Ann Partridge: Someone to Write Home About [PHIL-OSOPHY]

Medical oncologist Ann H. Partridge, MD, MPH, is a godsend, especially for young women with breast cancer.

The most common malignancy in older U.S. women is breast cancer, but as the founder and director of Dana-Farber's Program for Young Women with Breast Cancer and Director of the Adult Survivorship Program, Ann Partridge has dedicated her life to the understanding of the medical and emotional problems facing women with breast cancer. Ann sees men, but she specializes predominantly in women diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age.

Recently, The V Foundation, committed to victory over cancer, made a grant of $600,000 to Partridge to continue her study of how certain changes in blood cells can increase an individual's risk of developing cancer. As a compassionate provider, Ann works parallel to world-class scientists, immersed in trying to unravel the mysteries of cancer genetics. As they develop drugs and strategies to control or eradicate the cancers, world-class Dana-Farber and Partridge focus on taking care of the whole patient, while getting that matchless care.

I'm on the air daily reporting the local news and accounts of the SouthCoast, but these are the stories we need to be reminded of. It's exceptional people like our own Ann Partridge who reshape our community and better the world.

Phil Paleologos is the host of The Phil Paleologos Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Contact him at phil@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @PhilPaleologos. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.