Local doctor marks 50 years of volunteering for American Cancer Society

COURTESY PHOTO Dr. Joe Isley In 1958, a young radiologist from North Carolina named Joseph K. Isley, Jr. moved his family to Fort Myers to serve as Chairman of the Department of Radiology for Lee Memorial Hospital.

Not knowing anyone in town, one of the first things he did was to volunteer with the American Cancer Society and join its Board of Directors.

Fifty years later, Dr. Isley still sits on the Board of Directors and volunteers at many of the Society's local events including Relay For Life and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.

"I have always liked what the ACS stands for," he said. "It's obviously a worthwhile cause but it's also about the people I've met who are working towards the same purpose, to eliminate cancer."

"It's so important to have not only physician involvement on our board, but long-term involvement," said the ACS's Area Executive Director Sherri Nowlin. "We are a volunteerbased organization and our Board Members are our heart and soul."

At the age of 84, Isley calls himself semiretired. He still works part-time in the Radiology Department of the Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic in Fort Myers.

"He just likes helping people and can't give it up," said his wife of 30 years Nancy Isley. "If he's not working, he's attending a Board meeting or another ACS sponsored event."

In his five decades with the ACS, Isley has served in many local and statewide capacities including President of both the Lee Unit and State Division, Chairman of the Breast Cancer Task Force and Colon-Rectal Cancer Task Force. He has been named an Honorary Lifetime Member of both the local and state division and in 1991 received the Volunteer Leadership Award for the Florida Division. In 1994, Dr. Isley was the recipient of the Connie Mack Humanitarian of the Year Award for the Lee County Unit.

"Dr. Isley's medical devotion has played a major part in so many peoples lives over so many years," said Victor Mayeron, owner of the Mucky Duck on Captiva and a long-time Board Member and Past Board Chair of the ACS Lee Unit. "No one ever wants to hear 'you have cancer' and Dr. Isley has done everything in his power with the American Cancer Society to help teach and educate men and women the importance of early detection. He has seen the rewards of his hard work through cancer patients that have beat their disease because of early detection."

Isley said he doesn't plan to slow down.

"Everyone would like to see a cure for cancer, but even better than that would be the prevention of cancer."

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service. For more information, visit www.cancer.org.