Press Release
2009-10-29
CancerCare Announces New CEO, Helen Miller
2010 will mark a new era of leadership for the 65-year-old national non-profit, which provides free, professional support services to anyone facing cancer
New York, NY, October 29, 2009--CancerCare, a national, direct-services non-profit organization that provides free, professional counseling and practical support to people affected by cancer, today announced that Helen H. Miller, LCSW has been named CancerCare's new Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Miller, 54, who began her career as a clinical social worker involved in cancer-related programs, has extensive experience in directing a variety of cancer prevention and wellness programs, in addition to a solid track record in non-profit executive management. Most recently, she served for five years as Executive Director of The Bachmann-Strauss Dystonia & Parkinson Foundation, in New York City. She plans to assume her new position with CancerCare on January 4, 2010.
"Helen brings the kind of well-rounded expertise in social work, oncology and executive administration necessary to lead CancerCare in the coming years to stay true to our 65- year mission of helping people cope with the emotional and practical challenges of a cancer diagnosis," stated Paul M. Friedman, President of CancerCare's National Board of Trustees. "In this increasingly challenging economic environment, CancerCare's board and I are confident that Helen's proven leadership abilities will carry the organization to new heights and enable us to serve an even greater number of people in need who are facing cancer."
"I am excited to be joining CancerCare at such a pivotal point in its history and look forward to building on the organization's long record of solid leadership, growth and, most important, the essential support it has provided to people facing what is often the biggest crisis of their lives--a cancer diagnosis," said Ms. Miller.
Earlier, Ms. Miller served as program director of the Cancer Prevention and Wellness Program at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; and director of the HealthOutreach Program at New York Presbyterian Hospital, among other positions. She holds a master's degree in Social Work from Columbia University.
"Having spent more than 20 years of my career as a social worker in oncology-related patient programs, clinical practice, education and research, I have a deep personal and abiding commitment to helping people with cancer and their families access the level of care and support they need to achieve the best possible outcome to their particular diagnosis," Ms. Miller added.
In her new role with CancerCare, Ms. Miller will succeed Diane Blum, MSW, who has served as CancerCare's executive director for the past 20 years. During Ms. Blum's tenure, CancerCare has more than doubled in size and provided free counseling, education and support services to millions of people affected by cancer. Additionally, under Ms. Blum's able leadership, CancerCare introduced numerous innovative programs, such as its free Telephone Education Workshops (now known as Connect Education Workshops); its web-based services and publications department, which produces free booklets and fact sheets on coping with cancer and other cancer-related topics; and, most recently, its Co-Payment Assistance Foundation, which provides financial grants to cancer patients to help cover the costs of their insurance co-payments for certain cancer treatments. Blum leaves CancerCare to become Chief Executive Officer of the Lymphoma Research Foundation, based in New York City, that is dedicated to curing lymphoma.
Acknowledging the exceptional contributions of Diane Blum, Mr. Friedman stated, "Diane is widely recognized as one of the nation's leading and most respected advocates for providing and promoting psychosocial services for cancer patients and their families. She has made an enormous contribution to improving the level of care--and access to that care--for literally millions of individuals and families grappling with the challenges of cancer. We wish her well in her new leadership role with the Lymphoma Research Foundation, as she continues helping people facing cancer and supporting research for a cure."