Bloomfield Awarded as Outstanding Clinician Scientist
Clara D. Bloomfield, MD, a Distinguished University Professor at Ohio State who also serves as cancer scholar and senior adviser to the OSUCCC – James, received the 2017 Robert A. Kyle Award for Outstanding Clinician-Scientist. The Mayo Clinic’s Division of Hematology presents the award to recognize outstanding contributions in the diagnosis and treatment of hematologic cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma. The award recognizes Bloomfield for more than three decades of research in the field of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). She has more than 600 published articles and is internationally renowned for her work in the cytogenetics of adult acute leukemia, for the molecular genetics of AML and for contributions to the treatment of AML, particularly in older patients. Read more
De La Chapelle Gains Lifetime Achievement Award
Albert de la Chapelle, MD, PhD, a Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics at Ohio State, received a lifetime achievement award from the Collaborative Group of the Americas on Inherited Colorectal Cancer (CGA-ICC). De la Chapelle, who also is in the Molecular Biology and Cancer Genetics Program at the OSUCCC – James, received the award during the annual meeting of the CGA-ICC, which was established to improve understanding of inherited colorectal cancer and the clinical management of affected families, particularly those living in the Americas. “Dr. de la Chapelle is a giant in the field of genetics and specifically in colorectal cancer genetics,” said 2017 CGA President Sonia Kupfer, MD. Read more
Byrd Receives ‘Return of the Child Award’ From LLS
John C. Byrd, MD, a Distinguished University Professor at Ohio State and co-leader of the Leukemia Research Program at the OSUCCC – James, received the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) prestigious Return of the Child Award. According to the LLS, this national award was established in 1986 to honor an individual whose career has been dedicated to blood cancer research and whose leadership — nationally and internationally — within the oncology and biomedical communities has helped develop treatments for blood cancers and thereby improved survival rates. The LLS says Byrd was chosen for his work on developing the drug ibrutinib and his leadership in LLS’s Beat AML (acute myeloid leukemia) initiative. Byrd and his colleagues’ studies of ibrutinib played a key role in its approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating certain patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Byrd is a professor of Medicine, of Medicinal Chemistry and of Veterinary Biosciences at Ohio State.
Janis is President of American Society of Plastic Surgeons
Jeffrey Janis, MD, professor and executive vice chair of the Department of Plastic Surgery in Ohio State’s College of Medicine, is president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the world’s largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons and the foremost authority on cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. Janis is serving a one-year term that began at the ASPS annual meeting in October 2017. He specializes in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the breasts, chest wall reconstruction, complex abdominal wall reconstruction, body contouring, lower extremity reconstruction and surgical treatment of migraines. Read more
LLS Names DeMarco 2017 Central Ohio Woman of the Year
Larissa DeMarco, BSN, RN, OCN, was named 2017 Central Ohio Woman of the Year at the Grand Finale Celebration of the Central Ohio Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s annual Man & Woman of the Year competition. DeMarco, primary nurse with Farrukh Awan, MBBS, in the Fifth Floor Hematology Oncology Clinic at The James, raised $58,763 during the national 10-week campaign, which generates funds to help find cures for blood cancer. According to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), the campaign involves individuals who use their leadership abilities and resources to conduct their own fundraising campaigns to support LLS research and to provide education and support services for patients and families.
Bell Wins ASTRO Senior Investigator Research Award
Erica Bell, PhD, assistant professor-clinical in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Ohio State and member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James, received the 2017 American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) Senior Investigator Basic/Translational Research Award. Bell played an integral role in the laboratory of Arnab Chakravarti, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology, in identifying MGMT promoter methylation as a key mediator of outcome and treatment resistance in anaplastic astrocytomas (a type of grade III brain tumor) based on prospective National Cancer Institute cooperative group studies (RTOG/NRG). This was judged to be one of the most noteworthy basic/translational research findings by ASTRO for its 2017 annual meeting.
OSUCCC – James Gynecologic Oncology Physicians Gain NCI Appointments
Four members of the gynecologic oncology team at the OSUCCC – James were appointed to National Cancer Institute (NCI) steering committee/task force roles in 2017:
David Cohn, MD, professor and director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, was appointed to the Uterine Task Force representing NRG Oncology. Cohn also represents NRG Oncology on the NCI’s Cancer Care Delivery Research (CCDR) Steering Committee in his role as chair of NRG Oncology’s CCDR Committee.
David O’Malley, MD, associate professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, was appointed to the Ovarian Task Force representing NRG Oncology.
Floor Backes, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, was appointed to the Uterine Task Force representing Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG).
John Hays, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the Division of Medical Oncology, was appointed to the Ovarian Task Force representing SWOG.
Cancer Program Expertise Highlighted for World Cancer Day
Cancer expertise at the OSUCCC – James was strongly represented for World Cancer Day (Feb. 4, 2017) in a special edition of The Conversation U.S., a publication that bills itself as an independent source of news and views from the academic and research community that is delivered directly to the public.
The special edition contained eight cancer-related articles, two of which were written by researchers at the OSUCCC – James:
- Immunotherapy: Training the Body to Fight Cancer, was co-authored by Pravin Kaumaya, PhD, professor in the departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and of Microbiology at Ohio State, and a member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James;
- We Have a Vaccine for Six Cancers; Why Are Less Than Half of Kids Getting It? was authored by Electra Paskett, PhD, MSPH, professor of Epidemiology and of Public Health who directs the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control at Ohio State, and who also serves as associate director for population sciences at the OSUCCC – James, where she leads the Cancer Control Program.
