American Humane Association Board Of Directors Elects Renowed Mayo Clinic Oncologist And Hospice Care Expert Dr. Edward T. Creagan As New Member

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At its annual meeting yesterday, the Board of Directors for American Humane Association, the first national humane organization and the only public charity in the country dedicated to the protection of both children and animals, elected its newest member, Dr. Edward T. Creagan, a famed medical oncologist and professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Creagan is also world-renowned for his expertise in hospice and palliative care. He is among the first in human medicine to recognize that pets and animal-assisted therapy have a significant impact on human health and wellbeing and has been prescribing pets for this purpose for many years. 

He holds the endowed chair as the John and Roma Rouse Professor of Humanism in Medicine, was named Outstanding Educator from the Mayo Clinic School of Continuing Medical Education, has received the Distinguished Mayo Clinician Award – the Mayo Clinic's highest honor, and has completed an elected term as President of the Mayo Staff. Dr. Creagan was the first Mayo Clinic consultant board certified in hospice and palliative medicine. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

Dr. Creagan received his medical training at New York Medical College and earned graduate degrees in internal medicine and oncology at the University of Michigan and the National Cancer Institute before joining the staff at the Mayo Clinic. He is board certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hospice medicine and palliative care and is the author of more than 400 scientific papers and has given more than 1,000 presentations around the world.

His new book – How NOT to Be My Patient: A Physician's Secrets for Staying Healthy and Surviving Any Diagnosis – now in its fully revised second edition a decade after the first edition proved to be a best seller – provides an additional forum for him to deliver his message of health and prevention so readers will never have to see him in a clinical setting.

An avid marathoner and golfer, father of three sons, and grandfather of two boys, Dr. Creagan and his wife, Peggy, live in Rochester, Minnesota.

"It is such an honor to join the Board of Directors at such an historical association like American Humane Association," said Dr. Creagan following his election to the board. "One of the core beliefs at American Humane Association is the restorative, healing power of the human-animal bond, which is something I wholeheartedly embrace in my clinical work. I know that pets can be some of the best medicine, which is why I prescribe pet ownership and visits with therapy animals to my patients in need of comfort."

"We are beyond thrilled that Dr. Edward Creagan has accepted the nomination and joined our board," said American Humane Association President and CEO Dr. Robin Ganzert. "In addition to his impressive résumé, and world-renowned reputation, he brings a wealth of knowledge and firsthand experience on the healing power of the human-animal bond, which is something we've embraced at the institution since our founding in 1877."

Also on the agenda for the Board of Directors was the election of new board officers, with Amanda Bowman elected as the new vice-chair, succeeding Mabel McKinney-Browning, and William P. Davis named the new secretary, succeeding Michael Steinig. Both McKinney-Browning and Steinig will remain on the Board of Directors.

"American Humane Association's new-look Board of Directors is one of the most prestigious and engaged I've ever seen," said John Payne, the board's chair. "I look forward to working with each and every one of them as we continue to grow the institution. With a nearly 140-year legacy of protecting the nation's children and animals, it is our duty to ensure that American Humane Association continues to be a national leader for the next 140 years and beyond."

About American Humane Association
American Humane Association is the country's first national humane organization and the only one dedicated to protecting both children and animals. Since 1877, American Humane Association has been at the forefront of virtually every major advance in protecting our most vulnerable from cruelty, abuse and neglect. Today we're also leading the way in understanding the human-animal bond and its role in therapy, medicine and society. American Humane Association reaches millions of people every day through groundbreaking research, education, training and services that span a wide network of organizations, agencies and businesses. You can help make a difference, too. Visit American Humane Association at www.americanhumane.org today.

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SOURCE American Humane Association

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