The Team Ron Page

 

Ron Davis portrait

  Ron Davis

    Director, Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Henry Ford Health System

    President, American Medical Association (June 2007 - June 2008)

Article about Ron in Amednews.com - April 9th, 2008

Fighting spirit: AMNews interviews Ron Davis, MD

The AMA president is making his battle against pancreatic cancer public and hopes to raise awareness about the need for more funding to research the illness.

Less than two months ago, American Medical Association President Ron Davis, MD, told the AMA Board of Trustees that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Dr. Davis, 51, is continuing to serve as president. But he has reduced his duties to focus on treatment and spend time with his family. He said he realizes that pancreatic cancer has a high death rate, but he plans to be one of the survivors. more...

Lustgarten Walk today - April 6th, 2008

Deborah and I woke up early today for the Lustgarten Foundation fo Pancreatic Cancer Research 2-mile walk in Deerfield Beach, Florida - just across the street from where we live.

Last night was thunder and lightening and it was a dreary wet morning. We arrived and it was raining as we walked up to the shelter. After checking in and milling around for a half an hour, the walk started at 8:30am. The rain had stopped and with the temperature at about 70, it turned out to be a very pleasant walk. There were about 180 people there. Click here to see some pictures

Info from Jared about the May PanCan Walk in Chicago - March 24th, 2008

I’d like to inform all of you of a fundraising effort I’ve initiated to combat pancreatic cancer, in support of my father. The funds raised in this effort will support the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, or PanCAN. Here is a description of PanCAN from its website (http://www.pancan.com):

I’ve established the “Ron Davis Family & Friends” Team for PanCAN’s PurpleStride Chicago Walk on Saturday, May 3, 2008. The 5K walk will start and end in Grant Park, just west of Shedd Aquarium near the Field Museum. After the walk, participants will enjoy entertainment and the chance to win some great prizes in an opportunity drawing. PurpleStride registration will open at the park at 8:30 am, and the walk itself will start at 10:00 am.

You can support our Team in 1 of 2 ways. First, go to the Team Page Ron Davis Family & Friends. Then...

  1. If you simply want to make a donation (without joining the Team), do the following: click on my name (Jared Davis) in the Team Members list (bottom right), enter a donation amount, and then fill out the required information for a credit card donation.

  2. If you want to join our Team (which allows you to conduct your own fund-raising effort for the Team and/or participate in the Walk), click on Join Our Team at the top, click on “I agree” for the Waiver/Agreement, and then follow the directions.

Those who join the Team and register online before April 19th will receive a PurpleStride Chicago t-shirt. If you have questions, see the FAQ pdf document, or send me an email (jaredda@umich.edu). Thanks, in advance, for your support!

Sincerely,
Jared

Lynne's trip to visit Ron and family - March 12th, 2008

Hello Beloved Family,

Just wanted to let you know I had a wonderful five day visit with Ronnie, Nadine and the boys. It felt so good to be there and contribute what I could. It was very special to go to Ronnie's first chemo and be able to meet his doctor--who was very kind and compassionate. The whole medical staff was very caring and informative. Ronnie did great through the long ordeal.

Nadine and I were concerned about how Ronnie was hunching over his computer while at home sitting on the living room couch--we were able to find a cool little TV table at BBB which made a big difference in comfort --at least for Nadine and I!

Had some good ping pong games with Connor--who of course beat me. Had fun watching one of his tennis lessons--wow--he is great! Brought back memories of playing tennis with Dad and how fun it was especially since he could hit right to me--made me feel like a good tennis player..Hey why is that--I always danced and played tennis my best when it was with Dad---he knew how to make others shine....

Watched some good movies (although the scary ones I had to opt out of-Jared and Evan have a stronger stomach than I), enjoyed each others company and having time to just hang around together -- had good hugs and heart to hearts. I had been researching on the net for good healthy recipies for Ron and came up with some things that the whole family was brave enough to try......I hope those Chemo popsicles eventually got eaten. They were still in the freezer when I left. It was a tried and true favorite recipe I found that looked promising.

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know how brave and courageous Ron is and how strong, dedicated and loving Nadine is. The boys are standing strong together--showing up with their loving hearts--coming home--even during very packed school schedules.

We laughed together watching the first installment of the family video-what a great idea!! --Its wonderful to watch all your amazing contributions that you all are doing; family, research, PC walks for funding research, old pic sharing, Joe's Doc. Connections and help, calls, care page postings etc.--

what a great family we have!!

Love to you all, Lynne

News of the day - March 10th, 2008
DID YOU CALL CONGRESS TUESDAY, MARCH 11 TO TELL THEM TO
FUND PANCREATIC CANCER RESEARCH AND TO RAISE THE CURE? I DID!

Tuesday, March 11 was the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) Advocacy Day 2008 "National Call-In" to Congress.

This grassroots effort is essential to augment the message that hundreds of our advocates are taking to Washington DC on March 11th during Advocacy Day. Our advocates are personally meeting with members of Congress. We need you to reinforce the urgency and importance of more funding for pancreatic cancer research and ask Congress to support the National Plan to Advance Pancreatic Research (The Plan).

The National Call-In involved calling your 2 Senators and 1 Representative and telling them that pancreatic cancer research is vitally important to you, and that you want them to support the National Plan to Advance Pancreatic Research. Making the calls took less than 10 minutes.

BTW, to find your congresspersons and their contact information, enter your Zip:

The Plan can be viewed at the PanCAN Plan link. For more information visit the PanCAN Advocacy link.

Info for Today - March 10th, 2008

Some Facts:

1. Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest cancer: 75% of patients die within the first 12 months of diagnosis. The 5 year survival rate is less than 5%.

2. While cancer death rates have generally declined in recent years, the number of deaths from pancreatic cancer has increased. About 37,000 Americans were diagnosed in 2007 with pancreatic cancer and about 33,000 of them will die, making it the 4th leading cause of cancer deaths.

3. There are no early detection methods to find pancreatic cancer in its earliest stages and there are no effective treatment options. Symptoms often don't appear until it is too late.

4. Pancreatic cancer gets little public attention. In contrast to breast or prostate cancer, relatively few celebrities become spokespeople for pancreatic cancer. There are simply not enough survivors and most people dying of the disease, gradually become more private as their condition worsens.

5. Pancreatic cancer receives the least amount of federal research dollars among all leading cancers. National Cancer Institute devotes less than 2% of it's annual budget. Young investigators are being discouraged from pursuing careers in pancreatic cancer research.