Newswoman/Disabled Rights Activist Bree Walker to Host WesternU Gala Honoring Dr. C. Everett Koop
Bree Walker, former news anchor with KCBS-TV in Los Angeles and WCBS-TV in
New York City, and current anchor with television station KNSD in San
Diego, will act as master of ceremonies when Western University of Health
Sciences (WesternU) honors former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop,
MD, ScD, with the first annual Elie Wiesel Humanism in Healing Award March
6 at a gala fundraising dinner at the Hotel Inter-Continental in Los
Angeles.
Proceeds from the dinner will benefit WesternU’s Center for Disability
Issues and the Health Professions (CDIHP).
Walker is a social and disability rights activist. Born with Ectrodactyly,
a genetic anomaly of the hands and feet, the newswoman has served on the
President’s Committee for Employment of Persons with Disabilities, the
California Governor’s Committee, the Board of Directors of the Women’s
International Center, and a variety of other civic and philanthropic
groups oriented toward disability rights.
“”Bree Walker has always been a professional in her field and a role model
for people with and without disabilities who aspire to enter the media
field,”” said Brenda Premo, CDIHP founding director, and herself a
nationally renowned disabled rights advocate. Premo most recently served
as the director of the California Department of Rehabilitation.
WesternU founded the CDIHP to prepare health care professionals to better
meet the primary care needs of people with disabilities. Under Premo’s
direction, the Center will emphasize both immediate reforms in educational
curriculum as well as long-term research on policies and related issues.
WesternU is honoring Dr. Koop with the Elie Wiesel Humanism in Healing
Award for his contributions to science and public health-specifically in
regard to how his contributions have benefited people with disabilities.
He will be at the dinner to accept the award.
The Elie Wiesel Humanism in Healing Award-named for the internationally
renowned Nobel Laureate and Holocaust survivor-is presented to an
individual who best represents the philosophy and values of the
University, and who has actively incorporated them toward the betterment
of the human condition.
Representatives from the health professions, the disabled rights
community, government, non-profit organizations and the general public are
expected to attend the March 6 dinner. Tickets are $150 per person.
For more information regarding the gala, contact WesternU’s Campaign
Development Department at (909) 469-5362.
