Minneapolis Urban Laegue Presents “Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Day” Friday, June 20, 2008
Join the Minneapolis Urban League for an evening of information about Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education, featuring Mr. Robert Samuels, the first African American Vice President of a Major Bank in the United States and Prostate Cancer Survivor, Advocate and Educator. June 20, 2008 from 4:30-6 p.m. in the lower level of the Minneapolis Urban League located at 2100 Plymouth Avenue North.
The following article is By Tom Valeo, Special to the Times
Published February 26, 2008 in the St. Petersburg Times.
Screenings designed to save men’s lives
A retired banker sets up free annual tests for prostate cancer and other diseases.
TAMPA - As a banking executive and then into retirement, Robert Samuels received a first-class physical every year.
Yet, in 1994, just four months after a thorough workup, he discovered he had prostate cancer. He was unsure if he had received a prostate cancer screening.
“I was 56 at the time, and I had no symptoms,” Samuels said. “A colleague mentioned that he had just been screened for prostate cancer, and I called my doctor back and asked, ‘Did you test me?’ ”
He went in for the prostate-specific antigen test and found that his level was 47. Normal is between 0 and 4.
Samuels was successfully treated, but he has become an advocate for prostate cancer screening, especially for African-American men. According to the American Cancer Society, the prostate cancer death rate for African-American men is more than twice that of white men.
To encourage men to get tested, Samuels created the Florida Prostate Cancer Network.
“The first year, 750 men showed up,” Samuels said. “In the seven years we’ve been doing this, 10,000 men have been screened.”
And since access to medical care is a big reason why many people don’t get screened for the disease, the forum also provides “safety nets,” as Samuels calls them.
“We invite the VA Veterans Affairs to participate, and people from Medicare and the county’s indigent health care program,” Samuels said.
In addition, the hospitals that conduct the screenings - St. Joseph’s, Tampa General and Moffitt - will help people find a way to get medical care no matter what their financial status.
Brian Rivers, executive director of the FPCN, has conducted research aimed at determining what prevents men from undergoing prostate cancer screening and seeking treatment.
“I think the biggest factor is lack of awareness and knowledge,” Rivers said. “One of the principle barriers to screening is that men just aren’t aware of their risk. There also are policy barriers, such as lack of insurance and lack of access to health care.”
The unpleasantness of getting tested, however, does not seem to be a big deterrent.
“Those who have been through it may talk about the discomfort of a digital rectal exam,” Rivers said, “but men are willing to endure one or two minutes of discomfort. Education is the key. Education is what generates increased awareness and empowers individuals to make informed decisions about their health.”
“1st Annual Minneapolis Urban League’s Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Day”
On June 20, 2008 at the Minneapolis Urban League, the MUL Social Wellness Cluster and MUL President Mr. Clarence Hightower welcome world renowned Prostate Cancer National Spokesperson Mr. Robert Samuels to the Minneapolis Urban League for the “1st Annual Minneapolis Urban League’s Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Day.” This event will take place in the lower level of the Minneapolis Urban League from 4:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
The event will be a light variety of food and beverages catered by the Twin Cities #1 healthy catering company - “Lisa Anderson catering”, www.lacateringmpls.com.
We encourage all men in the Twin Cities to come out and hear what Mr. Samuels has to say, the life his saves with important information could be yours. For more information contact the Minneapolis Urban League at (612) 986-0010.
The Minneapolis Urban League Receives National Attention and Unveils Collaborative Logo!
In breaking news the Minneapolis Urban League has gain national attention for their upcoming 1st Annual Minneapolis Urban League Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Day on June 20, 2008.
Stephanie Chisolm, PhD – Director of Patient Education with the American Urological Association in Maryland says, “This is a great opportunity for the AUA to engage with the Minneapolis Urban League and their Social Wellness Cluster that does such a great job in the Twin Cities.” Mr. Theodus Mitchell with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) says, “This is great and the CDC supports any efforts that the Minneapolis Urban League is involved in to address health disparities in communities of color.”
Mr. James Hadley with the National Institute on Health says, “The NIH will supply information to the Minneapolis Urban League to assist them with their efforts to address Prostate Cancer.”
Yesterday, the original press releases posted on I-Newswire.com was viewed nationally by over 40,000 news organizations and individuals and continues to grow. The Tampa Tribune, (FL) and the St. Pete Times (FL), both want more information about the event feature their hometown favorite Mr. Bob Samuels.
This event is free and open to the public. For more information go to www.tcbusiness.org or call 612-302-3100.
“1st Annual Minneapolis Urban League’s Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Day”
It is with great pleasure we announce the 1st Annual Minneapolis Urban League’s Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Day”, feature guest speaker, former bank executive, past President of the Urban Financial Services Coalition, Founding Chairman of the National Prostate Awareness Coalition and prostate cancer survivor Mr. Robert Samuels.
