriers to timely standard of care for breast cancer. In an attempt to further validate the effectiveness of Patient Navigation as a breast care service delivery, intervention outcome measures continue to be analyzed. Patient Navigation's involvement in providing timely access to standard care continues its expansion to include the assessment and enrollment of qualified patients into clinical trials.

The initial results concerning Patient Navigation's ability to move patients through the cancer care continuum reveals some promising results and has also contributed to limiting delays in service for The Center's patients. Dr. Freeman and his team continue to assess the complex issues that occur when multiple facilities are rendering different aspects of breast cancer care. The Breast Examination Center of Harlem (BECH), the outpatient screening facility has made 305 referrals to The Center since the inception of this BCRF-funded work. Through the navigation process 296 patient appointments have been registered at The Center for diagnostic and/or treatment follow-up, and 108 patients have consented to participate in this protocol.

Mid-Year Progress Report:
With support from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, The Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention continues to evaluate the role of the Patient Navigator in removing barriers to timely standard of care for breast cancer. Recent analysis further validates the effectiveness of Patient Navigation as a breast care service delivery intervention, with the resulting benefit of improved health outcomes.

Bio:
Harold P. Freeman, M.D., is the Associate Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and Director of The NCI Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities. He serves as Director of Surgery at North General Hospital in New York City. He also serves as the Medical Director of The Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention in New York City. He holds the academic position of Professor of Clinical Surgery at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He held the position of Director of Surgery at Harlem Hospital for twenty-five years (1974-1999). He served as President and CEO of North General Hospital, NYC, for a two-year period ending in 2001.

Dr. Freeman was born in Washington, D.C. and graduated from the Catholic University of America where he received the Harris Award for "Outstanding Scholar, Gentleman, and Athlete." He later received an award for Outstanding Alumnus in the Medical Arts at Catholic University, and was inducted into the Athlete's Hall of Fame of the University. He graduated from Howard University Medical School, Washington, D.C. and completed internship and residency in General Surgery at Howard University Hospital where he received the Daniel Hale Williams Award for Outstanding Achievements as Chief Resident. Subsequently he was Senior Resident in Cancer Surgery for three years at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York City.

Dr. Freeman is a Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Freeman served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Freeman served on the Executive Council of the Society of Surgical Oncology. He has served, as Chairman of the Surgical Section of the National Medical Association and on numerous occasions has been a consultant to the National Cancer Institute, including six years as a member of the NCI Breast Cancer Task Force. He has been Medical Director of the Breast Examination Center of Harlem, a program of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, since 1979. In addition, Dr. Freeman is past Chairman of the New York State Commission for a Healthy New York and past Chairman of the New York State Breast Cancer Treatment Quality Advisory Panel. Dr. Freeman was a member of Ethics Committee of the Board of Regents of the American College of Surgeons. He is a Fellow of the American Surgical Association.

Dr. Freeman was elected to membership in the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences in 1997. Dr. Freeman has received Honorary Doctor of Science Degrees from Albany Medical College, Niagara University, Adelphi University, and the Catholic University of America. He was awarded the University of California at San Francisco Medal. He served as National President of the American Cancer Society, 1988-1989.

Dr. Freeman is the chief architect of the American Cancer Society's initiative on cancer in the poor and is a leading authority on the interrelationships between race, poverty and cancer. Related to this, the "Harold P. Freeman Award" was established by the American Cancer Society in 1990. This award may be given annually in ACS divisions throughout America to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in the fight against cancer in the poor.

Dr. Freeman is past Chairman of the United States President's Cancer Panel. He has been appointed to this position for four three-year terms, first by President Bush in 1991 and subsequently by President Clinton in 1994, 1997 and 2000. Dr. Freeman has lectured extensively throughout the United States as well as in Europe, Africa, South America, China and the Middle East on numerous subjects related to cancer prevention and treatment.

Among awards received by Dr. Freeman are: Mary Lasker Award for Public Service, Time, Inc. Health Lifetime Achievement Award, The American Cancer Society Medal of Honor, The 2001 CDC Champion of Prevention award from the Centers for Disease Control on the occasion of their 50th anniversary, the 2002 Breast Cancer Research Foundation "Jill Rose Award" and The 2003 American Society of Clinical Oncology Special Recognition Award.