Press Releases
ATLANTA – August 27, 2012 – Gregory P. Bontrager, the American Cancer Society’s chief operating officer, has been elected to the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) Board of Directors. On Sunday, Aug. 26, the UICC General Assembly elected its 2013 Board of Directors in Montreal, Canada, the day before the opening of its World Cancer Congress (Aug. 27-30, 2012). The UICC, based in Geneva, Switzerland, is the only global cancer fighting organization with more than 750 member-organizations across 155 countries.
“This is a timely opportunity for the American Cancer Society, the organization with the largest global health program, to strengthen its partnership with the UICC, the only global cancer organization committed to cancer control worldwide,” said John R. Seffrin, PhD, chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society and former volunteer UICC president (2002-2006). “Greg Bontrager’s unique expertise, passion, and strong work ethic will complement the caliber of the other UICC Board members as they work with UICC Chief Executive Officer Cary Adams to continue the important work of the global cancer control community, especially in the area of non-communicable diseases.”
As chief operating officer for the American Cancer Society, Bontrager oversees the day-to-day operations of the world’s largest voluntary health organization, providing leadership and direction to the Society’s daily functions. Bontrager has also served as a key member of the Society’s delegation to UICC conferences and global corporate leadership events in Asia, Latin America, Africa, and Europe.
Bontrager first joined the American Cancer Society in 1988 as director of development for the former Michigan Division. He later served as the Division’s vice president of development, senior vice president for operations, chief operating officer; and chief executive officer of the Great Lakes Division, which encompasses the states of Michigan and Indiana. During his tenure as chief executive officer, he helped to forge a strong relationship with Detroit based group ACCESS, the largest Arab American human services nonprofit in the United States.
The American Cancer Society is a long-time partner of UICC, supporting its mission to “eliminate cancer as a life-threatening disease for future generations.” The Society will hold activities at this year’s World Cancer Congress, including a global Relay For Life® lunch and learn and luminaria ceremony; a plenary session on connecting globally to reduce inequities; and sessions on topics including food policy interventions to reduce cancer risk, and the use of new media in disseminating cancer information globally. To follow the conference on Twitter, use #cancercongress.
The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, and with programs in more than 20 countries, we fight for every birthday threatened by cancer in communities worldwide. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; by helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying people across the globe to join the fight. As a global leader in cancer research investment, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. To learn more or to get help, and for more information on our global programs, visit www.cancer.org/global.
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Busola Afolabi
American Cancer Society
1-404-417-5894
busola.afolabi@cancer.org