CTS researcher Dr. Leslie Bernstein is among the most accomplished researchers working in cancer epidemiology today. Among her many research achievements; she was instrumental in identifying physical activity as means for reducing breast cancer risk. She is involved in a host of projects, including those based in the CTS, to unravel the links between hormone exposures, obesity, physical activity and cancer. She also is studying how breast cancer impacts the lives of women after they finish their treatments. She began her career in 1976 as the mother of 3 adolescents by enrolling in the University of Southern California (USC) graduate school in gerontology. After finishing her masters degree, she did her Ph.D. studies in biostatistics. By 1981, she had earned her Ph.D, and during her 25 year career at USC became professor of preventive medicine and AFLAC Chair of Cancer Research; she also served as senior associate dean for faculty affairs at the medical school and vice provost for medical affairs for the university.  In September 2007, Dr. Bernstein moved to the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and Beckman Research Institute in Duarte CA where she serves as Professor, Director of the Division of Cancer Etiology, and Dean for Faculty Affairs.  In 2007, Dr. Bernstein received two prestigious awards honoring her research accomplishments:  the Brinker Award for Clinical Breast Cancer Research from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation and the American Association for Cancer Research and the Cancer Prevention Foundation Award for Excellence in Cancer Prevention Research. Dr. Bernstein serves as an energetic and available role model and active mentor to female and junior scientists.