Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) (Lung Cancer)

Laurie Fenton Ambrose. Laurie Fenton Ambrose is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) responsible for managing the overall mission and strategic direction of organization. Hired as LCA’s first President in 2004, Laurie has managed LCA’s relocation, restructuring and realignment from a west coast-based operation to its current headquarters in Washington, DC. Today, LCA is nationally and internationally recognized… See full bio.

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Story: Lung Cancer is a disease that begins in the tissue of the lungs. The lungs are sponge-like organs that are part of the respiratory system. During breathing, air enters the mouth or nasal passage and travels down the trachea. The trachea splits into two sets of bronchial tubes that lead to the left and right lung. The bronchi branch off into smaller and smaller tubes that eventually end in small balloon-like sacs known as alveoli. The alveoli are where oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other substances are exchanged between the lungs and the blood stream. The vast majority of Lung Cancer cases fall into one of two different categories: Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer is the most common type of Lung Cancer, making up nearly 85% of all cases. This type of Lung Cancer grows and spreads more slowly than small cell lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer is divided into three different subcategories. Squamous cell carcinoma originates in the thin, flat cells that line the passages of the respiratory tract. Adenocarcinoma begins in the cells that form the lining of the lungs. Large cell carcinomas make up a group of cancers that look large and abnormal under a microscope. Small Cell Lung Cancer makes up nearly 20% of all Lung Cancer cases. It is associated with cancer cells smaller in size than most other cancer cells. These cells may be small, but they can rapidly reproduce to form large tumors. Their size and quick rate of reproduction allows them to spread to the lymph nodes and to other organs of the body. This type of Lung Cancer is almost always caused by smoking or second hand smoke. Another type of tumor, called carcinoid, can occur in the lung. For more information, please visit the following external website.

Evidence of Impact Summary:

The Lung Cancer Alliance has been effective in increasing the flow of money towards lung cancer funding. It has also had a strong influence over Congressional decisions and policy changes.
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Organization Strengths Summary:

According to experts, the organization's greatest strengths are its unique ability to affect policy and its dedicated leadership.
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Areas for Improvement Summary:

The major criticisms of the Lung Cancer Alliance are that the group should spend more time raising awareness on the issue and on new developments in lung cancer research and that it should be more collaborative with other groups.
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Laurie Fenton Ambrose is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) responsible for managing the overall mission and strategic direction of organization. Hired as LCA’s first President in 2004, Laurie has managed LCA’s relocation, restructuring and realignment from a west coast-based operation to its current headquarters in Washington, DC. Today, LCA is nationally and internationally recognized as the premier non-profit dedicated solely to patient support and advocacy for those living with or at risk for lung cancer. Laurie is responsible for overseeing the creation and implementation of LCA’s patient empowerment programs, public health policy agenda and national grassroots and awareness initiatives. Laurie is also LCA’s primary liaison to community and government leaders, national media, collaborating agencies, health care professionals, and other strategic alliances. Laurie brings almost two decades of public policy experience to LCA having served in senior management positions in both the legislative and executive branches of government. Prior to joining LCA, Laurie was tapped to serve as the first Chief of Staff to United States Department of Commerce Secretary Don Evans, where she helped set the strategic and policy direction of the Department in the first years of the Bush Administration. Before serving in the Commerce Department, Laurie worked for 6 years in the United States Senate as Chief of Staff to Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ). Prior to her work in the Senate, Laurie served 11 years in the House of Representatives, 6 as Chief of Staff to Congressman Jim Kolbe (R-AZ), and the remaining as Legislative Assistants to Congressman Amo Houghton (R-NY) and Congressman Edward Madigan (R-IL). Laurie has also served in the private sector as Federal Relations Director for Honeywell. Laurie is a graduate of The George Washington University and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government Senior Management in Government Executive Program. Laurie was inspired to join LCA by her friend and associate Sheila Ross, a two time lung cancer survivor.

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