Michele Williams Receives State-Wide Award for Contributions to Cancer Control and Public Health


Michele Williams, DNP, CRNP, AGPCNP-BC, OCN, RN-BC, of University of Maryland Community Medical Group – Oncology/Pulmonology has received the 2017 Martin D. Abeloff Award for Excellence in Public Health and Cancer Control from the Maryland Department of Health Center for Cancer Prevention and Control. The award was presented to Williams on November 17, 2017, at the the 24th Annual Maryland State Council on Cancer Control Conference in recognition of her contributions to cancer control and public health through patient care and public health policy advocacy.

Michele Williams

Established in honor of Martin D. Abeloff,, MD, a renowned medical oncologist and researcher, the Abeloff Award recognizes individuals who have made advancements  in cancer control practices that influence the public health statewide and ultimately on a national and/or global scale.
In addition to her role in cancer care at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, Williams is an associate medical director for Talbot Hospice and an ambassador for American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). She recently implemented a new lung cancer screening protocol at UM Shore Regional Health designed to detect lung disease at its earliest, most treatable stages using low-dose computed tomography in hope of reducing the rate of lung cancer in high risk patients on the Eastern Shore.
In the policy arena, Williams has made significant contributions through volunteer leadership positions nationally and statewide. She serves as chair of the Maryland Upper Eastern Shore Oncology Nurses Society Chapter, Maryland state co-lead ambassador for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) and ambassador lead for the 1st U.S. Congressional District for ACS CAN.
Williams also volunteers in leadership roles with the American Cancer Society (ACS) and received the Talbot County Hometown Hero Award for her work as chair of the ACS fundraiser, Colors of Cancer. She is presently on the leadership team for ACS’ Relay For Life of Talbot County, raising funds for  patient services and education programs and for cancer research. Annually, she coordinates a reception celebrating cancer survivors and their caregivers.