Several weeks ago Dr. Kevin Ault invited me to tour Emory’s Winship Cancer Center in Atlanta.  Dr. Ault ran the clinical trials for the HPV vaccine Gardasil in 33 countries.  The journey to meet Dr. Ault and my advocacy

for this incredible vaccine began this past New Year’s Eve.  Most of you know that I am a cervical cancer survivor.  You also know that I have devoted much time, energy and resources to the education of women on important health issues and the search for a cure for cervical cancer – so no other women will have to go through what I have. 

I learned in late 2005 about the breakthrough vaccine Gardsil.  This vaccine could cure cervical cancer as we know it.  I had been interviewed by various media outlets regarding my thoughts on this vaccine.  Of course, any cure for cancer is something I am for.  Who wouldn’t be – right?

Well apparently there are LOTS of people who were not as excited about the vaccine as me.  I was working hard to survive my annual Christmas rush at my studio and really had not had time to breathe – let alone stay up with the news.  At a New Years party a good friend and local Nurse Practitioner Susan Riley asked me what I thought about all of the controversy regarding the vaccine.  I had no clue about the moral firestorm this vaccine had created.  I spent most of New Year’s day googling stories about the vaccine.

Working through my publicist – I made my self available to give another side to the critics of this vaccine.  In a few short months – my story and my name had become pretty widely known throughout media land.  In fact, I have appeared in almost every major newspaper in the country and several leading papers in at least five other countries.  TV and radio has been very kind to my story also.  Fox News, Forbes, Savannah Now, Statesboro Herald, Boston Globe, Dallas Daily News, Lexington Herald…..to name a few.  My next goal is to testify at state levels and in Congress to try and make the “for” side have a stronger voice. 

Early in the year, I was invited to speak at the Nancy N. and J. C. Lewis Cancer and Research Pavilion in Savannah.  This beautiful facility is part of the St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System.  At this event I released the second set of my “Healing Art” collection of images.  This collection chronicles my journey of survivorship and encourages other’s struggling with cancer.  Proceeds from the collection are donated to cancer research and education.  The Lewis Cancer and Research staff along with the phenomenal public relations department at St. Joseph’s/Candler rolled out the red carpet for me.  The speech was well attended – but the press coverage was tremendous.

Through this press coverage Dr. Ault and Emory contacted me.  They wanted to learn more about me and my story.  At their invitation, DeWayne and I traveled to Atlanta to tour the Winship Cancer center and get to know Dr. Ault.  How impressive is it to have the person who ran the clinical trials for this amazing vaccine at Emory in Atlanta?  That is a story Dr. Ault can tell much better than I – but it is impressive to say the least.  I know now why the Winship center is Georgia’s premier cancer research facility and quickly becoming a leader in cancer research globally.

There is much work to be done to educate women about this vaccine.  I plan to continue working closely with Emory, The Lewis Cancer and Research Pavilion and any other organization that are passionate about saving women’s lives!

I want to thank Dr. Ault and all of the wonderful folks at Merck that have worked so hard and invested so heavily in developing Gardasil and bringing it to market.

Hopefully through our efforts – more people will learn how amazing this vaccine is.