A leading light in Vancouver
May 20, 2015
The sun was just about to set in Vancouver. Excitement was building as volunteers received guests at LOVE HER. In a blink, Jessica Holmes donned the stage making way for riotous laughter. Not to be outdone, models sashayed down a glossy runway. A wine wall and rows upon rows of silent auction items enticed the best intentions of all in attendance.
Soon Justine Greene took to the podium to introduce this year’s recipient of the Virginia Greene Award. Named after Justine’s mother, Virginia, the award recognizes an outstanding individual contribution to the advancement of awareness, knowledge transfer, support and research in ovarian cancer.
Justine Greene (L) and Dr. Dianne Miller (R)
The crowd grew quiet as they heard from Dr. Dianne Miller, Co-Founder of OVCARE and Provincial Gynaecology Tumour Group Chair for BC, Associate Professor at the UBC Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
A shared vision
“I see this award as honouring both OVCARE and the clinical team I work with,” said Dr. Miller.
She was referring to Drs. Blake Gilks and David Huntsman, who had collaborated with her on plans for a multidisciplinary team. Encompassing researchers, pathologists, geneticists, epidemiologists, and gynecologic surgeons, the team would cut across multiple institutions to speed science from bench to bedside.
Dr. Dianne Miller
accepting the
Virginia Greene Award.
“All we had to do was get someone to believe in our vision,” she continued. “Fortunately Vancouver General Hospital, UBC Hospital Foundation, the BC Cancer Agency Foundation, UBC, and subsequently Ovarian Cancer Canada answered our call.”
Just seven years following its formation, the OVCARE team discovered that ovarian cancer is not a single disease but rather a spectrum of diseases that respond differently to various treatments. This revolutionized thinking about ovarian cancer and built the case for further research into personalized care.
Dedicated to moving knowledge into practice, Dr. Miller is actively involved in clinical trials and in collaborations with translational and basic scientists. Her work focuses on potential screens for early diagnosis and targeted therapies. Beyond this, Dr. Miller is successful in all aspects of medical education from the undergraduate level through to continuing medical education.
Leading the way
“We are extremely proud to recognize Dr. Miller with this award,” says Elisabeth Baugh, CEO of Ovarian Cancer Canada. “Her leadership of OVCARE has advanced research that is already having a significant impact on prevention and treatment.”
Ovarian Cancer Canada invested in OVCARE’s work by funding early detection research and the Vancouver tissue bank, as well as partnering on a research fellowship.
“It is my great honour to award my friend Dr. Miller with the 2015 Virginia Greene Award,” Justine announced.
To this day Justine remembers that upon first meeting in the halls of the BC Cancer Agency, her mother Virginia and Dr. Miller greeted each other with a warm hug.
Addressing Dr. Miller directly, she added, “Thank you for all that you are doing for the women of BC, Canada, and the world.”
Vancouver’s LOVE HER event marked the last in a series of fashionable evenings in support of Ovarian Cancer Canada. Held in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver, LOVE HER 2015 drew record attendance and raised nearly $645,000 for support, awareness and research.
For updates on future LOVE HER events visit love-her.ca, select the city closest to you, and scroll to the bottom of the page to provide your email address.