Hepatitis B Foundation’s Joan Block to be Honored by Penn Asian Senior Services

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Hepatitis B Foundation’s Joan Block to be Honored by Penn Asian Senior Services

Posted April 12, 2011

DOYLESTOWN, PA - The Hepatitis B Foundation, celebrating its 20th anniversary as

the global authority dedicated to eliminating hepatitis B worldwide, is pleased

to announce that Joan Block, RN, BSN, executive director and co-founder, will be

honored with Penn Asian Senior Services' 2011 Distinguished Health Leader Award.

Each year, Penn Asian Senior Services (PASSi) through its Distinguished Health

Leader Award recognizes one individual who has made a significant contribution

in the area of health for Asians in the United States. PASSi cited Block's

dedication to eliminating hepatitis B and improving the lives of those affected

by the disease as positively impacting the lives of many Asian-Americans during

the past two decades. Block is scheduled to be honored at PASSi's 5th Annual

Gala on May 20, 2011, in Blue Bell, Pa. The event will draw approximately 200

guests, including state and local government officials, area health care and

community leaders and individuals dedicated to improving the lives of aging

Americans.

" I am honored to be recognized by Penn Asian Senior Services, " said Block. " For

the past 20 years, I have been committed to meeting the needs of those living

with hepatitis B, and as an Asian American, it is truly gratifying to see the

Hepatitis B Foundation making a positive difference in combating a serious liver

disease that disproportionately affects individuals of Asian descent both in the

U.S. and abroad. "

In addition to the work being done in the U.S., the Hepatitis B Foundation

recently launched its Gateway to Care public health campaign in Haimen City,

China. Made possible by a $400,000 educational grant from the Bristol-Myers

Squibb Foundation, the Gateway to Care program in China is a multi-year,

citywide initiative that will raise public awareness about hepatitis B among its

one million residents, educate hundreds of health care providers to improve

screening and management of hepatitis B, and provide information and support to

those living with this disease.

Block, who was named a 2010 Philadelphia Business Journal Woman of Distinction,

co-founded the Hepatitis B Foundation in 1991 with her husband Dr. Block

and another couple, and Janine Witte. They created the Foundation in

response to a young family affected by hepatitis B. Their goal was to find a

cure and help those affected worldwide. Today, the Foundation has grown from a

grassroots effort into a professional organization with a global reach.

Under Block's leadership, the Foundation created a comprehensive outreach and

education program that includes an award-winning website (www.hepb.org);

multi-platform, multi-lingual educational materials and newsletters;

e-mail/phone helplines; the only national patient conference for hepatitis B;

community-based public health campaigns; and advocacy initiatives to make

hepatitis B a national priority. The Foundation's research program funds the

nation's largest concentration of scientists focused on hepatitis B drug

discovery; coordinates scientific meetings held in the U.S., Europe, and Asia;

sponsors summer research internships for high school and college students; and

much more.

Block serves on the board of the Hepatitis B Foundation, Institute for Hepatitis

and Virus Research, Medical Advisory Board of Parents of Kids with Infectious

Diseases (PKIDs), Project Prevent (HIV education), and the Executive Committee

of the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable. She is a member of the Hepatitis B

Expert Panel of the Office of Minority Health, and former board member of the

American Liver Foundation (1998-2001). Block received a BS in Biology from

Goshen College, her BSN from Jefferson University, and her RN from the

state of Pennsylvania.

About the Hepatitis B Foundation: The Hepatitis B Foundation, celebrating its

20th anniversary as the global authority dedicated to eliminating hepatitis B,

is the only national nonprofit organization solely dedicated to finding a cure

and improving the quality of life for those affected with hepatitis B worldwide

through research, education and patient advocacy. It is headquartered in the

Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center, which it created to accelerate its research

mission. To learn more, visit www.hepb.org or call (215) 489-4900.

About Penn Asian Senior Services: PASSi is the first and only homecare agency in

Pennsylvania to dedicate its efforts to helping frail Asian seniors with

language barriers. PASSi now provides services in six different Asian languages

with more than 200 home health aides. PASSi is also a leader in vocational

instruction for entry-level health care workers. Since 2005, PASSi has trained

266 multi-lingual Home Health Aides and 130 Certified Nurse Aides. To learn

more, visit www.passi.us.

You can also access the article in its original Form at:

http://www.hepb.org/news/release_10_2010.htm