State Representative Ellen Cohen of Houston, Texas was awarded the Patient Advocacy from the Texas Academy of Family Physicians
at the organization’s 59th Annual Session and Scientific Assembly in Houston July 19.
Rep. Cohen was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in November 2006 and represents House District 134, which includes Bellaire, West University, River Oaks and parts of Meyerland and Montrose in Houston. She is a breast cancer survivor and has dedicated her political career to advancing the needs of Texas patients.
Rep. Cohen is a member of the House Committee on Public Health and was the first House sponsor of the bill creating the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas that will oversee $3 billion in state spending for cancer research. She also voted to maximize federal funds to the Children’s Health Insurance Program in the 80th
Legislative session. Through her years in public service, Rep. Cohen has served as a strong advocate of physicians in managed care and other issues facing the medical
community.
Rep. Cohen is the former president and CEO of the Houston Area Women’s Center, which aims to eliminate domestic and sexual violence. She also founded Reach to Recovery of Canada, a self-help post-mastectomy group in Montreal.
In addition to being the 2008 recipient of the Patient Advocacy Award, Rep. Cohen has received the Woman of Wisdom Award, the Women of the Year Award, the Women on
the Move Award and the Shattered Glass Award, among others.