CT-BHI President Joyce Bray to Receive Alumna Award

The President of the Board of the Connecticut Breast Health Initiative, Inc. (CT BHI), Joyce Bray, is being honored by the Alumnae Association of Saint Mary’s College of Notre Dame, Indiana. She will receive the 2021 Alumna Achievement Award, in recognition of her “leadership in personal and professional accomplishments.”

CT BHI is an acknowledged leader in supporting efforts to advance breast cancer research and education in Connecticut. Since its inception in 2004, CT BHI – led by Bray - has awarded $4.1 million and provided 102 grants to research and education initiatives across the state. Money raised in Connecticut stays in Connecticut to support that work, reflecting a commitment that has been at the core of CT BHI from the organization’s founding.

“The Alumnae Association recognizes your distinguished work raising awareness and funds for breast cancer research, specifically in the state of Connecticut,” the official notification explained. “The Alumnae Association is proud to recognize these achievements.”

Saint Mary’s College, Bray’s alma mater, annually honors an alumna who “exemplifies the quality of a Christian liberal arts education, and upholds the standards, ideals and mission” of the college. The award will be presented at the college’s Virtual Awards Ceremony on June 5. Saint Mary's College is a private Catholic women's liberal arts college in Notre Dame, Indiana.

Dr. Susan Tannenbaum, Medical Director, Program Director for the hematology-oncology fellowship, and Division Chair of hematology-oncology at UCONN Health, said “Joyce has demonstrated leadership for mobilization of breast cancer care in our community, always showing great compassion and concern for the people she tirelessly works to help. It has been so important that she has provided connections, which have improved communication between otherwise separated groups in the medical community to achieve a common goal.”

A skillful and sincere change agent, most of her leadership positions have been new, as she developed programs from their start into impactful successes. She is known as a leader who moves people together for a cause, focusing on the future while effectively managing the present. And although progress has often not been easy, straightforward, or simple, she has dealt with difficulties and losses, while maintaining an inner strength and achieving progress.

Bray, whose mother died of breast cancer in 1992, led the development of the first Hospital of Central Connecticut Diagnostic Breast Center years ago. Her mother’s diagnosis, in the 1960’s, came during what Bray describes as “the dark ages of breast cancer, only spoken of in whispers. It was a stigma, a woman’s private shame. There were no support groups and the only treatment was ‘slash, burn and poison.’” While speaking of breast cancer was not possible for her mother, Bray has since honored her memory by “making noise and taking action,” making an impact on the health of women in Connecticut through education, awareness, science, technology and fundraising.

With changing societal attitudes, “Awareness was raised, education and important routine early detection behaviors were adopted. Getting a mammogram and self-examination were no longer a secret,” Bray recalls, reflecting on her journey as well. “One effort led to another, and ultimately to the establishment of the Connecticut Breast Health Initiative, and everything we’ve been able to accomplish.”

Adrienne Tack Kelliher, also of Saint Mary’s Class of ’69, said “I was a close friend of Joyce throughout our four years at SMC. Her friendship was one of truth, integrity, creativity, and realism, and she shared her gifts with many throughout college. I knew she would accomplish great things.”

A New Britain resident, Bray was also honored earlier this year as an “extraordinary woman” by Soroptimist International’s Greater Hartford club. She was recognized during the local organization’s “31 exceptional women in 31 days of March.”

Bray has also been involved in numerous community activities, previously serving on the Board of Trinity-on-Main Performing Arts Center and YWCA of New Britain, as President of the Junior League of Greater New Britain and as a Corporator of New Britain General Hospital. She also previously served on the National Board of Directors of the Komen Foundation.

During her professional career, she was Director of Marketing at the Hospital of Central Connecticut, Director of the Women’s Health and Resource Center, and Coordinator of the Diagnostic Breast Center. Her career evolved from marketing, public relations, and communications expert, to women’s advocate and role model. Through the years, Bray has been devoted to advancing, and leading, worthy causes in the community.

CT BHI’s annual RACE IN THE PARK, held in New Britain’s Walnut Hill Park for 17 years, has become a family tradition. This year, a virtual event was held earlier this month, throughout the Mother’s Day weekend. The event honors survivors, remembers loved ones, brings people together and raises money to move us closer to a cure.

CT BHI is particularly proud that 100% percent of money raised stays in Connecticut to support education and research. The rate of female breast cancer in Connecticut’s population is the second highest in the United States. With the generous support of donors, volunteers, sponsors and partners CT BHI has consistently contributed in meaningful ways to support breast cancer research and medical innovators.

Last year, $80,000 in research grants were awarded to Saint Francis Hospital, The Hospital of Central Connecticut, and UConn Health. In recent years, researchers at MidState Medical Center, Yale University, Middlesex Hospital, Norwalk Hospital and Stamford Health have also been among the CT BHI grant recipients.

Bray expressed her appreciation to the Saint Mary’s College Alumnae Association for their recognition, and reaffirmed her commitment to the work of CT BHI: “Every person who participates, every dollar donated, brings us closer to the next breakthrough and ultimately a cure. And there is groundbreaking research under way right here in Connecticut that we are proud to support, thanks to our dedicated donors, participants and volunteers.”