PITTSBURGH, Oct. 24, 2000 - Renowned ABC broadcaster Sam Donaldson and hockey legend Mario Lemieux each received the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute's (UPCI) Spirit of Hope Award at the eighth annual Leadership Dinner at the Doubletree Hotel, downtown Pittsburgh.

The Spirit of Hope Award recognizes individuals who have not only shown courage and determination in the face of their disease, but who also have made extraordinary commitments to support the battle against cancer. "Through their exemplary efforts, these individuals have provided hope and inspiration to cancer patients and their families. They are truly deserving of this award," said Ronald B. Herberman, M.D., Director of UPCI, Hillman Professor of Oncology and Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh.

"The Leadership Dinner helps raise public awareness about the broad impact of cancer and about cancer prevention, early detection, treatment and patient care at UPCI," said Joanie Kamin, Event Chairperson. "We are so fortunate to have such an excellent institution right in our own backyard."

Mr. Donaldson, a 33-year ABC news veteran who battled melanoma, served two appointments as Chief White House Correspondent for ABC News from 1977 to 1989, covering Presidents Carter, Reagan and Clinton, and again from January 1998 to August 1999. Mr. Donaldson is a correspondent for "20/20" and also is the co-anchor with Cokie Roberts of "This Week With Sam Donaldson and Cokie Roberts", the ABC News Sunday morning broadcast. Mr. Lemieux, who overcame Hodgkin's disease, captained two Stanley Cup Championships for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991 and 1992, six NHL individual scoring titles and countless other titles and awards. He was unanimously inducted into the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997, making him one of only eight players in the game's history to have the customary waiting period waived.

At the dinner, Mr. Donaldson and Mr. Lemieux, both of whom have given hope to other cancer patients through their words of inspiration, made remarks. "The extraordinary commitment of physicians and staff at UPCI and of all the people associated with UPMC Health System and the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute is showcased at this dinner," said Sy Holzer, UPCI Council Chairman. "The funds raised through this event will help enable UPCI to continue its ongoing research and excellence in patient care."

Five additional award recipients were also recognized for their achievements. They received their awards at a special ceremony on Monday, Oct. 23, in the Biomedical Science Tower, located on Darragh Street in Oakland.

Merrill Egorin, Ph.D., Professor of Medicine and Pharmacology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, received the UPCI Scientific Leadership Award. Dr. Egorin's work translates basic research discoveries of potential treatment medications into the development of more effective cancer therapies. "Dr. Egorin's contributions to translational research, especially in helping to develop new drugs to more effectively fight cancer, has distinguished him as one of the leaders in his field," Dr. Herberman said.

Rowena Schwartz, Pharm.D, Director of UPCI's Pharmacy Program and Associate Professor of Pharmacy and Therapeutics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, was selected to receive the UPCI Excellence in Patient Care Award. "The amount of concern that Dr. Schwartz displays for every patient is something truly admirable and comforting," said Joyce Yasko, Ph.D., R.N., UPCI Associate Director for Clinical and Research Services. "Her straightforward nature and clinical competence makes her someone patients know they can trust."

Ramesh K. Ramanathan, M.D., Director of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Center at UPCI, was this year's recipient of the Leo S. Criep Award for Excellence in Patient Care. Dr. Ramanathan is UPCI's lead oncologist for the medical treatment of colon, rectal and other gastrointestinal cancers. His compassion and caring attitude inspired his patients to nominate him for this award. "Dr. Ramanathan has an extraordinary knack for combining compassion and care while treating his patients, putting their fears to rest and making them more comfortable," said Donald Trump, M.D., F.A.C.P., Deputy Director for Clinical Investigations at UPCI, Chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology in the Department of Medicine and Co-director of UPCI's Prostate and Urologic Cancer Center. "Dr. Ramanathan doesn't just treat the cancer; he treats the person with that disease."

William Cooper, M.D., J.D., M.A.C.P., was the recipient of the Arthur F. McNulty Civic Leadership Award. Dr. Cooper is a distinguished physician at UPMC Shadyside and has held various academic positions at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Shadyside Hospital Foundation. Recently, the Shadyside Hospital Foundation gave $5 million to the Hillman Cancer Center in honor of Dr. Cooper to help develop the new William M. Cooper, M.D., Ambulatory pavilion. In this pavilion, patients can benefit from a variety of centralized services, including outpatient cancer treatment, an education library and center, pharmacy consultations, genetic counseling, complementary medicine consultations and cancer screenings. "Dr. Cooper's dedication and contributions to the field of medicine, and particularly to treating cancer, exemplify how much he has given to the community as a whole," Dr. Herberman said. "Dr. Cooper has truly touched many lives through his work."

Karlotta Ashby was the recipient of the Excellence in Administrative and Technical Support Award. Ms. Ashby is the Oncology Registrar Supervisor in the clinical research services department and is responsible for collecting data for various clinical trials. "Ms. Ashby's demonstrated support and knowledge certainly helps make clinical trials run much smoother," Dr. Yasko said. "Without accurate and complete data, we would be unable to evaluate the benefits of therapies that are tested through clinical trials."

Presenting sponsors of the event were PNC Bank, Mellon Financial Corporation, Levin Furniture, The Hillman Company, Crown Communications and Aventis Oncology. Platinum sponsors include Ernst & Young LLP, Giant Eagle Foundation, Sargent Electric Company and UPMC Health System. For more information about the UPCI Leadership Dinner, please call Carmelle Nickens at (412) 692-2760 or Linda Wright at (412) 692-2761.

As the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in western Pennsylvania, UPCI is a recognized leader in providing innovative cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment; biomedical research; compassionate patient care and support; and community outreach services. UPCI investigators are world-renowned in their work in clinical and basic research on cancer.