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Please consider a donation to the URF
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About the URF
Meet the Officers & Board of Directors
The funds and energies of the Urological Research Foundation (URF) are directed to research for the prevention,
detection, treatment and cure of diseases of the prostate and most specifically, prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer causes the death of tens of thousands of men every year and terrible dysfunction and suffering
for additional tens of thousands. The need for more medical progress against this disease is compellingly clear.
The vision, over 20 years ago, which led to the URF and which guides the work of the foundation to this day, is
that we must support the energies, efforts and expertise of those who treat prostate cancer and those who are
searching for a cure.
The Medical Director of the URF, Dr. William J. Catalona, leads one of America's premier teams of physicians and
scientists in this endeavor. Providing the support to them that would accelerate the progress for both treatment
of prostate cancer and the search for a cure is a primary goal of the URF.
The URF also supports QUEST, a free newsletter to inform readers of
the latest advances in prostate cancer treatment.
A focus on genetic studies is the new direction for cancer research and present resources of the Foundation are
allocated so that Dr. Catalona may continue his prostate cancer research relating to sib-pair analysis (pairs of
siblings), genotyping and follow up molecular genetics.
Ultimately, genetic testing will provide the understanding for what causes prostate cancer, and then guide the
way to effective and preventative treatments.
The sibling research program supported by the URF and conducted at Washington University, Cleveland Clinic/Case
Western Reserve, Marshfield Medical Research Foundation in Wisconsin, University of Colorado, and University of
Pittsburgh, has just completed a linkage analysis of DNA obtained from blood samples collected over ten years from
brothers with prostate cancer.
The researchers discovered several new regions statistically associated with prostate cancer. This discovery
means that some fraction of men may carry a mutated gene that predisposes them to prostate cancer.
This research also found that a genetic connection does exist between prostate and breast cancer. There are
genes that when mutated in men cause prostate cancer and when mutated in women cause breast cancer.
Thus a mother can pass prostate cancer on to a son and a father can pass breast cancer to a daughter.
In addition to providing for the development of new blood tests to identify individuals who are genetically
predisposed to prostate cancer, further research in this area may also provide important insights into preventing
prostate cancer and developing new and more effective treatments for the disease.
The present story of the URF is of a foundation in the forefront of genetic research in the area of prostate
cancer, but the past history of the URF is also impressive.
Its founder, Elwin R. Smith, began the URF in 1979 with the intent to focus on the health problems facing
middle-aged and elder men with emphasis on prostate cancer research. He attracted a dedicated group to
serve as the Foundation's board, and together they began to solicit individual donations. The funds raised have
made possible many major steps in the early recognition of prostate cancer.
Dr. Catalona, Medical Director of the URF, was the first to use the prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test in
early prostate cancer detection. The free PSA test has been a recent addition to prostate cancer diagnosis, and
again, Dr. Catalona and his associates were key participants in its development and use.
Board of Directors
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Officers
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Anthony F. Sansone, Sr.
- URF President
http://www.sansonegroup.com
Anthony Sansone, Sr. is the president of the Urological Research Foundation. He is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Sansone Group. His activities in St. Louis charitable and civic organizations are numerous including leadership and board positions for the St. Louis Archdiocese, Cardinal Glennon Hospital, St. Louis Regional Commerce and Growth Association, and National Conference of Christians and Jews. Married to Mary Anne Michaels, he has eight children and 31 grandchildren.
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John O. Niemann
- URF Vice President/Treasurer
John (Jack) O. Niemann is currently an attorney with Nangle and
Niemann in Clayton, Missouri. He was formerly a tax partner with Ernst &
Young. He is active in church work with Annunziata Catholic Church, is a
current member of the Audit Committee of the Finance Committee for the
Archdiocese of St. Louis and is a past member of the Development Committee
for Catholic Charities. He is a founding board member of the St. Louis
Foundation for Alcoholism/Related Dependencies and has been an active
volunteer for the United Way. Married to Tina LoPiccolo, they have 11
children.
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Julius Reichel
- Secretary
Julius Reichel spent the major part of his career as an Engineering Manager and developer of large scale electronic systems for the Navy especially in the area of anti-submarine warfare. After retirement from his engineering career, he has been an independent consultant and entrepreneur. Since having a nerve sparing radical prostatectomy in 1997, he has been actively involved in study, support, and counseling concerning prostate cancer. He writes a monthly feature column from the patient's perspective for the Man-to-Man support group newsletter. Married to Charna, he has two children and three grandchildren.
