“Transformation of Healthcare” will be the focus of a lecture presented by former Federal Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach at a program sponsored by The Friendship Center July 23rd. Dr. von Eschenbach served as commissioner of the FDA from 2005 to 2009 during the presidency of President George W. Bush.
                The event, which is by invitation only, is targeting physicians and other health care professionals in the Montgomery County area in an effort to shed light on the health care concerns of our senior population as well as educate medical professionals about the services offered by The Friendship Center.
                “Next to food and transportation, health care needs are the most common worry of the seniors that we serve,” noted Nancy Harrington, president of TFC. “I’m looking forward to learning more about what the medical future holds for all of us as we age in this country.”
                Dr. von Eschenbach previously served as director of the National Cancer Institute. He entered government service following a three-decade career as a physician, surgeon, oncologist, medical educator and hospital executive. His tenure at the FDA was considered innovative due to his work in emphasizing the FDA’s role in working with external partners to assure quality throughout the entire life cycle of products it regulates, while internally initiating process improvements to establish a regulatory pathway that was rigorous and science-led, yet transparent and efficient. He also fostered creative projects, including the FDA’s “Beyond Our Borders Initiative” which created FDA offices around the world.
                Dr. Von Eschenbach is an internationally renowned cancer specialist and author of more than 200 scientific articles, receiving dozens of professional awards and honors during his career. In 2006 he was named one of Time magazine’s “100 most influential people to shape the world,” and in 2007 and 2008 he was selected as one of the Modern Healthcare/Modern Physician’s “50 Most Powerful Physician Executives in Healthcare.”
                The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a reception and an opportunity to meet Dr. von Eschenbach, followed by the lecture commencing at 7:15 p.m. The event will be held at The Friendship Center’s location at the South County Community Center, 2235 Lake Robbins Dr., next to the Library, in The Woodlands.
                Admission is by invitation only, however anyone wishing to attend can contact The Friendship Center to obtain a ticket. The contact for tickets is Tina Daugherty at 936-441-2982 extension 24.
                The Friendship Center is a nonprofit organization serving senior adults over age 60 in Montgomery County through two nutrition programs, including its Meals-On-Wheels program serving almost 500 home-bound seniors in the community. The agency also provides transportation services to medical appointments, essential shopping, and transportation to one of the six Friendship Center locations in the county. TFC also operates six activity centers where seniors can meet their peers and receive structured and non-structured educational and recreational programming. The agency also provides professional counseling and case management to assist seniors with problems and issues that they face both personally and economically.
                For more information about The Friendship Center, call 936-441-2982 or visit the agency’s web site at www.thefriendshipcenter.com. The Friendship Center is a United Way agency funded in part by a grant from Montgomery County Community Development.