Motley Rice hosts renowned mesothelioma surgeon David Sugarbaker, M.D.
Mt. Pleasant-based law firm Motley Rice LLC hosted renowned thoracic surgeon David J. Sugarbaker, M.D., on Friday, November 14, 2008, for a community session on the latest research and innovations in the treatment of mesothelioma patients. The Director of Thoracic Surgery at Harvard Medical School's Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dr. Sugarbaker has committed his career to extending the life span and enhancing the quality of life for mesothelioma patients worldwide through the International Mesothelioma Program (IMP).
Primarily associated with asbestos exposure, mesothelioma is a cancer of the cells around the lungs or lining the chest wall. The disease currently affects about 3,000 people per year in the United States and its prevalence is expected to peak in 2020 in the United States and Europe due to a latency period of 30 to 40 years from initial exposure.
"Dr. Sugarbaker's personal commitment to fighting this disease and finding a cure was clear throughout his presentation. Dr. Sugarbaker offers hope to his patients and their family members who face many challenges and difficulties with such a devastating disease," stated Motley Rice member Anne Kearse.
The session also featured a presentation by IMP patient Sissy Hoffman, a 13-year survivor who was given six months to live upon diagnosis in 1995. A resident of Tybee Island, Georgia, Hoffman shared her personal experience with the IMP's progressive approach to treatment through a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. She praised the organization's compassion and dedication to the cause, from completing cellular research to developing personal relationships with patients.
The International Mesothelioma Program (IMP) was founded by Program Director Dr. David Sugarbaker in 2002 at Harvard Medical School's Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Since its inception, Dr. Sugarbaker has led a multidisciplinary team focused on conducting complex clinical research and translating findings into cutting-edge mesothelioma treatments and potentially curative therapies.
The IMP is supported by collaborations with generous corporate and individual donors. In 2004, Motley Rice was named a member of the IMP Executive Advisory Committee in recognition of a strong partnership that goes beyond asbestos litigation to a commitment to the greater cause of continuous improvements in mesothelioma research and treatments. For more information on the International Mesothelioma Program, visit www.impmeso.org. Motley Rice LLC has represented thousands of victims suffering from mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases from occupational, environmental and household asbestos exposure.
About Motley Rice LLC
Motley Rice LLC is one of the nation's largest plaintiffs' litigation firms, headquartered in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. In addition to their pioneering work on behalf of asbestos victims, Motley Rice attorneys have also gained global recognition for their work on behalf of the State Attorneys General in their landmark litigation against the tobacco industry, and the 9/11 families in their groundbreaking lawsuit against terrorist financiers. For more information, contact attorney Anne McGinness Kearse (SC) by email or call +1 800.923.4237.