To the Ovarian Cancer Community:

Change has been on my mind lately. I just changed jobs and am excited to be the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance’s new Executive Director. As a newbie, I am personally changing every day as I learn more about the Alliance’s contributions to the ovarian cancer community. I have enormous respect for the Alliance’s mission and accomplishments and feel honored to be part of the ovarian cancer movement.

In a larger context, all of us are changing. We are “Creating Currents of Change.” Our movement to conquer ovarian cancer is growing in both size and clout. By working together, our momentum for change spirals, embracing more and more survivors, families, friends, caregivers and even people not personally touched by this disease.

All of us share the same goal – to be part of the force for change so that every woman knows ovarian cancer’s symptoms, and that every woman with the disease is diagnosed early and lives a long, healthy life.

Change will be the topic of discussion at the Alliance’s 11th Annual Conference. We will learn where ovarian cancer research is now and what is on the horizon. We will identify how to put promising research into the forefront and how to improve access to quality care. And we will learn what progress we’ve all made advancing the National Agenda for Ovarian Cancer, our community’s first platform for change.

In addition, the conference will highlight current clinical trials, honor special individuals with awards, present roundtables with topics you asked for, and, of course, pay tribute to those courageous women who are no longer with us.

Many of you will also participate in Ovarian Cancer Capitol Hill Day, where our ovarian cancer delegation will meet with members of Congress and their staffs to advocate for change, particularly in how the federal government funds ovarian cancer research.

Significant change will only occur, though, if you are part of this powerful movement meeting at the conference to demand a different future for everyone who has been or will be touched by ovarian cancer. In the war against ovarian cancer, every voice truly counts. Please join us for what promises to be a defining moment in all of our lives.

Very Sincerely,



Karen Orloff Kaplan, MSW, MPH, ScD
Executive Director

Ovarian Cancer National Alliance   910 17th Street, N.W., Suite 1190   •   Washington, D.C. 20006
(202) 331-1332   •   fax: (202) 331-2292   •   www.ovariancancer.org

©2008 Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. All rights reserved.