August 2011
Saudi Breast Center and U.S. Cancer Research Institute Expand Partnership to Address Cultural Obstacles to Healthcare in Middle East
Al-Amoudi Center in Jeddah and Seattle-based Breast Health Global Initiative at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center strengthen research ties through qualitative science
A unique U.S.-Saudi Arabia scientific partnership that began in 2010 between the Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Al-Amoudi Center of Excellence in Breast Cancer (“SMHA-CEBC”) at the King Abdulaziz University (KAU), in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Seattle, Washington, U.S.-based Breast Health Global Initiative (“BHGI”) at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (“Hutchinson Center”), a pioneer in cancer research and home to three Nobel Lauretes, developed further over the summer, through the vision of Dr. Samia Al-Amoudi, CEO of the SMHA-CEBC, breast cancer survivor and rising global advocate, when she joined the scientific ranks of the Hutchinson Center in Seattle as the first Visiting Scientist, under the auspices of the BHGI.
Dr. Al-Amoudi came to Seattle for concentrated study in the area of qualitative research science through the guidance of prominent Hutchinson Center expert, Engelberta (Beti) Thompson, Ph.D., a researcher in Public Health Sciences in the Cancer Prevention Research Program in the emergent field of health disparities.
The BHGI is recognized for leading the international breast cancer clinical improvement and best practices movement, under the leadership of Dr. Benjamin O. Anderson, BHGI founder, chair and director. Co-sponsored by the Hutchinson Center and Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the BHGI is comprised of a global alliance of organizations and individuals dedicated to improving health outcomes of medically underserved women worldwide.
The Al-Amoudi Center of Excellence, established in 2010, is the first multi-disciplinary breast cancer center of excellence in the Middle East, as well as the first BHGI organizational scientific partner from the region.
“There are many issues forming in medical services and medical care in Saudi Arabia. In less than a decade, the BHGI has become a global leader in women’s health initiatives through their pioneering efforts. At the SMHA-CEBC, we are establishing services such as patient navigation, counseling on survivorship and psychosocial support through our clinic. Until recently, these services for women were not available and, in fact, we did not have this concept of multi-disciplinary breast cancer care and treating the whole woman, in our region. It is a pioneering effort in the Middle East. It makes sense for our organizations to work together to maximize our efforts and learn from one another,” said Dr. Al-Amoudi.
“The BHGI alliance of organizational partners and individual collaborators throughout the world are making it possible to address crucial components of implementation and optimizing health care delivery. The SMHA-CEBC is the first breast center in the Middle East region to partner with the BHGI", said Dr. Anderson. “We are thrilled to further our scientific association with the Al-Amoudi Center of Excellence in Breast Cancer, and connect the Middle East to the BHGI global mission. Dr. Al-Amoudi, in her remarkable capacity of survivor, physician, global advocate and CEO of a breast center of excellence in the Middle East, brings a truly rare range of expertise, perspectives and extraordinary commitment, to our BHGI global program, as well as to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center,” said Anderson.
Dr. Al-Amoudi’s objective for SMHA-CEBC is to excel according to internationally accepted standards of scientific excellence, innovation, and multi-disciplinary services in breast health care and cancer care. “On a worldwide scale there is no single organization or group of individuals who can address global public health challenges. We need to work together to solve the problem. At the SMHA-CEBC, we have excellent expertise, facilities and resources. As we seek to be amongst the leading Centers of Excellency internationally, we are looking to educate women in our country and seek solutions to all obstacles to breast healthcare. No one has the capabilities, funding or research required that effectively address all the issues but, collectively, we can move forward. This is why SMHA-CEBC is further developing our scientific partnership with the Breast Health Global Initiative,” said Dr. Al-Amoudi, “to systematically develop awareness and public information through qualitative research that aims to educate and empower woman about breast health care and breast cancer as a treatable disease.”
The global vision of Dr. Al-Amoudi for the Jeddah-based center to address all obstacles to access to care is welcomed by both organizations, through focused and increasing international collaboration. It is envisioned by the institutes that expanding collaboration may lead to establishment of a BHGI Learning Laboratory at the Al-Amoudi Center in Jeddah, in the future.
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