2021 Survivorship Prize Awarded to the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
We are thrilled to name the Cancer Survivor Program at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta as the recipient of the 2021 Survivorship Champion’s Prize. The $10,000 Survivorship Champion’s Prize is awarded annually to a group, program, or institution making significant advances in programs and services to provide life-long health maintenance for survivors of pediatric cancers.
“The Cancer Survivor Program at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s is doing groundbreaking work to provide comprehensive, integrated care designed to maximize quality of life and long-term survival, in addition to conducting critical survivorship research.”
The Survivorship Champion’s Prize is a component of the Stewart Initiative for Childhood Cancer Survivors, an educational program of the Children’s Cancer Cause. The Cancer Survivor Program at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s is serving as a model for survivorship programs and services across the country that are aiming to improve the long-term care of the nation’s 500,000 childhood cancer survivors.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award from the Children’s Cancer Cause as we have been impressed with their advocacy and commitment to childhood cancer survivors,” said Dr. Karen Effinger, Medical Director of the Cancer Survivor Program at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s. “Our clinical and research teams are committed to working together to improve the overall physical and mental health of survivors. We know the end of cancer therapy is only the beginning of the survivor's lifetime health journey. This journey can be complex and anxiety provoking, especially as survivors transition away from their treating institutions.”
The Cancer Survivor Program at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s is planning to apply award funds toward expanding SurvivorLink™ into a mobile application. SurvivorLink is an electronic survivorship care plan that enables a survivor to store key healthcare documents and share them with medical providers after treatment has ended.
The Stewart Initiative was launched with generous support from the Stewart Family Fund. Thanks to the generosity of the Stewart family, three additional top-scoring applicants are being recognized with $5,000 awards in special categories of distinction:
RECOGNITION AWARD FOR IMPACT
The Treatment After Cancer and Late Effects (TACLE) Center
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
New Orleans, Louisiana
TACLE was selected in acknowledgment of their important role as the only survivorship clinic dedicated to taking care of pediatric cancer patients in the Gulf South region and providing needed services to a very large, underserved population.
RECOGNITION AWARD FOR SCALABILITY
Valley Children’s Hospital Childhood Cancer Survivorship Program
Madera, California
The Valley Children’s Survivorship Program is being recognized for expanding outreach and services to other centers and providers in the surrounding communities in central California.
RECOGNITION AWARD FOR COLLABORATION
The After Cancer Treatment Survivorship Program
Hyundai Cancer Institute at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County
Orange, California
The After Cancer Treatment Survivorship Program is acknowledged for providing resources to high-risk patients to successfully navigate transition from pediatric care to adult care, its school reintegration programs, and education of and networking between community providers and survivors.