About

Affiliate Volunteer Awards Program

Annually, the Indianapolis Affiliate recognizes its dedicated and loyal volunteers at the Circle of Hope event  held in December each year.  If you know a volunteer who deserves to be recognized for their hard work on behalf of Komen, take a minute to nominate them by clicking here to download the nomination form.  The following individuals were honored in December, 2008.

Debbie Willis Survivor Award                   Becky Sage

Co-Survivor Award                                  Harold Hiser

Community Service Award                      UPS

Promise of One Award                            Karine Huys

Promise of One Award                            Maggie Green

Outstanding Volunteer Award                  Dawn Toth

Lifetime Volunteer Achievement               Carolyn Cary

Affiliate Community Achievement Awards Program

Annually, the Indianapolis Affiliate recognizes and honors an individual and a corporation that exemplifies the spirit of the Komen mission.  The individual is one who has demonstrated a lifetime of achievement by serving as a leader in the community to enhance awareness of breast health, contributed to scientific advancements toward finding a cure or improved the quality of care for breast cancer victims or quality of life for survivors.   The corporation will have demonstrated a history of community service in the area of breast health awareness or designed and implemented an innovative program that increased awareness or improved quality of care.  Award winners were honored at the annual Pink Tie Ball February 28, 2009.

George W. Sledge, Jr. M.D.

Dr. Sledge is a true medical pioneer in the research arena who has a desire to put himself out of business. Dr. George sledge is so committed to finding a cure for breast cancer that he openly admits to having a mission to end a career he absolutely loves. His ground-breaking efforts are making significant strides toward achieving this mission.

In his role with the indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, Dr. Sledge has championed innovative national clinical trials which have resulted in uncovering important biologic therapy advances for breast cancer detection and treatment. He is currently leading a trial related to the role of new blood vessels and how they may be effectively used to improve breast cancer therapy. He has also authored more than 100 scientific publications, the majority of which have focused on the biology and treatment of breast cancer.  Beyond these impressive research accomplishments, Dr. Sledge is known as a compassionate caregiver to the hundreds of patients who have placed their unwavering trust in him and rely on him for top quality treatment.  In 2006, Dr. Sledge received the Brinker International Award for breast cancer research, Komen’s most prestigious honor. 

Joseph Mark and Michael Miller 

These award recipients are also medical pioneers in their own right. Health care innovators Joseph Mark and Mike Miller had a visionary concept to develop an advanced breast cancer diagnosis system that would be minimally invasive to patients. In partnership with Dr. Timothy Goedde – the 2008 Komen Indianapolis Lifetime Award recipient – Joseph and

Mike designed the ATEC, an automated breast biopsy device that provides physicians with the ability to make an accurate diagnosis in one minute within their offices rather than in an operating room.  The system also offers patients the benefits of additional comfort and virtually no recovery time. The ATEC system is the only m-r-i-guided breast biopsy system in the world that allows women in high-risk populations to receive an early diagnosis without undergoing surgery.   It’s a certainty that thousands of women and men have benefited greatly from the life-saving early detection provided by the creation of the ATEC system.