Sister to Sister

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Sister to Sister Founder Irene Pollin, M.S.W., received an honorary doctorate in humanities from Howard University in recognition for her contributions to the fields of health care and philanthropy. The honorary degree was presented to Mrs. Pollin during the university's graduation ceremony on May 12. Oprah Winfrey was the commencement speaker.

Mrs. Pollin founded Sister to Sister in 2000 to promote greater awareness of heart disease among women, and to educate women about prevention through free cardiac screenings. What began as a single event in Washington, DC, in 2000 has since expanded to more than 16 cities across the country.

"Howard University has been an incredible partner with Sister to Sister," said Mrs. Pollin as she accepted the degree. "We've reached into the community and done things I could not have done alone."

Mrs. Pollin has also established other health-related organizations and foundations, including the Medical Crisis Counseling Center at the Washington Hospital Center and the NBA "Wives Save Lives" breast cancer awareness campaign.

In addition, Mrs. Pollin is a psychiatric social worker who has worked with patients in the mental health field for more than 30 years. She pioneered short-term therapy for those living with chronic disease, and has authored two books on the topic, "Medical Crisis Counseling" and "Taking Charge: Overcoming the Challenges of Long-Term Illness."

She is a member of the Harvard School of Public Health Nutrition Roundtable, the Columbia Presbyterian Health Sciences Advisory Council, and the Howard University Women's Health Sciences Advisory Council.

Mrs. Pollin is the co-owner of the Washington Wizards basketball team and the Verizon Center in Washington, DC.