A New 2012 President at AIBH

2012 is now in full swing with continued changes all around us! There is also change happening at the Arizona Institute for Breast Health - we have a new President!

Linda Rose, who joined the board in 2009, has recently been elected President of our organization for a two-year term. Linda has extensive background in radiology. She started as a radiologic technologist (RT) and later specialized in mammography and sonography. She was a Breast Health Educator for the American Cancer Society, lecturing on breast cancer awareness, the importance of mammography, and how to perform breast self exams. She chaired the Fairfax Coalition for Every Woman's Life and was chair of Education/Detection for the Fairfax Virginia Board of the American Cancer Society.

In March of 2009, Linda was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer and went through the AIBH program. Linda feels strongly that every woman should be her own best advocate when faced with a breast cancer diagnosis, in order to make educated decisions regarding her diagnosis.

The Board of Directors is very excited to have Linda leading the charge. She has some exciting new fundraising ideas for 2012 that we are all looking forward to implementing. Congratulations Linda on your new role!

I would also like to extend heartfelt thanks to Jennifer Owen, our outgoing President, who joined the board in April of 2007 and has been extremely generous in donating her time, her treasures and her talent. The Board is very excited that Jennifer wishes to remain on the board as her creativity and passion would be terribly missed.

And, I am very excited to introduce a new member to our board, Jennifer North. Jennifer, who goes by Jenny, is co-owner of Yeager North, a marketing and design firm that focuses on technology marketing. For nearly 20 years, she has developed and implemented successful marketing programs for industry-leading technology companies and their channel partners.

Jenny is very passionate about doing what she can to support AIBH and the breast cancer cause. She went through a very difficult time when her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer 14 years ago. Jenny knows the challenges that a diagnosis can bring to a family and understands how difficult it is to stand by and feel helpless. She supported her mom in every way she could throughout her treatment, but the memory of it has stayed with her. Breast cancer has also affected her grandmother, who died from the disease 2 years before Jenny was born, her grandmother's daughter and Jenny's mom's cousin.

Knowing that one of the most important steps in the entire treatment process is making the right treatment decision, Jenny was thrilled when she learned of AIBH. Realizing that she could make a difference to all women in Arizona diagnosed with breast cancer, Jenny joined the board in December of 2011 to do what she can to spread the word and support the cause. We are all extremely excited to have Jenny on our team and know she will bring a very creative side to all that we do!

In closing, all of us at AIBH hope that as 2012 progresses, it will be a year of good health, good fortune and much happiness to all our friends and family!