The honor recognizes UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health graduates for outstanding population-based cancer research publications.
Angela M. Stover, PhD, an assistant professor in health policy and management at UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, has won the 2017 Michael S. O’Malley Alumni Award for Publication in Excellence in Cancer Population Sciences. She was selected for her paper published in the journal Cancer, “Quality of life changes during the pre- to post-diagnosis period in treatment-related recovery time in older women with breast cancer.”
Stover and colleagues’ research provides population-based evidence that, above and beyond the normal processes of aging and comorbid conditions, specific deleterious effects of breast cancer and its treatments occur for women ages 65 and older but they wane by 12 months. These results provide critical information for older women making treatment decisions about breast cancer.
This competitive $2,000 award recognizes a UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health alumna/alumnus who has published an outstanding manuscript that advances knowledge in population-based cancer research. Entries were scored using NIH’s 1-9 scoring scale for the following three criteria: significance, impact, and cancer-relatedness.
The award honors the memory of Michael O’Malley, PhD, the late associate director of UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center for more than 20 years and a national leader in cancer prevention. O’Malley also was an adjunct associate professor of health policy and management at UNC Gillings, where he was a mentor for countless students over the years.
“Everything Michael did, he did well. He never put himself out front, but he was always in the background making each and every one of us at the cancer center better,” said UNC Lineberger Interim Director Shelton “Shelley” Earp, MD, when he announced Stover as the winner during the UNC Lineberger Scientific Retreat on Oct. 10. “Michael had a particular knack for training and mentoring young population scientists; his trainees are now found as faculty throughout the nation’s best cancer programs.”
Stover worked closely with O’Malley during her time as a pre-doctoral fellow with the Cancer Control and Education Program. She said he provided pivotal feedback and guidance that helped her strengthen her manuscript.
“I am very grateful for having had him as a mentor and I am pleased to see that his accomplishments, teaching, and mentorship are being recognized in this memorial award,” said Stover.