American Cancer Society honors dedicated volunteer

The American Cancer Society presented its most prestigious volunteer honor, the St. George National Award, to Barbara Rabinowitz, of Lakewood, on Nov. 9.

Each year the St. George National Award is awarded to volunteers in the American Cancer Society who have demonstrated extraordinary efforts within their communities in the fight against cancer.

The Jersey Shore region is home to five recipients of this honor throughout the years and its most recent honoree is a woman who has devoted much of her life to cancer causes, according to a press release.

Rabinowitz, an American Cancer Society volunteer for 20 years and president of the Jersey Shore Region's Board of Advisers, is the director of oncology services at Meridian Health. Rabinowitz is a leader in the oncology field and is regarded as an expert in many aspects of cancer care, according to the press release.

She is currently working with the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Information Center to institute the patient navigation program within Meridian Health, which would refer all newly diagnosed cancer patients to the American Cancer Society. She was an active participant on behalf of the society in New Jersey's successful campaign for clean indoor air and has initiated ongoing cancer education programs for employees of Meridian Health, the largest employer in Monmouth and Ocean counties, according to the press release.

A nationally known speaker and published author, Rabinowitz was the founder and past president of the National Consortium of Breast Centers and currently sits on the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research.

"Barbara has been instrumental in many areas of our mission, volunteering her time and knowledge with incomparable enthusiasm," said Frank Mascia, American Cancer Society regional vice president for the Jersey Shore.

"She has been an ardent supporter of our patient navigation program, devoted time to colon and lung cancer education, is an outstanding advocate for issues like New Jersey's Clean Indoor Air Act, and is committed to instituting employee health initiatives that contribute positively to quality of life.

"Her inspirational leadership, steadfast support and remarkable dedication to the society's mission have had a tremendous impact on the growth of the American Cancer Society in the Jersey Shore region," Mascia said.

American Cancer Society officials presented the St. George National Award to Rabinowitz at a celebration held in her honor on Nov. 9 at the Eagle Ridge Golf Club, Lakewood.