For immediate release:  October 1, 2007
Contact: Emily Wofford Cobb, Communications Manager
Office: 775-784-6006
Mobile: 775-338-5119
ecobb@medicine.nevada.edu

University Health System and School of Medicine
team up to "Race for the Cure"

Physicians and students gear up for annual Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research Foundation Race

RENO, Nev.—Physicians and students from the University of Nevada School of Medicine and staff members from University Health System, the medical school’s clinical practice, are teaming up with the Susan G. Komen Foundation to “Race for the Cure” for breast cancer.

          More than 50 members and friends of the medical school will participate as a team in the Ninth Annual “Race for the Cure” on Sunday, October 7 held at the IGT Campus in south Reno. Team members are led by second-year students Bailey Cannon and Danielle Stage as well as fourth-year student Whitney Waldroup. The students have been instrumental in encouraging their peers and professors to get involved.

          “We all decided to get into medicine to help people,” say Cannon and Stage. “Getting involved with the Komen Race reminds us why we are putting in long hours studying to become doctors.”

           Waldroup concurs, “It also reminds us that you don’t have to practice medicine to help. You can make a difference in the fight against breast cancer simply by putting on a pair of running shoes and entering the race.”

          In addition to the many race participants, the medical school’s clinical practice will host an informational booth at the race. Breast cancer survivors, patients and other interested parties will have the opportunity to meet with University Health System physicians who can answer their questions regarding cancer treatment and care as well as early detection.

          “It’s really important for women to learn at a very young age to perform self breast exams,” says Nageshwara Gullapalli, M.D., an assistant professor and physician in the Department of Internal Medicine. “The earlier breast cancer is detected, the better chance you have of fighting off the disease. I’m looking forward to being at the race and meeting with women and talking to them about remaining vigilant in their exams and encouraging their friends to do so as well.”

          To learn more about the University Health System and University of Nevada School of Medicine race team, visit www.medicine.nevada.edu/invite/Komen. The Susan G. Komen Ninth Annual Northern Nevada “Race for the Cure” will be held Sunday, October 7 at the IGT Campus in south Reno. The race is expected to draw more than 4,000 participants. For more information, please visit www.northnvkomen.org.

As the state’s only public medical school, the University of Nevada School of Medicine has been meeting statewide healthcare, educational, and clinical needs since 1969. The School of Medicine encompasses 16 clinical medical education departments, including family medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, internal medicine, surgery, and psychiatry and behavioral sciences, as well as five nationally-recognized departments within basic science including microbiology and biomedical engineering. As the largest multispecialty healthcare focus in the state, the School of Medicine employs more than 185 doctors who teach and practice medicine throughout Nevada. The school’s statewide faculty physician practice group has 25 different medical specialties with seven physician practice offices in the Reno/Sparks area and five physician offices in Las Vegas.

The University of Nevada School of Medicine utilizes a best-practice approach to medicine and is committed to addressing the health needs of Nevada now and in the future. For more information, visit medicine.nevada.edu.