The American Cancer Society presented Dr. Eleanor Walker, radiation oncologist and division director of Breast Services in Radiation Oncology at Henry Ford Health in Detroit, with the Lane Adams Quality of Life Award.
The award recognizes individuals who consistently exhibit excellence and compassion in providing care to cancer patients, going beyond their professional roles to make a difference in the life of cancer patients and their families.
“Dr. Walker embodies compassionate leadership,” says Jenni Beamer, senior executive director for the American Cancer Society. “She goes beyond the call of duty, investing in initiatives that support the health and wellbeing of patients across the cancer continuum. She also serves as an amazing advocate for diverse patient populations, who have unique challenges and needs when it comes to cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Walker led the implementation of the ExcITE program at Henry Ford, which provides individualized exercise programs for any cancer patient or survivor as well as access to Henry Ford fitness facilities for a low introductory fee.
Walker also co-led an INPHAASE study on survivorship care planning among racially diverse breast cancer patients. In the field of integrative medicine, Walker’s research used acupuncture to help the diverse population of Detroit breast patients with hot flashes due to their cancer treatment have a nonpharmologic option for treatment that improved their quality of life.
In 2021, she was awarded a $250,000 grant from Pfizer and the American Cancer Society aimed at reducing prostate cancer disparities in black men, leading a team focused on providing education to both the community and to providers, visiting churches, community centers, and even car dealerships to provide assessments and screening.
In total, 382 men were screened for prostate cancer through the initiative. Walker also educated primary care physicians, urologists, and oncologists on how to have a shared decision-making conversation with men, shared insights into the differences between black men and white men and provided them with unconscious bias training.
In addition, she utilized her connections in the African American community to host awareness events nearly every weekend for two years.
