Dr. Karlynn BrintzenhofeSzoc Awarded Prestigious St. George Award by American Cancer Society

The St. George Award was established in 1949 and is the American Cancer Society’s highest award for community volunteers.  It is reserved for volunteers who have served over a long period of time in a diverse set of leadership roles while making significant and meaningful contributions to the Society’s mission.  Recipients must have demonstrated that they represent the Society in a manner that advances its cause and expands its community presence.

This year, the St. George Award was presented to Dr. Karlynn BrintzenhofeSzoc.  Dr. BrintzenhofeSzoc has faithfully served the American Cancer Society for two decades, joining the old Northern Virginia Unit in 1986.  Over the years, she has served in a variety of roles ranging from community volunteering to serving on the South Atlantic Division Board of Directors.  Some highlights of her activities follow below.  She has served as:

·        Member of the Mid-Atlantic Division Board of Trustees
·        Member of the Mid-Atlantic Division Evaluation Advisory Committee
·        Member of the South Atlantic Division Hope Lodge Workgroup
·        Member of the South Atlantic ACS CAN workgroup
·        I Can Cope program trainer

At the community level, she continues to serve in a variety of ways, including coordinating the volunteer leadership conference for her state grouping, working on the campaign for smokefree workplaces in Washington, DC and serving as a Celebration on the Hill Ambassador, to name just a few.  

Those who work closely with her know that she is the personification of quiet, persistent leadership. She never seeks out opportunities for recognition and is always available to step up and lead important initiatives.  During her 20 years of service, she has set a high standard for delivering service to cancer patients at the local and national levels. While President of the Associationof Oncology Social Workers (AOSW), Dr. BrintzenhofeSzoc spearheaded a partnership between the Socieyt and the AOSW to train volunteers in the I Can Cope program. Her efforts have resulted in thousands of patients actoss the United States learning the necessary skills to enhance their quality of life as cancer survivors.