SSO Gives Richard Bloch Its Layman's Award

BOSTON--During its 48th Cancer Symposium, the Society of SurgicalOncology (SSO) presented Richard A. Bloch, founder of H&RBlock, with its James Ewing Layman's Award, given annually toa nonphysician. The award honors Mr. Bloch for his contributionto improving the care of cancer patients.

"In 1978 when Dick Bloch was diagnosed with cancer and toldthat he had only 3 months to live, he refused to accept that prognosis,"said SSO president Bernard Gardner, MD. "He fought back.. . and has spent the past 15 years of his life making sure otherswith cancer have a fighting chance."

Mr. Bloch developed the Physician Data Query (PDQ) computer programused by the National Cancer Institute to maintain a database ofstate-of-the-art cancer treatments. With his wife, Annette, hefounded the Cancer Hot Line in Kansas City, Mo, a volunteer organizationof more than 200 cancer patients.