Lynn M. Matrisian from Montgomery was inducted to the Montgomery Hall of Fame on June 10, 2016.

MONTGOMERY – A trio of alumni from Montgomery Area High School were the first class of inductees into its newly established ‘Hall of Fame.’ The announcement came early in June with biographaries of two recipients published in previous editions of The Luminary. They were Leona Dewalt, alumni historian who for more than 30 years has had her finger on the pulse of more than 6000 graduates, and L. Eugene Pauling, WWII veteran, former county sheriff and community volunteer.

The identities of the trio were completed when Lynn Matrisian was named. Lynn (McCormick) Matrisian graduated from Montgomery High School in 1971. She is the daughter of Marian Decker McCormick and the late Delmar McCormick.

Nominated by Dolly Pentz Shrey, the award was accepted by Lynn’s mother, Marian McCormick. Unable to attend ceremony, Matrisian was attending a medical conference in Scotland.

The alumni’s accomplishments are as follows: Lynn M. Matrisian, PhD, MBA, is Chief Research Officer at the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, based in Manhattan Beach, CA and Washington DC. She focuses on understanding and impacting the scientific and medical activities within the pancreatic cancer field to advance the organizations goal to double survival from pancreatic cancer by the year 2020.

She has oversight of the organization’s research activities, including the Research Grants Program, Clinical Trial Finder, personalized therapy Know Your Tumor initiative, and the Patient-reported outcomes Registry. She is leading the development of the Precision Promise personalized therapy clinical trials platform, and initiating an Early Detection effort.

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is a nationwide network of people dedicated to working together to advance research, support patients and create hope for those affected by pancreatic cancer. It supports a robust grants program and has built an active Community for Progress for scientists and clinicians overseen by distinguished members of the Scientific and Medical Advisory Board. Patient Services provide one-on-one assistance to patients, their families and caregivers by providing personalized information, treatment options and services.

The Government Affairs team works to focus the attention of Congress on the disease and increase research funding for the cause. Community Outreach supports an army of passionate volunteers who work tirelessly to raise awareness of the disease, recruit others, and support PurpleStride and PurpleLight events.

Dr. Matrisian is formerly Professor and the founding Chair of the Department of Cancer Biology at Vanderbilt University. She received her PhD in molecular biology from the University of Arizona and MBA from Vanderbilt University. She is past President of the American Association of Cancer Research, a Fellow of the AACR Academy, and the recipient of the Paget-Ewing award from the Metastasis Research Society. She served as co-chair of the National Cancer Institute’s Translational Research Working Group and Special Assistant to the Director of the NCI. Research in her laboratory revolved around the molecular mechanisms underlying tumor progression and metastasis, with emphasis on the biology of matrix-degrading proteinases.

As many succumb to Pancreatic Cancer, the world awaits the success of this former Montgomerian and her team.