To LIfe! Announces New Executive Director
To Life!, the Capital Region’s local breast cancer support and education organization, today announced the appointment of Allison Burton-Chase, PhD, as its new Executive Director. Dr. Burton-Chase will succeed Eileen Howe Bird, who retired after 13 transformative years of leadership.
“I am thrilled to be joining To Life! and to be leading a team of dedicated individuals whose work has such a positive impact on our local community,” said Dr. Burton-Chase. “I have spent my research career trying to improve the lives of cancer patients and their families and can now do that work directly through the educational and support services To Life! provides.”
Dr. Burton-Chase brings extensive expertise in cancer prevention and survivorship research to To Life!. As a former tenured Associate Professor of Behavioral Medicine at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (ACPHS), she has focused her career on developing interventions to improve health behaviors and patient-provider communication in families affected by hereditary cancer syndromes. Prior to joining ACPHS, Dr. Burton-Chase worked in the Department of Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and in the Department of Palliative Medicine at Duke University/Durham VA Medical Center. Her leadership experience includes serving as Chair of the Department of Population Health Sciences at ACPHS and her current role as Secretary-Treasurer for the American Society of Preventive Oncology (ASPO).
"We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Burton-Chase as our new Executive Director," said Rita Cox, President of To Life!'s Board of Directors. "Her deep understanding of cancer prevention and survivorship, combined with her proven leadership abilities, makes her uniquely qualified to lead our organization into its next chapter."
Under Eileen Howe Bird's leadership, To Life! has experienced remarkable growth and dramatically increased its impact in the Capital Region. Beginning as a volunteer prior to assuming the Executive Director role, Bird's 13-year tenure saw the organization double its staff, expand to two additional boutique locations, introduce comprehensive wellness programs, and significantly increase community awareness. Her leadership strengthened To Life!’s position as a trusted resource for breast cancer patients and survivors.
"Eileen's dedication to our mission has been extraordinary," said Rita Cox. "Her leadership has touched thousands of lives and increased access to our programs across the Capital Region. We are deeply grateful for her service and the lasting impact she has made on our organization and those facing breast cancer."
