Blossom Ball 2019
WEDNESDAY, MAY 8TH - Cipriani Wall Street
Tamer Seckin, MD
Certainly this is different than the operating room. There are so many lights. We turn the lights off in the operating room. Thank you. Thank you. I'm so excited. I'm honored and humbled to be in the presence of so distinguished friends, surgeons, scientists, patients, nurses, doctors in training and the supporters of our cause. Welcome to the 10th Anniversary of The Endometriosis Foundation of America The Blossom Ball.
I'm sure you'll agree. What a beautiful night here in New York at Cipriani. I want to thank you for all of you for coming out and supporting us tonight. I have to say we weren't sure you would all make it when we moved the date from March to May, but you did. The room is overflowing and we're so grateful. Can you believe we did this in two months?
But first in order I like to recognize the excellency, the ambassador of Turkey of UN Mr and Mrs Sinirlioǧlu and Consul General Alper Aktaş, and governant David Patterson, Brooklyn Borough President, Eric Adams.
There are so many people here tonight I want to recognize but first beyond and above everyone else I want to thank my EndoFound co-founder Padma. Padma Lakshmi. Shortly after Padma came to my office and was diagnosed and treated for endometriosis, Padma and I along with several of my other patients started EndoFound and 10 years ago to raise awareness about endometriosis. One in ten women have endometriosis, but 10 years ago no one was talking about it. It was Padma that started talk about it. Today, CNS is reporting that endometriosis is third most googled health topic, believe it or not. So we owe her courageous decision to come with us.
Our inspiration was Betty Ford, the late president Ford's wife who and her life changing words that brought breast cancer awareness to the forefront. When there is awareness about a disease, there's a better chance for early diagnosis and early treatment. Breast was a taboo in 1980s and breast cancer was not known. And at that time 50% of the women died within five years from breast cancer. Due to this awareness and early diagnosis, today, less than 10% of women suffer death. There's 95, over 90% live. That's an achievement. In the same way Padma came out for endometriosis.
So on behalf of approximately 10 million women in United States and on the behalf of 200 million women suffering from endometriosis throughout the world right now, I want to take a moment to recognize the real people who live with endometriosis every day. Many endometriosis patient are here tonight. Please stand up where you are. The endo patients in the room. We like to recognize you. Please stand up.
These are the some of the bravest women I know and now please stand up. If you are a loved one or one of those, one of these patient, please stand up the loved one of these patients. All of you. If your life has been touched by someone with disease now. Thank you. Thank you.
Endometriosis is one of the most complex disease these women, some of them had I know in person, had 13 hours of surgery multiple times, multiple organ involvement with multiple surgeons of ours and they are in the crowd. I appreciate your help surgeon, friends of mine. Without you we wouldn't be here. Thank you very much.
Advancing the science and surgery to improve care for endometriosis patient is the priority. Therefore, dedicated training for endometriosis care is imperative. The future physicians should have a greater understanding of this complex multidisciplinary disease. This starts in medical school. For this reason, we are working on medical school lectures. I took on two new associates who are on training with me as endometriosis surgeon, Dr. Karli Goldstein and Dr. Lora Liu.
I am so excited to announce tonight that together with the foundation on Northwell Health an endometriosis fellowship, this is on the plans, is planned to start in next year. For next generation of endo surgeons, for this, I would like to thank Dr. Frank Chervenak at Lenox Hill hospital, Dr. Michael Nimaroff at Northwell and Dr. Peter Gregersen at Feinstein Institute for Medical Research. Together with more fellowship trained surgeon and medical school curriculum changes, this disease will get more than one paragraph in the medical textbooks.
I am incredibly proud of the ten medical conferences and eight patient awareness days that EndoFound has hosted over the past decade to educate the medical community and the public about endometriosis. As I look out into this room tonight, I see so many medical professionals, doctors, researchers, nurses, residents who have joined me at these conferences and patient awareness days to share their expertise about endometriosis. You are the key to finding answer about this disease. You are the ones helping these women. Thank you.
And speaking of research. This year, we are proud to announce that we will surpass the $1 million mark in total grants awarded to some of the top research centers around the world. This includes John's Hopkins, Stanford, MIT, Northwestern and Feinstein Institute. Some of these resources are here tonight and my heartful thanks for the work you're doing. Thank you.
It's time for thanking some people that really made this night happened. I want to take a moment to thank my board directors, Dr. Michael Brodherson, Madeleine Rudin, Yaniv Larish, Sandra Gelbard, Subrata De, Lena Dunham, Piraye Beim, Kristy Curry, Gamze Ates and Elif Seckin. I cannot forget the EndoFound team who pulled off tonight's event. Thank you for tonight co-chairs, Sandra Gelbard and Subrata De. Thank you to Nina, Kimberly, Dennis, Chanel, Phil, Lauren and Maryland for all the job well done and Sarper and Gene, each of you play an essential role in keeping the foundation humming along. Thank you.
But last but certainly not least, thank you to my family. You're the reason I'm speaking here. You're the reason I'm able to do. My wife Ela for supporting me on this journey. To my children, Timur, Mina and Seren and my son in law, Larry [inaudible 00:09:05] . Thank you. I appreciate your understanding that and forgiveness for all the time I was away from you because of this disease, endometriosis.
And of course thank you to all of you for all of your support. The online fundraiser and your words of encouragement. Wow. Even Doug the Pug came out tonight this is Mama Mager. Leslie Mosier, where is she? Where is Leslie? Leslie wrote a song about her struggle with endometriosis. Her song Get Better is online and portion of the proceeds goes to EndoFound. Thank you, Leslie.
Okay. Tonight we are honoring three extraordinary women. Molly Qerim Rose, Alaia Baldwin and Fran Drescher. Tonight, 10th anniversary lifetime achievement goes to have a woman who works tirelessly to promote early diagnosis and prevention of for women's health. But many of you don't even know her for this reason. You know her as the most beloved nanny in America, Fran Drescher. A person who has land her unique voice to women's health, a gynecological cancer survivor. She has turned her pain into purpose and lemons into lemonade. Always a champion for leveraging her international fame on behalf of greater good, she is the author of the New York Times bestseller Cancer Schmancer and founder of the Cancer Schmancer Moment, at cutting edge nonprofit connecting causation with the disease. Cancer Schmancer educates, motivates and activates families with programs like Detox Your Home, Be The Change video starring Jamie Foxx targeting teens and the Cancer Schmancer masterclass Health Summit. All connecting how you live with how you feel.
