Dr. Adnan Hammad received a prestigious award from the American Cancer Society in Los Angeles Nov.18 for his volunteerism, humanitarianism and distinguished service.

Adnan Hammad

The American Cancer Society, the nation’s largest voluntary health organization, honors individuals who are helping to realize the organization’s goal of saving lives and making a world with less cancer. The Society’s national volunteer leaders presented the annual award to Dr. Hammad, who is director of the Community Health & Research Center at ACCESS, and two others during the organization’s annual meeting in Los Angeles.
Hammad received the Humanitarian Award for his critical role in the founding, growth and development of the ACCESS Community Health & Research Center. The ACS said Dr. Hammad’s commitment has had an impact on underprivileged people around the world. As a result of his work, new immigrants, as well as assimilated Arabs, are able to receive critical health and human services, overcoming cultural barriers that often prevent them from receiving the care and support that they need. ACCESS’ clinic has become one of the signature health care providers for roughly 350,000 people in Southeast Michigan.

Hammad was born in a refugee camp in Palestine, and he continues to do work in the Middle East despite the demands on his time in the U.S. He has been intricately involved in enacting comprehensive cancer control strategies by developing training programs for health care professionals in the Middle East and building partnerships with organizations such as the World Health Organization, the University of Science and Technology in Jordan, and many others.