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Roberts was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2007, and her courageous and public battle since has been recognized with awards and honors from organizations around the country. Her book – which she will be signing at the event – From the Heart: Seven Rules to Live By includes information about her battle with the disease.

In her reporting, Roberts has traveled extensively – to the Middle East to raise awareness about breast cancer and to Africa with former President Bill Clinton to examine the AIDS crisis there. She has also covered news in Haiti, South Africa and the Mayan pyramids of Mexico.

During the 2008 presidential race, Roberts interviewed the candidates and newsmakers, moderated a town hall debate, reported live from the 2009 Inauguration and was the first to interview President Obama after he was sworn into office.

In 2005, Roberts traveled to the Gulf Coast to report live on Hurricane Katrina, and launched GMA Gets it Done to rebuild her hometown of Pass Christian, Mississippi.

After graduating from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1963, where she was a standout on the women’s basketball team, Roberts became a sports reporter and anchor at various TV and radio stations and won the Nashville Sportscaster of the Year Award.

Tickets for the Celebration of Life Luncheon are $125. Sponsorship tables are also available.

Please call 479-8595 for more information

VAIL, Colo. –February 25, 2011—Doris Kirchner, President and CEO of Vail Valley Medical Center announced today the installation of a new Stereotactic Biopsy Table, built to assist with patient’s positioning and comfort during the breast biopsy procedure. The table will be in use at VVMC’s Sonnenalp Breast Center at the Shaw Regional Cancer Center in Edwards beginning in mid-February.

The table provides an ergonomically designed system that brings improved comfort, lighting, and higher quality optics for doctors who are treating patients undergoing breast biopsies. Better position and improved visualization results in reduced testing time, improved outcomes and a more positive patient experience. The new installment continues to distinguish VVMC as a leader in cancer care and diagnosing breast cancer in the Colorado region.

“We are the first hospital in Colorado to implement this improved technology,” said Peggy Carey, Vice President of Shaw Regional Cancer Center. “The table will aid the accuracy of biopsy by allowing better patient positioning, the ultimate goal of the equipment. Technology, programs, services and patient outcomes distinguish VVMC’s Sonnenalp Breast Center from other breast programs in the state. Without the support and philanthropy of our community and the Vail Breast Cancer Awareness Group, it’s unlikely we would have this kind of technology; it is top of the line and we are very fortunate to have support from the community to advance services for the citizens of this region.”

“The new table provides an improved digital screen,” said Colleen Berga, Breast Imaging Coordinator of Sonnenalp Breast Center. “Improved resolution allows physicians to see subtle calcifications.”

“The new equipment will help patients be more comfortable and relaxed, which in turn helps us get a good biopsy sample,” Berga added. “The easier it is for a patient to be still, the less time it takes for us to do the biopsy.”

The technology is partially funded by the Vail Breast Cancer Awareness Group who will donate $50,000 toward the table’s purchase.

Vail Valley Medical Center is a not-for-profit 501(c) (3) organization. It is governed by a Board of Directors composed of community leaders. The Board, administration, employees and physicians at Vail Valley Medical Center are committed to continuous quality improvement, the centerpiece for creating an organization that provides excellence in service to each customer it serves. Vail Valley Medical Center is an equal-opportunity employer. It is handicap accessible and adheres to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“We want information so we can make smart choices,” Snyderman told the over 500 attendees at our 17th annual Celebration of Life™ Luncheon.

“It’s a little bit like standing in the cereal aisle,” Snyderman explained. “There are a million different choices, and we know that Cheerios is a better choice than Froot Loops but, you know, some days you want the Froot Loops. But you do it as an informed consumer.”

Snyderman took the opportunity to have  “a frank discussion about what we know about breast cancer, as well as what we don’t know.”

“There’s been so much news with regard to breast cancer: genetics, how we test, who we should test, reimbursements and the real loaded science that came down last year about the use of mammography in women below age 50, “ she said.

And, needless to say mammograms and hormones were very hot topics discussed during the question/answer session that took place at the conclusion of Dr. Snyderman’s speech.

“I bring a certain bias with me as a scientist that we don’t always like what we hear, but we have to talk about it,” she said.

The one theme that carried through everything Snyderman does and spoke about is patient education. She helped found  HYPERLINK “http://www.BeWell.com” www.BeWell.com, a website that connects the country’s top health experts to Fortune 500 companies on health topics.

“The days in the 50’s and 60’s where you could rely your doctor to take care of you and the local hospital would always be open and you could have access to health care and the economy – those days are long gone,” Snyderman said. “These days self-sufficiency is more important than ever.

“At this stage in my life, I’ve figured out the difference between being a doctor and being a healer, and so much of being a healer is to have patients stay well so they don’t have to have access to the system. A lot of that is self-responsibility, which comes back to knowing risk factors, to living smartly and knowing the warnings signs when you might be in trouble.

“At the end of the day, whether we have good doctors or lousy ones, we are responsible for ourselves.”

Excerpts in this article courtesy of Caramie Schnell, High Life Editor, The Vail Daily