J. Steven Hart Joins Lung Cancer Alliance Honorary Board

Washington, DC [February 26, 2010] --Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) announced today that J. Steven Hart, a top Washington attorney and former LCA Board Chairman has become a member of its Honorary Board of Directors.

Hart is Chairman and CEO of Williams and Jensen, a leading Washington, D.C. law firm. He has been frequently cited by national publications as one of the top lobbyists in Washington, D.C.

In 2002 Hart joined the Board of LCA's predecessor organization, the Alliance for Lung Cancer, Advocacy, Support and Education (ALCASE) then located in Washington state and the first national organization for lung cancer patients.

The following year he became chairman of the ALCASE Board to shepherd its transition to Washington, D.C.

"Steve saw immediately that to have any hope of changing  public health policy on lung cancer, the organization had to be located in Washington DC, and had to be actively engaged in presenting the case," said Laurie Fenton Ambrose, who became LCA President and CEO in 2004.

"Steve oversaw the move and established political credibility for the newly renamed and restructured Lung Cancer Alliance," she said, noting that he has been a close friend and advisor ever since.

"We are deeply grateful to Steve and delighted that he has joined our Honorary Board," she said.

LCA's honorary board was initiated this year. Former Senator Chuck Hagel is also a member.

"LCA has already made an impact in Washington on lung cancer policy in just a few years," Hart said. "I was pleased to be able to help launch this important organization and am confident that its influence will continue to grow so that we can finally see hope and improvement in lung cancer outcomes."

LCA is the only lung cancer organization with full time staff dedicated soley to patient, survivor and caregiver support services as well as devising the strategies to secure increased  federal and state research funding for lung cancer. 

Hart was in charge of processing federal judicial nominations at the Justice Department during the Reagan administration and also served in positions related to pension issues at the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Labor.

A recognized authority on employee benefit issues, Hart is also a CPA and a tax law specialist.

He is a Board member of the Congressional Awards Foundation, a federally chartered youth organization, and a past Barto Adams Fellow at the Michael F. Price  School of Business Administration at Oklahoma University.

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