On June 20, 2008 at the Minneapolis Urban League, the MUL Social Wellness Cluster and MUL President Mr. Clarence Hightower welcome world renowned Prostate Cancer National Spokesperson Mr. Robert Samuels to the Minneapolis Urban League for the “1st Annual Minneapolis Urban League’s Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Day.” This event will take place in the lower level of the Minneapolis Urban League from 4:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Mr. Bob Samuels, a dedicated community activist, Mr. Samuels is listed in “Who’s Who in Black America”. As one of the founders of the Harlem YMCA’s Black Achievers in Industry Program, he helped establish the United Negro College Fund’s Corporate Matching Gifts Program, and as a result of working with the United Negro College Fund, he was awarded the “UNCF’s Outstanding Citizen’s Award.” Mr. Samuels was the founding president of both the National Association of Urban Bankers and the New York City Urban Bankers Coalition. In 1984, the National Association of Urban Bankers honored him by renaming the “Outstanding Banker of the Year Award” to the “Robert J. Samuels Founder’s Award”. In 1998 the Urban Bankers further honored him by placing his likeness in the Baltimore Great Blacks in Wax Museum. In December of that year he was also inducted into the Black Hall of Fame in Philadelphia.
This event is open to the public and all men and their families who want to know about Prostate Cancer Awareness, Prevention and information you need to know are invite to attend this exciting educational event. There will be food, beverages and informational hand-outs to help you be well informed of your risks as it pertains to Prostate Cancer.
Samuels was diagnosed with prostate cancer at age 56 — in the prime of life — the cancer had advanced dangerously far. Samuels was shocked to discover that as an African American, he was at high risk for the disease. He was also surprised that since he had an annual physical examination every year his physician had never discussed his risk for prostate cancer. Samuels had been a banker for 31 years in New York and he became one of the first Black Vice President’s of a major bank in the nation.
Today, with his cancer in remission, this retired banking executive has channeled the energy that made him so successful in his career into a new role as one of prostate cancer’s most aggressive advocates. As Founding Chairman of the National Prostate Cancer Coalition, Samuels moved prostate cancer into the national spotlight. Samuels went on to lead advocacy efforts in Florida, and is founder and chairman of the Florida Prostate Cancer Network (FPCN), one of the most active state coalitions in the nation.
Prostate cancer is the No. 1 diagnosed cancer (non-skin) and the No. 3 cause of cancer deaths in Florida. Samuels works relentlessly to educate Floridians about the disease.
As a men’s health activist and organizer, Samuels is involved in numerous activities including:
• Founding Chairman of the National Prostate Cancer Coalition
• Founding Chairman of the Florida Prostate Cancer Network Inc.
• Former member National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Prostate Cancer Progress Review Group
• Consultant, Food & Drug Administration’s Oncology Drug Advisory Committee (ODAC)
• Former member NCI Consumer Advocates in Research & Related Activities (CARRA)
• Former patient representative to the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG)
• Former Co-Chairman of The Florida Prostate Cancer Task Force
• Former Board Member of H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
• Former Member of the U.S. Army’s Prostate Cancer Research Panel
Samuels has led numerous battles in the fight against prostate cancer. As Founding Chairman of the National Prostate Cancer Coalition he lobbied Congress repeatedly for increases in prostate cancer research funding and was instrumental in getting the State of Florida to recognize, as a matter of public policy, prostate cancer as serious diseases needing to be addressed at the state level. During 2004, he was recognized by the Florida Department of Health with their UNSUNG HERO’S Award. The State Department of Health honored his leadership and contributions toward getting stakeholders throughout the state involved in approving the Florida Prostate Cancer Education Act. Samuels was instrumental in obtaining a $1million DOD grant to establish joint venture prostate cancer training and research Institute at FAMU with Moffitt Cancer Center.
Recent Awards and Recognition include:
• Tribute in 109th Congressional Record of the US House of Representatives
• US Department of Health and Human Services “Minority Health Community Leadership Award”
• Prostate Net’s Award for Lifetime Excellence in Advocacy to Eliminate Health Disparities
• Hillsborough County Commission – Humanitarian Award
• Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio’s – Outstanding Citizen’s Award
• The Florida Legislature – Citizen’s Recognition Award
• ONYX Magazine’s - Humanitarian Award
Mr. Samuels comes to Minneapolis courtesy of the Urban Financial Services Caolition that will hold their annual conference in downtown Minneapolis June 18-22 at the Hyatt for more information go to www.ufscnet.org
We ask that you join us on June 20, 2008 from 4:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. for this once in a lifetime educational, information session and community health disparity awareness cause at the Minneapolis Urban League, located at 2100 Plymouth Avenue North. For more information call (612) 302-3100.
This message has been brought to you by the Minneapolis Urban League, Clarence Hightower, President and Twin City Business – www.tcbusiness.org/blog
