The breast cancer mortality rate for African American women is 36% higher than white women
Breast cancer incidence rate among younger African American (under 40) is higher than white women.
Research shows that aggressive tumor characteristics are more common in African American women than white women.
Breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death among African American women.
Source: American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts
& Figures for African American 2009-2010
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sisters Network® Inc board of directors functions to govern and advise in our efforts to educate, empower and support the African American woman’s breast cancer movement.
KAREN EUBANKS JACKSON, CHAIR
Karen Jackson is Founder & CEO of Sisters Network® Inc (SNI), realizing her true life mission to educate, empower and support the African American woman’s breast cancer movement. Under her direction, the organization has implemented nationally recognized outreach initiatives including the only annual national African American breast cancer accredited conference. From advocate to highly sought speaker, Jackson is in demand for her personal insight and has received numerous honors and rewards on the national, regional and local levels. Jackson attended Morgan State University. She is married to Kyle Scott Jackson, has one adult child, Caleen and two granddaughters, Brianna and Alexis.
BETTIE EUBANKS, VICE CHAIR
Bettie Eubanks joined the board in January 2003. She is president and managing partner of the Viewpoint Group based in Florida. Eubanks brings an extensive marketing background to Sisters Network having been Director of Marketing for 15 years at IBM. An artist at heart, Eubanks signature image was the commissioned lithograph entitled “Sisters” which truly reflected her artistic message of sisterhood and life. Her collection has been exhibited throughout the northeastern and southern regions of the United States. Eubanks received her BA from Jersey City State University and is a Newark School of Fine Arts Scholar. She and her husband, Richard Eubanks, Sr., have two adult children, Richard Jr., and Catherine.
ZELMA WATKINS, SECRETARY
Zelma Watkins is a breast cancer survivor and a founding member of Sisters Network Central Virginia Inc. She has developed many alliances within the Richmond community. She has served on the Breast & Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program Review Committee for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Watkins is employed by UPS as the Account Manager, Strategic Account Sales for the South East Region. In her spare time Watkins does print and TV ads for a boutique shop in Richmond. She is married to Hayward Watkins Jr., and has one son, Haywood Watkins III.
DR. JOHN GREEN, TREASURER
John L Green, CPA, Ph.D., JD joined the board in 2005. Attorney Green established his accounting and legal practice in Houston in 1974. The firm specializes in areas of law for accounting and income tax. He brings invaluable knowledge of non profit law and required accounting practices.
DR. CAMILLE CASH, M,D.,MEMBER
Camille Cash, M.D. is board certified in both general and plastic surgery. She is the only African American female in the State of Texas with this distinction. A significant portion of Dr. Cash’s practice is dedicated to reconstruction of the breast which allows her to routinely heal both the body and spirit. Her board commitment is to increase awareness of breast reconstruction and to help all women access this aspect of breast cancer survivorship. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She received her BS degree from Howard University, magna cum laude, and earned her Doctorate of Medicine from the Baylor College of Medicine. Dr Cash is married to Rodrick Lowe and they have four children, Lauren Shelby, Kennedy Camille, and Christopher Delano Lowe.
BERTIE FORD, MEMBER
Bertie Ford, RN, MS is a clinical oncology specialist with Genentech BioOncology. She has served on a variety of boards in the past including the ACS, (Franklin County Unit), the National Cancer Policy Board, the Diversity Strategic Planning Committee of NSABP and a few others. She has been most active in the Oncology Nursing Society on a local, regional and national level. She co-chaired the EDICT project team (Edict= Eliminating Disparities in Clinical Trials) for patient navigation. Her most recent appointment was to the program committee for the Education Network to Advance Cancer Clinical Trials ENACCT. She was an editor and author of the Manual for Clinical Trials Nurses, 2nd edition, which has just been published and conducted numerous presentations in healthcare disparities. Her recognitions include the Pearl Moore Making a Difference Award, a distinguished award of the National Oncology Nursing Society. Ms Ford is a graduate of The Ohio State University.
Judy Foston is president and founder of Foston International, a full service multi-media company founded in 1984. After working for Fortune 500 companies nationally in sales and marketing, Foston has developed a track record spanning over 30 years in the media, community, sales, marketing, public relations, and advertising. She has created and produced a host of shows and created and executive produced: Sammy Davis, Jr. Awards TV Show for 10 years aired the NBC Affiliate. She formed an alliance with R.W. Productions, who develops and produces compelling content for the Entertainment and Corporate Industries. Foston was president of Variety-The Children’s Charity of Houston for three years and has received many awards and recognition nationally for her work in her field and the community.
DR. CYNTHIA I. NEWBILLE, MEMBER
Cynthia I Newbille currently serving as an Annie E. Casey Foundation consultant. Newbille has over 20 years of diverse local government and non-profit professional experience. As Chief of Staff, Richmond City Manager’s Office, Newbille interfaced with all City offices, agencies, departments, City Council, boards, commissions, citizens and external agencies. Under special assignment by the City Manager, she also served as the Interim Co-Director of Richmond’s Department of Public Health, co-managing and administering all Health Department programs and services for the City. Newbille has led, managed and administered local, regional and national non-profit organizations, including the National Black Women’s Health Project (now the Black Women’s Health Imperative) currently headquartered in Washington, DC. Committed to eliminating health disparities, and improving the health of Black women and the Black community, Newbille actively serves on the boards of local and national organizations working to accomplish this goal. She earned a Bachelor and Masters Degree in Psychology from State University of New York, Stony Brook, Long Island, New York, and is currently completing her Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration (Health Policy Concentration) at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.
Sisters Network® Inc.
National Headquarters, 2922 Rosedale St., Houston, TX 77004
713.781.0255 866.781.1808 f 713.780.8998
infonet@sistersnetworkinc.org