Personal Fundraiser

Dr. Janet Daling was a world-renowned epidemiologist with a wide-ranging research portfolio that included pioneering studies of the causes of cervical cancer and other anogenital cancers, breast cancer, and several other cancers. This work yielded important knowledge of how lifestyle, medical, infectious, genetic, and other factors altered cancer risk and cancer survival. She also made important contributions related to the causes of infertility and ectopic pregnancy, and other adverse reproductive outcomes. Janet’s high level of intellectual curiosity generated countless new ideas and her work was often remarkably prescient.

Janet was a beloved and generous scientist, collaborator, teacher, mentor, and friend to many. Janet received a BA in Mathematics from Washington State University in 1957 and spent the next decade raising a family on a cattle ranch in Eastern Washington. She began her career in public health in 1967 as a research analyst in Washington State’s Department of Social and Health Services. While working for the State, Janet earned a MS in Biostatistics (1973) and a PhD in Epidemiology (1977) from the University of Washington. She joined the Fred Hutch Cancer Center and University of Washington faculties in 1978. Janet was instrumental in the growth of the Fred Hutch Epidemiology Program and served as Head of the Fred Hutch Breast Cancer Research Program for several years. An esteemed faculty member at the Fred Hutch Cancer Center and the University of Washington for 30 years, Janet mentored numerous trainees and junior faculty, published over 400 scientific papers and was the recipient of a number of awards including the Fred Hutch’s Donovan J. Thompson Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award, the UW School of Public Health Outstanding Alumni Award, the American Public Health Association Wade Hampton Frost Award, and the American Association of Cancer Research Team Science Award. In addition to being an exceptional researcher, Janet was also an internationally recognized duplicate bridge player and was ranked 64th of more than 64,000 active North American Contract Bridge League members at the time of her death. She shared many friendships within the bridge community. Additional information on Janet’s life and impact is available in her obituary, https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/chandler-az/janet-daling-10935714, and in an upcoming In Memoriam article to be published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Janet was smart and fearless, with boundless creativity and passion. She will be missed. She left a wide network of mentees, trainees, and colleagues who carry on her spirit.

The Janet R. Daling Cancer Epidemiology Scholarship Fund will support the Fred Hutch’s training and mentoring of the next generation of cancer epidemiology research scientists. Training and mentoring future scientists was a priority and passion for Dr. Daling. She would be thrilled to have her name associated with this cause. Please join us in contributing to what was near and dear to her heart.