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Honorary Trustees
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Bob Dole
- Former U.S. Senator - Honorary Trustee
Visit http://www.bobdole.org/
Bob Dole is well-known and well-respected for his participation in the US government, serving first in the US House for eight years and then in the US Senate from 1969 until his nomination as Republican candidate for President in 1996. He was both Senate majority and minority leader. After his diagnosis of prostate cancer in 1991, he became an outspoken advocate for prostate cancer testing.
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Joe Torre
- Manager, New York Yankees - Honorary Trustee
Joe Torre is the Manager of the New York Yankees. In 1996, he led the New York Yankees to their first World Series title since 1978 and then followed it with two more titles, including the 1999 World Series. In addition to his support for the Urological Research Foundation, he is involved with several charities including the Starlight Children's Foundation, the American Heart Association, and CaP Cure, an organization that raises money for prostate cancer research. He is married to Ali and has four children.
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Robert J. Watson
Bob Watson rejoined the New York Yankees organization in the mid-90s and had his first season as General Manger in 1996. As a former ALL-STAR, he started all six games of the '81 World Series and led the Yankees with two homers and seven RBIs. He and his son run Watson & Company, an Entertainment Finance Consultant firm and he is the principal in two technology and e-commerce based companies. He is Co-Chair of the 2000 Olympic Baseball Steering and Selection Committee and was Co-Chair of the 1999 Pan Am Games Steering and Selection Committee for baseball. In 1994, he underwent successful prostate cancer surgery and has become an active advocate of the PSA blood screening test for men. Married to Carol, he has two children.
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Trustees
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Frank C. Bick
Frank Bick is the retired publisher of the St. Louis Suburban Journals. He is Chairman of the Board of Bick Broadcasting Inc., Hannibal MO, which operates seven radio stations in Missouri, Illinois, and Iowa.
He has served on numerous committees of the United Way of Greater St. Louis. He currently serves on the board of the St. Louis Zoo and is active in the Missouri Historical Society and the Missouri Botanical Garden. He is retired commissioner of the St. Louis County Police Board, a position he held for fifteen years. He is a long time member and currently serves on the Board of the St. Louis Backstoppers. He is a commissioner of the Regional Justice Information System, which manages the computer systems for the circuit courts, the justice systems and the police departments in eastern Missouri and southwest Illinois.
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James T. Blair, III
James T. Blair, III has worked in Life Insurance from 1956 until the present
and is a founding partner of RE Lee Group, an international life brokerage
organization. He has served on several Boards of Directors including Central
Bancompany, Landmark Bank, Crestwood Bank and Chemfix Technologies.
He served on the Board of Directors for the Ronald McDonald House in St.
Louis and St. Mary's Hospital in St. Louis. He is the past president of
CLBGAA, an international professional organization, and the past president
of Metropolitan Golf Association. Also, he is an honorary member of the
Knights of Flying Fingers, a small group worldwide who are recognized for
their service on behalf of the deaf. He was co-chairman of the Missouri
Clean Water bond issue and served 12 years as a member of the Missouri
Conservation Commission. Married to Myrna, they have three children.
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R. Stephen Carr
Steve Carr is Vice President and General Counsel of GROWMARK, Inc., a farm supply and grain marketing cooperative with approximately 320 agricultural cooperative members in the United States and Canada. In addition, Steve is a director and/or officer of a number of agriculturally-related businesses including: MID-CO Commodities, a business providing price risk management services and agricultural commodity advisory services; FS Preferred Insurance Company, a Vermont captive insurance company; Malta Industries,the sole stockholder of the leading feed manufacturing company in Mexico; and Seedway, Inc. and GFS, two agricultural subsidiaries which provide seed and farm supplies in six northeastern states. He also serves on the Executive Committee of the legal, tax and accounting committee of NCFC, a national agricultural trade association. A graduate of University of Illinois and a former special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Steve and his wife Sharon reside in Bloomington, Illinois.
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William J. McKenna
William. J. McKenna is the President and CEO of Mediafax, Inc., the Puerto Rico Corporation that he founded in 1988 and sold to WPP Worldwide Ltd of London, UK in 2001. Mediafax is the leading marketing research firm in the Caribbean and a top 100 US marketing research industry company. McKena is a US Navy Reserve Captain, decorated veteran and experienced naval aviator. Married and the father of five children, he is active in the local San Juan community.
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James J. McNally
James J. McNally has over thirty years of international marketing and senior management experience with major companies including Wilkinson Sword Ltd, Phillip Morris and most recently was Executive Vice President of Dupont Protein Technologies.
