ASTRO public awareness campaign wins award

The American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology’s public awareness campaign to educate cancer patients on their treatment options has won an Award of Distinction from The Communicator Awards in their 2005 Print Media competition. ASTRO also received Awards of Distinction for its quarterly magazine, ASTROnews, and its Annual Meeting Guide magazine supplement.

The Communicator Awards is an international awards competition that recognizes outstanding work in the communications field. The more than 5,000 entries were judged by communications industry professionals and roughly 19 percent of the entrants received an award.

“Nothing makes me happier than seeing both ASTRO volunteers and staff recognized for the tireless work they do for the Society,” said Laura I. Thevenot, ASTRO Chief Executive Officer. “The effort that goes into producing one issue of ASTROnews or a brochure on radiation therapy for cancer cannot be underestimated and it’s an honor for these publications to be acknowledged.”

Beginning in early 2004, ASTRO launched a public awareness campaign on radiation oncology that included creating brochures with accurate, up-to-date information on how radiation therapy works to treat various cancers. To date, nine brochures have been produced, including pamphlets on prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, head and neck cancer, colorectal cancer, brain tumors and gynecologic cancers. Two other brochures educate patients on the dedicated members of the radiation oncology treatment team and on how generally radiation therapy works to treat cancer.

ASTROnews is the quarterly publication of ASTRO that keeps members in touch with Society news and regulatory changes affecting radiation oncology community. Published once a year, the Annual Meeting Guide outlines everything an attendee to the Annual Meeting would need to know. From a schedule of events to maps of the downtown area to exhibitor information to hotel contacts, the guide provides a comprehensive look at not only the meeting itself, but also the host city.