2026 Conference Awardees
Join the PA Breast Cancer Coalition in honoring individuals who demonstrate outstanding leadership in breast cancer advocacy, research, treatment, and education.
Potamkin Prize for Research
Dawn Hershman, MD MS, FASCO
Deputy Director, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at Columbia University
Dr. Dawn Hershman is a nationally recognized leader in breast cancer treatment, research, and survivorship whose work has helped improve both the quality and delivery of care for people living with breast cancer. As Chief of the Hematology/Oncology division and Deputy Director of the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at Columbia University, she has devoted much of her career to understanding how we can make breast cancer treatment more effective while also making life after and during treatment better for patients. Her research has addressed treatment-related side effects, adherence to therapy, cancer care delivery, health disparities and the long-term quality of life of breast cancer survivors. She has published more than 450 scientific articles and has received numerous national honors for her contributions to cancer research and mentorship.
Dr. Hershman’s impact extends beyond the laboratory and clinic. Through her leadership in national cancer research networks and organizations, she has helped to improve outcomes and ensure that patients’ experiences and quality of life remain central to cancer care. Her groundbreaking studies of chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, treatment adherence, and supportive care have enabled breast cancer patients to not only live longer, but to live as well as possible throughout treatment and long after it ends.
Pink Ribbon Awardees
PA Senator Frank Farry
6th District, Bucks County
Prime Sponsor, Senate Bill 88 / Act 52 of 2025 for no-cost diagnostic breast imaging
Senator Frank Farry represents Pennsylvania’s 6th Senatorial District, serving residents of Bucks County. A member of the Pennsylvania Senate since 2021, he has focused on issues including health care, public safety, economic development, transportation and strengthening the state’s life sciences sector.
Farry has been a leading voice in efforts to improve breast cancer screening and diagnostic care. He was the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 88, now Act 52 of 2025, landmark legislation for no-cost diagnostic mammograms, breast MRIs and ultrasounds for Pennsylvanians with state-regulated insurance. Act 52 builds on the comprehensive coverage of Act 1 of 2023, which eliminates out-of-pocket costs for supplemental breast cancer screenings and genetic testing and counseling. Senator Farry says the need for critical diagnostic testing became clearer following his wife’s breast cancer diagnosis, inspiring his fight to remove cost as a barrier for breast imaging.
In addition to his legislative work, he chairs the Senate Institutional Sustainability and Innovation Committee. Farry also serves as Chief of the Langhorne-Middletown Fire Company, a post he has held since 2001.
PA Representative Gina H. Curry
164th District, Delaware County
Prime Sponsor, House Bill 433 for no-cost diagnostic breast imaging
Representative Gina H. Curry has focused her career on equity, community, education and access. Serving Pennsylvania’s 164th Legislative District in Delaware County since 2021, Rep. Curry is a longtime champion for women’s health and co-founder of the PA Black Maternal Health Caucus. She sponsored PA House Bill 433, the companion bill for Senate Bill 88, now Act 52 of 2025, which eliminates all out-of-pocket costs for medically necessary diagnostic breast imaging including breast mammograms, MRIs, and ultrasounds for individuals insured under PA law.
Act 52 expands on Act 1 of 2023, legislation that eliminated out-of-pocket costs for supplemental screenings and genetic testing. Representative Curry says she hopes legislation like Act 52 and Act 1 helps to educate Pennsylvanians, particularly younger generations, to focus on their health and make it a priority.
In addition to her advocacy for Act 52, Representative Curry continues to fight for equitable funding for women’s health, education, economic development, and affordable housing.
Gregory Quandel, Quandel Enterprises
President and CEO, Quandel Enterprises
Grassroots Partner
Greg Quandel serves as Chief Executive Officer of Quandel Enterprises and President of Quandel Construction Group, a family-owned company and PA Breast Cancer Coalition Grassroots Partner. In his current role, Greg provides oversight on projects and focuses on the firm’s culture, giving back to the community whenever possible.
In 2023, Greg’s wife Jessica Quandel was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic breast cancer, a diagnosis that compelled the company to host its first Quandel Invitational golf tournament, raising an historic $125,000 for the Coalition, the single-largest contribution from a Grassroots Partner event! After Jessica passed away in October of 2025, the tournament was renamed the Jessica Quandel Memorial Golf Classic for Hope in her memory with the goal of supporting other families facing breast cancer and researchers working to find a cure.
Greg will be accepting the award on behalf of Quandel Enterprises. Greg also serves on multiple not-for-profit boards, including the Keystone Contractors Association and the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry.
Mid Penn Bank Shining Light Awardees
Tree Top Ladies League Golf Tournament
For 25 years, members of the Ladies League at Tree Top Golf Course in Manheim have turned their love of the game into a meaningful tradition in the fight against breast cancer. The league hosts an annual tournament, which brings groups of golfers together for a day on the course honoring those affected by breast cancer and raising funds for the PA Breast Cancer Coalition’s programs and services. Tree Top even features a permanent pink ribbon painted on the cart path by hole #9!
In 2026, the Ladies League reached a major milestone, raising over $100,000 in contributions to the cause!
Asha-Jyothi PA
Asha-Jyothi PA is a nonprofit that empowers students to be a “ray of light” in their communities with its core values of strength, commitment, collaboration, and integrity. For the past five years, volunteers from Asha-Jyothi have been sharing that light with Pennsylvanians facing breast cancer by filling over 700 Friends Like Me care packages at the Coalition’s Lebanon headquarters. The students set up an assembly line, carefully filling each box with resources and comfort items.
In addition to their work with our care package program and attendance at the PBCC Conference each year, students from the organization also host a volleyball tournament benefiting the PBCC in the spring. This incredible group of volunteers continues to show what compassion in action truly looks like.
