Dr. Shahla Masood with the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, at Annual “Rome Race for the Cure”, May 12, 2024 in Rome, Italy.
Shahla Masood, MD, FCAP, Professor and Chair in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UF College of Medicine Jacksonville and Medical Director, UF Health Jacksonville Breast Center, was honored at the 25th anniversary of the Annual “Rome Race for the Cure”,
held May 9-12 in Rome, Italy.
As part of her “Global Breast Health Education” Program, Dr. Masood has directed the “Annual Multidisciplinary Symposium on Breast Disease” since 1995 to foster the concept of integrated breast health education across the world. This event, now in its 29th year, is held each year at the Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island, Florida. This symposium has been taken abroad every five years, drawing hundreds of attendees and internationally renowned speakers each time to discuss the most recent discoveries in breast care, research and education.
In 2000, Dr. Masood took the 5th anniversary symposium to Rome, Italy, having Dr. Ricardo Masetti, a distinguished breast cancer surgeon, as co-director. In that occasion, Dr. Masood initiated the idea of “Race for Cure” from Rome and actively contributed, along with Dr. Ricardo Masetti, Dr. Umberto Veronesi, and the CEO of Susan G. Komen, Ambassador Nancy Brinker, to the start of the American-Italian project in the fight against breast cancer. This symposium marked the unveiling of two celebratory Italian postage stamps designed to increase breast cancer awareness. The stamps sold millions of copies, becoming a major source of breast cancer research funding in Italy.
Over 150,000 people attended the Annual “Rome Race for the Cure”, May 12, 2024 in Rome, Italy.
This year, the “Rome Race for the Cure” celebrated its 25th anniversary and it was hosted by the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella together with major Italian and international authorities, including the Ambassador of the United States to Italy, Jack Markell.
Dr. Masood was the driving force behind the creation of Komen Italia, and the “Rome Race for the Cure”, a symbol of Komen Italia, became over the years the largest event for the fight against breast cancer in Italy and the world, with over 150,000 attendees this year.
Dr. Masood, who directs the UF Health Jacksonville Breast Center and serves as the Interim Director UF Health Jacksonville Cancer Program, has dedicated her entire professional life to advancing women health across the world. Dr. Masood ‘outstanding academic career and her worldwide contributions to breast cancer research, education and diagnosis was honored with a special tribute during this event.