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Gynecologic Cancer Foundation's
Allied Support Group
Background
In 1998, the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation (GCF) created an Allied Support Group consisting of newly created national ovarian cancer advocacy organizations to promote open dialogue and collaboration among the advocacy groups. The GCF agreed at that time to host semiannual meetings and to serve as the “administrator” of the Allied Support Group. Over the ensuing few years, the Allied Support Group expanded its membership to include other gynecologic cancer related advocacy and research organizations. As currently constituted, the group represents most national and some international organizations that have interest in women's gynecologic cancer health.
In addition to meeting semiannually to review the activities of their individual organizations, members of the Allied Support Group have collaborated on a variety of special educational, advocacy and research projects. A partial list of these projects follows:
- Educational presentation/slide kits for medical professionals and lay public
- Ovarian National Resource List
- Ovarian Cancer Product Guide
- Ovarian Cancer Survivor's Course
- WCN/WCN Wall of Hope/Survivor Section/Calendar of Events
- Newspaper supplements
- News/magazine articles
- Research grants (GCF has received funding from various allied support group members to support research grants)
- Speakers at each member's conferences
- Educational materials
- Exhibiting at member's conferences
- Government relations/congressional receptions
Further recognizing the importance of the Allied Support Group, in 2002 the GCF appointed Ronald Alvarez, MD, a member of the GCF Executive Committee, to a newly established position of Advocacy Chair. In this role, he serves as the liaison between SGO/GCF and the Allied Support Group members. He chairs the Allied Support Group meetings.
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