ATLANTA - The Carter Samuel Martin Children's Chair for Innovative Therapy will be presented to Howard M. Katzenstein, M.D. on Tue., Mar. 3, 2009. The presentation is being held at the Silver Bell Pavilion at the Emory Conference Center Hotel.

Dr. Katzenstein is currently the Director of Clinical Research for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Director of the Innovative Therapy program with the Aflac Cancer Center of Children's. In addition, Dr. Katzenstein is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics with Emory University. Contributors to the Chair include The Carter Martin Classic presented by Providence Christian Academy, Drive for the Dream presented by Malone Construction, Young Council of REALTORS of the Atlanta Board of Commercial REALTORS, Hotlanta Charity Classic, Aflac Foundation, Tupperware Foundation, Birdies and Baseball presented by Kim and Tim Hudson, The Braves Celebrity Classic presented by John Smoltz, Tim Hudson and Jeff Francouer and Carter Martin's family and friends.

"Innovative therapy with novel drugs is really for families who are not ready to give up and who want to make sure they've left no stone unturned," says Dr. Howard Katzenstein of the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

During the last several decades, many drugs identified as beneficial in innovative therapy trials have been moved into frontline treatment for patients with various pediatric cancers. For many young patients with cancer and blood disorders, innovative therapy represents hope. Innovative therapy focuses on the development of new treatments for patients with cancer or blood disorders. Most commonly, innovative therapy attempts to identify new drugs that can benefit patients with tumors that have failed to respond to standard treatment or tumors that have returned. The goal for the Aflac Cancer Center of Children's is to provide every opportunity for a child to be cured of his disease. By promoting and conducting translational research that spans from bench to bedside, Children's strives to improve and enhance the quality of life for children and young adults with cancer and blood disorders.

Traditionally, a Chair is a symbolic sign of high achievement for a professor in academia. At Children's, receiving a Chair signifies a monetary endowment for a specific program directed by a practicing physician and is a very prestigious honor and only uses the interest earned. The following Children's physicians have received Chairs:

-Dr. William G. Woods - The Daniel P. Amos Children's Chair for the Aflac Cancer
Center and Blood Disorders Service
-Dr. Donald Durden - The Aflac Field Force Cancer Experimental Therapy Chair
-Dr. Pete Lollar - The Hemophilia Chair from Hemophilia of Georgia
-Dr. Lillian R. Meacham - The Kathelen V. Amos Children's Chair for Cancer
Survivorship
-Dr. Thomas G. Heffron - The Transplant Chair with Emory University
-Dr. Peter Lane - The Aflac Field Force Children's Chair for Sickle Cell Disease
-Dr. Howard M. Katzenstein - The Carter Samuel Martin Children's Chair for Innovative Therapy

Aflac Cancer Center

The Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta is a national leader among childhood cancer, hematology, and blood and marrow transplant programs, serving infants to young adults. Recognized as one of the top childhood cancer centers in the country by U.S.News & World Report, the Aflac Cancer Center treats more than 350 new cancer patients each year and follows more than 2,500 patients with sickle cell disease, hemophilia and other blood disorders. Visit www.aflaccancercenter.org or call 404-250-KIDS for more information.

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, a not-for-profit organization, is committed to enhancing the lives of children through excellence in patient care, research and education. Managing more than half a million patient visits annually at three hospitals and 16 neighborhood locations, Children's is one of the largest clinical care providers for children in the country. Children's offers access to more than 30 pediatric specialties and is ranked among the top children's hospitals by Parents magazine and U.S.News & World Report. With generous philanthropic and volunteer support, Children's has made an impact in the lives of children in
Georgia, the United States and throughout the world. Visit www.choa.org or call 404-250-KIDS for more information.