N.E.D. (No Evidence Of Disease) Named Fwc 2018 Public Service Award Recipient
Nimesh Nagarsheth, MD, attending physician at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, NY and N.E.D. band member, accepted the Foundation for Women’s Cancer (FWC) 2018 Public Service Award at the National Race to End Women’s Cancer in Washington, DC for the band’s commitment to bringing attention to gynecologic cancers and raising funds for ovarian, endometrial, cervical, vulvar and vaginal cancer awareness.
“It’s fantastic. We really thank the foundation and the SGO for thinking about us and considering us—we’re thrilled to have received this award,” said Nagarsheth. “It’s our ten-year anniversary, so it’s a nice landmark to be recognized and we very much appreciate it.”
In 2008, six gynecologic oncology surgeons found a unique and meaningful way to bring the gynecologic cancer community together—through music—and N.E.D was created. N.E.D. or No Evidence of Disease, are the words every cancer patient wants to hear. In 2015, the band’s journey was captured in the documentary film, No Evidence of Disease, with the primary mission of increasing gynecologic cancer awareness—the film has been shown in Regal Cinemas nationwide and has been broadcast on PBS over the past four years with an estimated viewership of 230 million people. In 2018, Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine teamed up with N.E.D. to release the single, Life as It Was. Today, the band has 28 original songs and has released three albums.
While N.E.D. originated as a cover band to entertain peers at the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) Annual Meeting, it has grown into a powerful movement giving a voice to those impacted by gynecologic cancers. N.E.D. has performed for over 45,000 people at 75 live performances in the past ten years, and has raised 1.5 million dollars for various charities, including the FWC.
N.E.D. is currently comprised of five gynecologic oncologists from around the country. In addition to Dr. Nagarsheth, the current lineup is John Boggess, MD, from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, NC; Joanie Hope, MD, from Providence Alaska Cancer Center in Anchorage, AK; Robert Burger, MD, from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA; and William Winter, MD, from Compass Oncology in Vancouver, WA, and Portland, OR. Former members of the band included William Robinson, MD, from the Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, and John Soper, MD, from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.
The FWC Public Service Award is presented annually to individuals or groups who have engaged in extraordinary efforts to support women diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer. Other recipients have included race co-chair, Camille Grammar, Barbara Walters, Fran Drescher and Saralyn Mark, MD—the first Senior Medical Advisor to the Office on Women’s Health.
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About FWC
The Foundation for Women’s Cancer (FWC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing research, education and awareness about gynecologic cancer risk, prevention, early detection and optimal treatment. The FWC is the official foundation of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO). Learn more at foundationforwomenscancer.org.
About SGO
The Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) is the premier medical specialty society for health care professionals trained in the comprehensive management of gynecologic cancers. As a 501(c)(6) organization, the SGO contributes to the advancement of women’s cancer care by encouraging research, providing education, raising standards of practice, advocating for patients and members and collaborating with other domestic and international organizations. Learn more at sgo.org.
