Elizabeth "Betsy" Mullen is the Founder and President of Women's Information Network Against Breast Cancer™ (WIN ABC), a national nonprofit organization.  Ms. Mullen resides in San Diego, California with her husband, Ken.  Prior to founding WIN Against Breast Cancer, Ms. Mullen was a Market Research Analyst with a background in political science, public administration and public relations.  WIN ABC was created to empower breast cancer patients to become informed partners with their health care team as they travel through diagnosis, treatment and recovery with confidence and grace. A second key objective of the WIN organization is to work with health care providers and policy-makers to ensure responsible health care policy, appropriate delivery systems and pathways of care for breast cancer screening and treatment services for patients.

Betsy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992 at the age of thirty-three. What she learned and experienced from her personal journey in combating this disease transformed her from a confused, frightened patient into an informed patient advocate.  Betsy is committed to using her knowledge and expertise to assist others battling breast cancer so that they will be able to undergo the same positive transformation.  Since its founding in May of 1994, the WIN Against Breast Cancer organization has served the needs of a growing number of breast cancer survivors, their family members, health care providers, researchers, public health officials and policy-makers. Ms. Mullen sits on a variety of breast cancer advisory councils at the local, state and national levels. 

Ms. Mullen and WIN ABC are committed to ensuring equal access to appropriate breast cancer education, screening and treatment services for individuals from all cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.  Betsy served as a consultant to Blue Cross of California in establishing a $12.4 million breast cancer treatment fund for patients throughout the state at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.  Ms. Mullen is a founding member of the California Breast Cancer Treatment Fund Advisory Council where she served two terms as Treasurer for this groundbreaking and vital fund.  Betsy and WIN ABC are actively involved in efforts now underway to make this fund a permanent state funded program and template for federally funded programs for underserved patients throughout the U.S.; having helped to secure $20 million in state funds over the past two years.

WIN ABC' s signature program, the Breast Buddy^® Breast Care Program has been identified as a new best practice by the American Association of Health Plans (AAHP). Representing over 130 million health plan members throughout the country, this recognition has established Breast Buddies as "...an exemplary practice, an outstanding women's health program that really is making a difference in improving women's health."   WIN Against Breast Cancer is now bringing this award-winning program into the lives of medically indigent and underserved patients in a Los Angeles County based pilot program at four county run hospitals. WIN’s intention is to facilitate the Breast Buddy^® Program's replication throughout the U.S. to reach underserved populations historically disconnected from the comprehensive health care services and psychosocial support that they so desperately need.

Ms. Mullen and the WIN organization are also committed to increase funding for breast cancer research.  Their dedication and hard work in partnership with others, resulted in the passage of the Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act in July 1997 and issuance of the historic Breast Cancer Research Semipostal Stamp in July 1998.  Ms. Mullen was a featured speaker at a special White House ceremony for the stamp's first day of issuance on July 29, 1998 hosted by First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.  Ms. Mullen and WIN ABC also spearheaded efforts that secured legislation in July 2000, extending the issuance of the special fundraising stamps for two more years; and are once again leading efforts in 2001 for a six-year extension.  To date (July 2001), over $21.5 million has been raised for breast cancer research as a result of WIN’s efforts.  The awareness raised as a result of this special stamp designed to save lives continues to be priceless.

Lifetime Television's series New Attitudes has highlighted Ms. Mullen and WIN ABC's Breast Buddy^® Breast Care Program for Underserved and Indigent Patients.  Betsy has also appeared on the NBC Nightly News to discuss the importance of breast cancer research and was the subject of a four-part series produced by the KTLA Morning News highlighting WIN ABC and the Breast Buddy^® Program.  Betsy participated in a press conference hosted by the American Association of Health Plans (AAHP) and the Commonwealth Fund, held at the National Press Club. The event received widespread national media and aired live on C-SPAN in August 1998. The event highlighted the AAHP's new Women's Health Initiative, in which WIN's Breast Buddy^® Breast Care Program, in partnership with Kaiser Permanente Southern California, was recognized as a new best practice of care for patients. 

Ms. Mullen can be reached by contacting WIN Against Breast Cancer at 
Phone: (626) 332-2255. E-mail: betsy@winabc.org

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