BHGI Home

Founding Organizations and Core Leadership

The Breast Health Global Initiative (BHGI) is an ongoing program, founded by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

Leadership / Executive Committee

BHGI CO-FOUNDER, CHAIR & DIRECTOR
Benjamin O. Anderson, M.D.
Full Member, Division of Public Health Sciences at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Professor of Surgery and Joint Professor in the Department of Global Health at the University of Washington
Director of the Breast Health Clinic, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
Seattle, Washington

"We have a wealth of knowledge about saving lives from breast cancer when we have all the resources in place. The Breast Health Global Initiative addresses how to put into practice optimal breast healthcare measures in countries where healthcare resources, and awareness, are limited, and where cultural barriers need to be overcome."

Dr. Anderson is Professor of Surgery at the University of Washington in Seattle. He was recruited to join the University of Washington Breast Care and Cancer Research Program in 1994 and served as the breast program's Clinical Medical Director from 1998 to 2003. As the Director of the University of Washington's Breast Health Center, Dr. Anderson's has devoted his clinical practice to the care of patients with breast cancer and breast health issues. Dr. Anderson received the American Cancer Society Career Development Award for breast cancer research in 1995 and received a joint faculty appointment at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and from 1998 through 2001 served as Associate Program Head for the Hutchinson's Breast Cancer Research Program. Dr. Anderson is the President for the American Society for Breast Disease (ASBD), 2005-2007.

In 2002, Dr. Anderson founded the Breast Health Global Initiative, an international project to define guidelines for breast cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment in countries with limited health care resources. As the BGHI Chair and Director, Dr. Anderson has worked to integrate the development of practical breast health care guidelines into a research framework to promote health care outcomes analysis. He is now focusing BHGI on implementation and study of the Guidelines through international pilot projects to test and validate them, and create modular healthcare programs.

BHGI CHAIRMAN, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Eduardo L. Cazap, MD, PhD
Founder, Latinamerican and Caribbean Society of Medical Oncology (SLACOM), Buenos Aires, Argentina
Immediate Past-President, International Union Against Cancer (UICC), Geneva Switzerland

“I am involved with the Breast Health Global Initiative because I have a special interest in the problem of global cancer control and, principally, in trying to solve the inequalities in the access to cancer prevention and treatment between the developed countries and the developing ones.”

Dr. Cazap is founder and present President of SLACOM. He graduated in medical oncology from the Universidad del Salvador in 1978. He obtained a fellowship from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) at Lombardi Cancer Center, Georgetown University in 1984; he was Principal Investigator, Collaborative Cancer Research Treatment Program (CCTRP), PAHO/NCI in 1984; he obtained a fellowship from the American Cancer Society in 1985 and the European Recertification in Medical Oncology, from ESMO in Copenhagen in 1991. He was professor of Clinical Oncology at the Universidad del Salvador in 1984-98 and professor of Medical Oncology I at the Universidad Católica Argentina in 188-2000. He was also founder of the Charter of Paris against Cancer in Paris, France in 2000. He has more than 150 papers published in the specialty.

BHGI Executive Committee Member
Lisa Stevens, PhD
Deputy Director, Planning and Operations, Center for Global Health, National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Dr. Stevens’ desire to facilitate and promote science is what brought her to the Office of the Director, NCI, in 2000. She joined the Office of Science Planning and Assessment in 2002 and recently joined the Center for Global Health as the Deputy Director for Planning and Operations. In support of NCI, she has fostered collaborations, created decision-making tools, and overseen the development of strategic planning documents.

Dr. Stevens has worked on many strategic planning activities across NCI. She participated in interviews of key stakeholders in each of these activities and worked with individuals to articulate vision, mission, and objectives as part of the process. She facilitated interactions among the NCI Divisions, Offices, and Centers from NCI, as well as other NIH Institutes and Centers.

Dr. Stevens has guided the creation and communication of the long-range plan of the Institute, the yearly plan and budget request, and highlights of scientific progress. These activities have been in the form of the Strategic Plan, the Bypass Budget, and responses to congressional inquiries. At every opportunity, she has helped craft a clear message of where the Institute is today and the plan for tomorrow.

Since joining the Center for Global Health, Lisa has focused on gathering input—both internal and external—to facilitate the development of the strategic priorities for the Center. She has also been implementing policies and procedures to support the operations of the Center. In August, Lisa helped launch a partnership with multiple global partners on National Cancer Control Planning; she is also involved in the Middle East Cancer Consortium registry and palliative care work. Lisa is interested in bringing her experience in collaborations and partnerships to this new endeavor.

Dr. Stevens graduated in 1999 with a PhD in molecular and cellular biology from the University of Maryland, College Park. Her thesis research was conducted in the Laboratory of Genetics in NCI’s intramural program. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in biology and a minor in Spanish from Monmouth College in Monmouth, IL. 

BHGI Executive Committee Member
British Robinson
Vice President, Global Strategy and Programs, Susan G. Komen for the Cure®

In February 2012, British Robinson joined Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s Global Strategy & Programs team from the U.S. State Department, where she served most recently as Deputy Coordinator and Director of Private Sector Engagement in the Office of the U.S. Global Aids Coordinator / The United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Ms. Robinson worked closely with Komen staff to develop our Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon (PRRR) Initiative this past fall. She is an expert in developing and managing public-private partnerships, like PRRR, that will enable Komen to deliver services in countries in Africa, The Caribbean, Latin America and other key geographies. Ms. Robinson has more than 20 years experience in this arena, along with leadership in corporate social responsibility, government relations, domestic and international policy development through non-profit and corporate positions. She is a graduate of George Washington University, with a B.A. in Public Policy and Business Administration and received her Master’s degree in Government from Johns Hopkins University. She also holds an honorary Doctorate from Fairfield University. Ms. Robinson is based in our Washington, D.C. office, guiding the development, implementation and management of international programs and initiatives, helping us to achieve optimal mission impact in areas such as fundraising, education, scientific, and screening initiatives in strategically targeted international markets.

BHGI Executive Committee Member
Silvana Luciani
Advisor, Cancer Prevention and Control, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)

Silvana Luciani is a public health professional who has led international and national health programs on cancer prevention and control, tobacco control, and nutrition. At the Pan American Health Organization, she is leading the initiative for cancer prevention and control in the Americas, the implementation of the Regional Strategy for Cervical Cancer, as well as providing policy and technical advice to Ministries of Health on national cancer control plans. In addition, she manages the CARMEN network of national non-communicable disease program managers from Ministries of Health in the Americas.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is an international public health agency with more than 100 years of experience in working to improve health and living standards of the countries of the Americas. It serves as the specialized organization for health of the Inter-American System. It also serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization and enjoys international recognition as part of the United Nations system.The mission of PAHO is to lead strategic collaborative efforts among Member States and other partners to promote equity in health, to combat disease, and to improve the quality of, and lengthen, the lives of the peoples of the Americas.