Public Presentation

U.S. Embassy and Macedonian NGOs Host Renowned Breast Cancer Surgeon

May 19, 2008

Dr Ernie Bodai

The U.S. Embassy in Skopje, in cooperation with Macedonian NGOs “Borka” and “Women’s Lobby Group,” are pleased to announce a public presentation by Dr. Balasz “Ernie” Bodai, a renowned breast cancer surgeon, who has undertaken a global journey to raise breast cancer awareness along with raising funds for his Breast Cancer Stamp initiative.  Public awareness activists, health care professionals and the general public are welcome to attend this presentation. 

 

Date:                Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Time:                14:00 – 15:30
Location:          Army Hall

Ernie Bodai, born in Budapest in 1951, who came to the U.S. with his parents as a small boy in 1956, has passionately devoted his life to fight and conquer breast health challenges.  Today, he is a renowned breast cancer surgeon in California.  Currently he is director of the comprehensive Breast Health Center at the Kaiser Permanente in Sacramento, California, a health care organization where Dr. Bodai has treated thousands of women. In the second half of the 90s when writing a lecture, an idea came to him about a special-edition postage stamp to raise funds.  The idea came true in 1998 when the United States Postal Office issued a breast cancer stamp. 

The United States Postal Service continues to sell the Breast Cancer Research Stamp, the first semipostal stamp in US history. The stamp, currently costing 45 cents, has the same first class buying power as the normal 39 cent postage stamp.

Since then, over $65 million has been raised. It has gone directly to cancer research institutions. He’s now taken his postal campaign on what he has termed “the Global Journey,” working to introduce the stamp in countries all over the world. And his initiative has been successful thus far: To date, 86 countries have formally indicated their interest in issuing such a stamp. Hungary, Belize, Nicaragua, and the Philippines have also issued the stamp, and Israel will do so in May, 2008.  In Hungary alone, the stamp has raised, to date, about $100,000 for cancer research in that country -- money that would not have been raised otherwise without the stamp. Dr. Bodai has also written over 250 medical articles, he is author of five books, and he is the inventor of several medical devices. 

All media are also invited to cover the event.  For more information please contact the U.S. Embassy Office of Public Affairs on tel.: 3116-180, ext. 2189 or 2150.