THE CANCER INSTITUTE OF NEW JERSEY AND NJ TRANSIT CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

Heritage of Health Campaign Promotes Cancer Awareness in the Hispanic Community

September 12, 2005

NEW BRUNSWICK ¿ Noting that cancer is the second leading cause of death within the Hispanic community, NJ TRANSIT, in partnership with The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) today launched the "Heritage of Health" Campaign, a statewide awareness effort to promote early cancer screening using hundreds of posters aboard NJ TRANSIT buses and light rail vehicles throughout the state. The posters will be in English and Spanish and promote cancer awareness among New Jersey¿s Hispanic population.

"New Jersey is one of the most culturally diverse areas in the United States," said George D. Warrington, Executive Director of NJ TRANSIT. "As such, it is our responsibility to celebrate that diversity, while providing a public service to New Jersey¿s Hispanic communities."

As part of their partnership, NJ TRANSIT and CINJ will promote the importance of cancer screening and early detection in the Hispanic community and provide information about screening programs and opportunities at CINJ Network Hospitals and other locations across the state. A complete list of screening events throughout New Jersey is available at www.njtransit.com.

"We are honored that NJ TRANSIT has chosen CINJ as a partner for the ¿Heritage of Health¿ Campaign and look forward to working with them to educate New Jersey¿s Hispanic community about the importance of cancer screenings and prevention," said William N. Hait, M.D., Ph.D., Director of CINJ, Associate Dean, Oncology Programs and Professor of Medicine and Pharmacology, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

"The only way to stay healthy is to see a doctor when you are healthy," said Rep. Robert Menendez. "This campaign will help our Hispanic families do just that by getting information to them as part of the hustle and bustle of their daily lives -- on their way to work, to buy groceries, to school, or to play. This type of community outreach and prevention is exactly what I've worked to create in my Patient Navigator law, which was recently signed by the President. I applaud and support the NJ TRANSIT and CINJ partnership for launching a campaign that ensures our New Jersey families get the information they need to live long, healthy lives."

September 15-October 15 was designated National Hispanic Heritage Month in 1994 as a way to celebrate the contributions of people of Hispanic heritage to the history of the United States.

NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 779,200 daily trips on 240 bus routes, three light rail routes and 11 commuter rail lines. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 163 rail stations, 52 light rail stations and more than 17,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.

The Cancer Institute of New Jersey is the state¿s first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, and is dedicated to improving the prevention, detection, treatment and care of patients with cancer. CINJ¿s physician-scientists engage in translational research, transforming their laboratory discoveries into clinical practice-quite literally bringing research to life. The Cancer Institute of New Jersey is a Center of Excellence of UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. To support CINJ, please call 732/235-8614.

The Cancer Institute of New Jersey Network is comprised of hospitals throughout the state and provides a mechanism to rapidly disseminate important discoveries into the community. CINJ Partner Hospitals: Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Atlantic Health System (Morristown Memorial Hospital, Mountainside Hospital, Overlook Hospital). CINJ Affiliates: Bayshore Community Hospital, CentraState Healthcare System, Cooper University Hospital (CINJ at Cooper)*, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, JFK Medical Center, Monmouth Medical Center, Raritan Bay Medical Center, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton (CINJ at Hamilton), Saint Peter¿s University Hospital, Somerset Medical Center, Southern Ocean County Hospital, The University Hospital/UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School*, University Medical Center at Princeton

* Academic Affiliate