Essentially Women Names 2022 EW Ruth Addison Award Winner

Published in Women's Health on May 09, 2022

Mary Walsh Aframe has been selected as the 2022 EW Ruth Addison Award Winner. 

(Waterloo, Iowa)—Mary Walsh Aframe has been selected as the 2022 Essentially Women Ruth Addison Award Winner. Essentially Women (EW) presented the award to Walsh Aframe at a special ceremony during Focus Conference 2022.

Walsh Aframe is the owner and founder of The Women’s Image Center in Worcester, MA. She has been instrumental in the introduction of H.R. 5430, which would provide Medicare coverage for wigs as durable medical equipment. The Wig Bill has been a passion project of Mary’s since she started her business over 20 years ago; two of her sisters live with alopecia and run their own hair and wig businesses as well. When women meet Mary and her team of all women staff they are embraced by fellow advocates. Every woman who comes into The Women's Image Center is not just an unknown face, as Mary has taught all of her staff to treat those around you as you would like to be treated. Women are greeted by name and advocated for once they walk through our doors because every woman deserves to be heard and cared for, especially during the fight of her life with cancer. 

“I thank my village for this recognition,” said Walsh Aframe. “Guided by the spirit of the Ruth Addison Award, I hope to drive our community to encourage Congress to pass the custom breast prosthesis bill. Together let’s make this bill a reality.”

Walsh Aframe references the Breast Cancer Patient Equity Act H.R. 3087/S. 2051, which will allow Medicare beneficiaries access to custom breast prostheses. She knows that this legislation would have a significant impact on the patients she serves.

“Mary and The Women’s Image Center are leaders in the post-mastectomy and wig businesses,” said Nikki Jensen, vice president of Essentially Women. “When you talk with Mary, you can feel how deep her compassion is for breast cancer survivors. I couldn’t be happier that she has been recognized as this year’s EW Ruth Addison Award of Excellence winner.”

Essentially Women presents the EW Ruth Addison Award each year to an individual who has made a significant impact within her company, her community, and the women’s health industry. EW has named their annual award after Miss Ruth Addison, owner of The Total Woman Boutique in Baton Rouge, LA, because of her tremendous impact on the development of the mastectomy fitter role within the industry and her dedicated work to develop the post-mastectomy profession. For more information about the award, follow Essentially Women on social media or visit focus.essentiallywomen.com/award.  

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