His work included the development and implementation of nutritional and food programs with organizations and governmental ministries in many countries, including Russia where he was awarded an Honorary PhD for his work in expanding the food supply.
He is currently a board member of various companies as well as a business consultant. He resides in London.
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Gary Petrucci
Gary Petrucci is a Managing Director, Investments at US Bancorp Piper Jaffray. He is on the boards of several institutions in Minnesota including St. Cloud State University Foundation, Shturman Cardiology, Lettieri's, and Prevention First. He is married with two children.
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Patrick Prader
Patrick Prader retired from BetzDearborn in the position of Corporate Vice President of Global Marketing. Previously, he held positions of vice-president Sales, Executive vice-president and President for one of their divisions, Betz-Entec. He is on the Advisory Board of VITA, Volunteers in Teaching Assistance, which specializes in one-on-one help for adult literacy programs and for decision-making programs in penal institutions. He is an avid golfer and fisherman. Following retirement, he returned to the St. Louis area to spend time with his four children and six grandchildren.
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James G. Sansone
James G. Sansone is a principal in the Sansone Group, a real estate
development and property management firm. He has his Juris Doctorate from
the University of Missouri at Columbia. He is active in charitable, civic and social organizations. He is a Board Member of the Archdiocesan
Development Appeal, a member and past President of the Development Board for
Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, a trustee for Fontbonne College, and a
member of the Developer's Advisory Board for the Missouri Highway and
Transportation Department. Married to Kathryn, he has eight children.
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Bruce H. Seidberg, DDS, MScD, JD
Bruce H. Seidberg, DDS, MScD, JD is in practice in Syracuse, New York,
specializing in Endodontics. He is currently Chief of Dentistry at Crouse
Hospital in Syracuse. Dr. Seidberg is a Dental-Legal Consultant, has
contributed many articles to the dental literature, a chapter on Risk
Management in the text "Legal Medicine" and lectures at national and
international meetings about the fields of dentistry and law. He is
currently serving on the Boards of the American Association of Endodontists,
the American College of Legal Medicine and on the American Dental
Association Council on Communications. He served two terms as President of
the New York State Association of Endodontists, is a Diplomate of the
American Board of Endodontists and a Fellow of the American College of Legal
Medicine, American Association of Hospital Dentists and the Pierre Fauchard Academy.
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Jim J. Shoemake
Jim Shoemake is the lead litigation partner for Guilfoil, Petzall & Shoemake. His work involves antitrust litigation, corporate takeovers, bank mergers insurance receiverships, constitutional rights of due process and freedom of speech. In addition to the URF, he serves on the Boards of All Star Gas Corporation, Lindenwood University, Firstar Bank, Sweet Traditions, L.L.C., and the Missouri Quarter Horse Association and is on the Executive Committee of the American Quarter Horse Association. Married to Rita, he has three daughters and five grandchildren.
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Richard Ward
Richard Ward is CEO of CentraMart Services, LLC, the provider of eCommerce business services to members of the National Newspaper Association and to the general public. He is Chairman of Providence Business Group, Inc., a business incubator, and a senior principal at WMWorks, a national homeownership consultancy. He serves on the advisory boards of several eCommerce companies.. He is a former newspaper and magazine editor and Navy journalist during the Vietnam era. A licensed real estate broker, Ward served for over a decade as a national director representing Missouri at the National Association of REALTORS His corporate executive positions include successful careers at Fidelity National Financial, HomeSpace.com, GeoTel Corporation and Microsoft. Ward’s civic activities include serving as Executive Director of VETS, a national veteran service and archive. He resides in the Kansas City metro area with his spouse, Elizabeth Healey. Both are graduates of the University of Missouri and members of the school’s Jefferson Club.
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Medical Director
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William J. Catalona, M.D.
- Medical Director of the Urological Research Foundation
Dr. Catalona is respected worldwide as a surgeon and as a researcher in the areas of prostate cancer and prostate related diseases. His recognized success in nerve-sparing surgery in prostatectomies has made
him one of the most requested surgeons in the country. He has performed over 2700 such operations.
Dr. Catalona runs the largest prostate cancer screening program in the
country. He is known for having discovered that the PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood test could be used as a first-line screening test for prostate cancer. His screening studies of 35,000 men in St. Louis led to the approval of the PSA test and the free PSA test by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Dr. Catalona can be reached at 312-695-8146 for patient appointments, (fax 312-695-7030), Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation, 675 N. St. Clair, Suite 20-150, Chicago, IL 60611.
Click here to view Dr. Catalona's Bio.
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