Mountain Foundation for Education & Research in Lung Cancer

Mountain Foundation

The Mountain Foundation for Education & Research in Lung Cancer has an even longer history than the IASLC. Spanning 5 decades, the Mountain Foundation works to increase early detection of lung cancer through improved public and physician education regarding risk factors and screening modalities. 

For the past 20 years, Merel Nissenberg, the wife of the late Clifton F. Mountain, MD, who was a co-founder of the IASLC, has served on numerous IASLC committees such as the Ethics Committee, the Patient Advocacy Committee, and the Early Detection and Screening Committee. She also has presented and co-chaired sessions at the World Conference on Lung Cancer on several occasions. 

"I share all of the information from those types of experiences with all of my lung cancer patient advocacy groups,” Merel said, “including the Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan of the State of California, for which I am helping to develop the lung cancer portion of the 2021-2025 Cancer Plan."

Merel has wonderful memories of IASLC meetings and functions during the time her husband was alive, but she found the 2019 World Conference on Lung Cancer in Barcelona to be particularly memorable because of her involvement as faculty. 

“We at the Mountain Foundation firmly believe in the work of IASLC, and I am happy to contribute my efforts to the cause,” she said.

Pat_Adv_Merel_Mtn_Foundation_logo
Name: Merel Nissenberg
Email: mgrey@health.ucsd.edu
Organization: Mountain Foundation for Education & Research in Lung Cancer







 

 

How long has your organization been involved in supporting the lung cancer community?

50 years

What are your current priorities within the space of lung cancer? How can the IASLC help to support your organization and these priorities?

We would like to increase early detection of lung cancer and strongly believe we need to educate the public and the medical community about who is high risk and who should undergo low-dose CT.

How long have you been involved in IASLC related activities?

20 years

What IASLC activities have you participated in that have supported your efforts and how have they influenced your support to the lung cancer community?

I have served on the Ethics Committee, the Advocates Committee, and the Early Detection & Screening Committee. I have also presented at the Denver World Conference on Lung Cancer and the 2019 Barcelona World Conference on Lung Cancer and chaired or co-chaired sessions at both. I share all the information gained with all of my lung cancer groups, including the Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan of the State of California for which I am helping to develop the Lung Cancer portion of the 2021-2025 Cancer Plan

Why is it important for our organizations to partner?

We firmly believe in the work of IASLC and I am happy to contribute my efforts to the cause.

What is a favorite memory or experience that you have had with the IASLC or during an IASLC activity?

The World Conference on Lung Cancer last year in Barcelona was a highlight of my experiences with IASLC, not to mention the memories I have of attending IASLC events with my late husband, Clifton F. Mountain, MD, who co-founded IASLC!