LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Project Chernobyl upon the occasion of
being designated a Center of Excellence in the diagnosis and treatment
of thyroid disease and thyroid cancer

WHEREAS, Over the past 20 years, statistics have shown thyroid cancer is
one of a few cancers on the rise in the United States; chances of
getting thyroid cancer has increased more than three-fold during this
time, and unlike many others, thyroid cancer affects a much younger
population, more commonly women; and
WHEREAS, Scientists are still not sure what causes this rapid rise in
cancer rates; some of the known causes are: exposure to radiation after
nuclear tests; exposure to medical radiation, especially when young; and
the introduction of ultrasound and better diagnostic equipment; and
WHEREAS, To many, the greatest peace-time nuclear accident ever, the
meltdown at the Chernobyl power plant in Ukraine on April 26, 1986, is
no more than a long-forgotten history lesson; this is not so to the
hundreds of thousands of immigrants from that region who now reside in
New York; this year marks the 25th Anniversary of this horrific event;
and
WHEREAS, Under the luminous direction of its President, Dr. Daniel
Igor Branovan, Project Chernobyl, a community-led effort to diagnose and
treat thyroid cancer, has successfully launched and managed a road-based
information campaign to educate the hundreds of thousands of immigrants
to New York State from regions exposed to radiation after the Chernobyl
nuclear accident of increased risks of developing thyroid cancer; and
WHEREAS, Project Chernobyl has also expanded the screening program to
millions of New York State residents at increased risk of thyroid cancer
due to work-related exposure, excessive diagnostic exposure to radi-
ation, and toxic exposures during the 9/11 terrorist attack and subse-
quent clean-up efforts; and
WHEREAS, Project Chernobyl continues its efforts to serve the communi-
ty affected by the Chernobyl nuclear accident; the team of Russian-
speaking Head and Neck Cancer and Reconstructive surgeons from The New
York Eye and Ear Infirmary (NYEEI), led by Thyroid Center Director Dr.
Daniel Igor Branovan, coordinate diagnostic screenings and treatment of
thyroid cancer patients; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when campaigns
of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our attention,
they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of this
great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Project Chernobyl upon the occasion of being designated a Center
of Excellence in the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disease and
thyroid cancer; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Dr. Daniel Igor Branovan, Director of the Thyroid Center, The
New York Eye and Ear Infirmary and President of Project Chernobyl.