Local Attorney Named Chair of Cancer Advocacy Group

Jones to Chair Leadership Committee in Oklahoma

(OKLAHOMA CITY) - March 3, 2010 - Bernard M. Jones, dean of admissions at Oklahoma City University School of Law, was recently named chair of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Leadership Committee for Oklahoma.

"Advocacy has played a significant role in today's declining cancer death rates," said Jones. "There are so many ways our lives are better because of cancer-related advocacy, and I am truly proud to be at the helm."

The Oklahoma ACS CAN Leadership Committee will organize efforts to assist with membership recruitment and fundraising. The ACS CAN advocates serve as the voice of the organization at the federal and state level to pass public policy laws that impact cancer.

"Advocacy for research has directly translated into advances in early detection, treatment, and prevention," said Jones. "Because of advocacy for colon cancer screening insurance coverage, yesterday the Oklahoma Association of Health Plans announced continued future coverage for colon cancer screenings. And more than half of America has strong public smoking laws and we hope to one day soon see passage of a stronger smoke-free law in Oklahoma."

Besides federal cancer-related legislation, the national ACS CAN organization financially supports local initiatives such as Smoke-Free Oklahoma and colon cancer screening insurance coverage.

Bernard M. Jones is the dean of admissions at Oklahoma City University School of Law and previously worked for private law firms in Oklahoma City and Columbus, Ohio. He earned his law degree from the University of Notre Dame School of Law where he was president of the Black Law Students Association. He is a graduate of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, where he served as president of the student body. He is a board member of the Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City and board president of Freedom School Oklahoma City. In 2009, Jones was named one of Oklahoma's Achievers Under 40 by the Journal Record.

The American Cancer Society's High Plains Division is comprised of staff and volunteers in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Texas and Hawaii who are dedicated to saving lives and creating more birthdays by helping people stay well and get well, by finding cures, and by fighting back against cancer. For more information, visit www.cancer.org.

ACS CAN is the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate organization of the American Cancer Society, dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage lawmakers, candidates and government officials to support laws and policies that will make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer. For more information, visit www.acscan.org.