Press Releases
ATLANTA— November 10, 2011— Three Americans whose exceptional talents and commitment have helped make progress in the fight against cancer today received prestigious awards from the American Cancer Society for their work in humanitarianism, distinguished service, and volunteer leadership. As part of its Annual Meeting, the Society honors individuals whose work is helping to substantially further its goal of creating a world with less cancer and more birthdays. In recognition of their inspirational achievements, the Society’s National volunteer leaders presented these annual awards to these outstanding individuals in ceremonies during the organization’s annual meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.
George F. Worsham, Jr., M.D., received the National Humanitarian Award in recognition of his efforts to help the medically underserved, especially Bolivian women facing cervical cancer. Laurence H. Baker, D.O. received the Distinguished Service Award for his ongoing work in cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment. R. Clifford Berg, Jr., C.L.U., Ch.F.C., A.E.P., received the National Volunteer Leadership Award in recognition his nearly three decades of exemplary volunteer service to the Society.
National Humanitarian Award winner George F. Worsham, Jr., M.D., has dedicated his life to helping those in need and providing financial and emotional support to others. When he met the head of a Bolivian cancer organization in 2006, he followed his instinct to help others, and ultimately made an enormous difference for many women in Bolivia. That country has the second highest mortality rate from cervical cancer in the Western Hemisphere. Dr. Worsham began by procuring laboratory slides, and ended up equipping a full laboratory, consulting with local physicians on screening methods, and even reviewed tests himself via email over several years. The Bolivian government has recognized his impact on the health of Bolivian women, and the city of Potosi honored him by making him an honorary citizen. Dr. Worsham’s unique combination of medical expertise and compassion makes him a true humanitarian and exemplifies the best of American Cancer Society volunteers.
Dr. Worsham is a graduate of the Medical University of South Carolina. He completed his pathology internship and residency at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Worsham also received additional training in hematopathology at the National Institutes of Health and the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and did additional training in cytopathology at Johns Hopkins University Hospital. Dr. Worsham is board-certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology as well as cytopathology. His special interests are in prostate pathology and fine needle aspiration cytology. Dr. Worsham is Chief Medical Officer of Charleston Pathology P.A. and also serves as Director, Pathology Department and Laboratory Services, Roper Hospital, Charleston, South Carolina. He has been an American Cancer Society volunteer since 1984.
Laurence H. Baker, D.O. received the Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his tireless efforts against sarcoma. Dr. Baker has more than 30 years of experience in the treatment of sarcoma and design of clinical trials for new sarcoma therapies. In April 2005, he became Chairman of the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG), the largest cancer clinical trials organization in the world. SWOG’s membership lists nearly 4,000 of the nation’s leading physicians and scientists at 283 institutions in the United States and Canada. Dr. Baker is also the Executive Director of SARC (Sarcoma Alliance for Research through Collaboration), a not-for-profit consortium which advocates for sarcoma medical research and for the conduct of clinical trials studying new treatment for sarcoma. He is a scientific consultant to the National Cancer Institute and several universities, a member of many prestigious organizations, and a nationally recognized expert in sarcoma treatment. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed literature and has authored or co-authored 50 books and/or book chapters, and is regularly invited to speak as a guest lecturer both at the national and international level.
Dr. Baker is Professor of Internal Medicine and Pharmacology, Departments of Internal Medicine and Pharmacology, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School, and a longtime Society volunteer.
In recognition of his nearly 30 years of volunteer service at all levels of the organization, the Society is presenting R. Clifford Berg, Jr., C.L.U., Ch.F.C., A.E.P. the National Volunteer Leadership Award. As an American Cancer Society volunteer in Delaware, Mr. Berg has served as president of his local unit, was a Celebration on the Hill Ambassador in 2002, and helped successfully lobby for the passage of the Delaware Clean Indoor Act. He was instrumental in the development of the Men’s Health and Cancer Conference, which is an annual educational conference for men in Wilmington. His tireless dedication has included active involvement in Relay For Life, Daffodil Days, Coaches versus Cancer, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and Drive for a Cure Golf.
At the Division level, Mr. Berg has served in many leadership roles including Chair of the Board of the former Delaware Division, and was an active member of the Officer Work Group involved in formation of the current South Atlantic Division. He has served as Treasurer, Vice Chair of the Board and is currently Chair of the Board for the South Atlantic Division. As a National volunteer leader, Mr. Berg has been a Delegate to the National Assembly and was a Director on the National Board from 2003 to 2005. He has served as National Income Development Chairman and is currently a member of the National Finance Committee, the Investment Work Group and the National Planned Giving Advisory Council. He has contributed his knowledge and expertise to many National committees including Income Development, Human Resources, Blue Ribbon Committee on Fundraising, Risk Management and Donor Relations.
Mr. Berg is a financial planner with Financial House. In addition to his Society volunteer work, he has had a leadership role in the local Boy Scout Council, Rotary and the professional organizations related to his career work. Mr. Berg is the 1994 recipient of the Society’s St. George Award.
The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end cancer for good. As a global grassroots force of three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping you stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early, helping you get well by being there for you during and after a diagnosis, by finding cures through groundbreaking discovery and fighting back through public policy. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.5 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.