Williams Earns ACS Scholar Award
Terence Williams, MD, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Ohio State and member of the Molecular Biology and Cancer Genetics Program at the OSUCCC – James, received an American Cancer Society (ACS) Scholar Award of $792,000 for four years to support his study of the underlying mechanisms of KRAS-mediated radioresistance. Arnab Chakravarti, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology, says Williams’ grant application received the best score in the country.
Fishel & Wu Elected as Fellows in AAAS
Two cancer researchers at the OSUCCC – James were elected as Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in recognition of their scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications. Richard Fishel, PhD, professor in the College of Medicine, Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, and member of the Molecular Biology and Cancer Genetics Program at the OSUCCC – James, was elected for the invention of medical devices used in the treatment of many illnesses. Li Wu, PhD, professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, and in the College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Microbiology, is in the Molecular Biology and Cancer Genetics Program at the OSUCCC – James. He was elected for contributions to molecular virology, particularly for mechanisms of HIV replication and virus interactions with host cells.
Ramaswamy & Lustberg Recognized as Exemplary Oncologists
Bhuvaneswari Ramaswamy, MD, and Maryam Lustberg, MD, MPH, associate professors in the Division of Medical Oncology at Ohio State, were among 27 top breast oncologists across the nation to be recognized by Forbes as exemplary physicians in the field of oncology. Ramaswamy specializes in breast cancer at the Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center and is in the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James. She serves as section chief for breast medical oncology within the Division of Medical Oncology, and as director of the Medical Oncology Fellowship Program in Breast Cancer for Ohio State’s College of Medicine. Lustberg also specializes in breast cancer at the Spielman Center, and she is a member of the Cancer Control Program at the OSUCCC – James. In addition, she is medical director of survivorship for the OSUCCC – James and director for breast cancer survivorship at the Spielman Center.
La Perle is President of American College of Veterinary Pathologists
Krista La Perle, DVM, PhD, a professor in Ohio State’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, became president of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP) at the ACVP 2017 Annual Meeting after serving for a year as president-elect. La Perle also is director of the Comparative Pathology & Mouse Phenotyping Shared Resource for the OSUCCC – James, a role in which she provides pathology support to scientists using animal models to study disease. She has served as co-investigator on numerous extramural grants and as author or co-author on over 80 peer-reviewed publications and six book chapters.
Conwell is 2017 Recipient of Minority Digestive Health Care Award
Darwin Conwell, MD, MS, professor and director of the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at Ohio State, received the 2017 Minority Digestive Health Care Award from the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG). The award recognizes an ACG member whose work in clinical investigation or clinical practice has improved the digestive health of minorities or other underserved populations in the United States. The Division has received national recognition/awards for innovative programs in colon cancer screening, community engagement and education. Conwell also is principal investigator of The Ohio State Pancreas Disorders Network and a member of the NIDDK/NCI U01 Chronic Pancreatitis, Diabetes and Pancreas Cancer Consortium.
Grecula Inducted as Fellow in American College of Radiology
John C. Grecula, MD, FACR, professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Ohio State and member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James, was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Radiology (ACR) in Washington, D.C. The ACR considers recognition as a fellow to be one of the highest honors it can bestow on a radiologist, radiation oncologist or medical physicist. Approximately 10 percent of ACR members achieve this distinction. Grecula also serves as co-chair for the Publications Committee of the ALLIANCE for Clinical Trials in Oncology and as a grant reviewer for the American Cancer Society and NASA. He is an elected board member of the International Society of Intraoperative Radiation Therapy.
Cancer Genetics Expert Receives Block Lectureship Award
The OSUCCC – James presented the 22nd Herbert and Maxine Block Memorial Lectureship Award for Distinguished Achievement in Cancer to Mary-Claire King, PhD, the American Cancer Society Professor of Medicine and Genome Sciences at the University of Washington. King, who also is an affiliate member of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, was the first to show that breast cancer is inherited in some families, as the result of mutations in the gene that she named BRCA1. The OSUCCC – James presents the $25,000 Block Lectureship Award to internationally prominent scientists who then visit Ohio State to accept the honor and lecture about their research. One of the largest prizes given by an academic institution in the field of cancer, the award is supported by proceeds from the annual Herbert J. Block Memorial Tournament, a golf outing sponsored by the Block family of Columbus. Read more
SICU Wins Beacon Award for Excellence
The Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) at the OSUCCC – James received national recognition for exceptional patient care and professional nursing practice with a three-year, silver level Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). The SICU is a 12-bed unit providing 24-hour comprehensive care to a variety of surgical cancer patients with complex medical needs. “Our James SICU staff work as a team to provide patients with a positive, comforting environment. This recognition demonstrates their focus on relationship-based care,” says Kris Kipp, MSN, RN, executive director of patient services and chief nursing officer for the OSUCCC – James.
Researchers Elected to National Roles in Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging
Michael V. Knopp, MD, PhD, professor and vice chair of research in the Department of Radiology at Ohio State, was elected to a two-year term as president-elect of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s (SNMMI) Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Center of Excellence. The PET Center of Excellence is dedicated to the development and utilization of PET and PET/CT in detecting and managing disease. Knopp also directs the Wright Center of Innovation in Biomedical Imaging at Ohio State. In addition, Chadwick Wright, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Radiology, was elected to a three-year term as a board member of the PET Center of Excellence. Knopp and Wright are in the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James.
Hintenlang Chosen as Fellow in AAPM
Kathleen M. Hintenlang, PhD, a medical physicist in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Ohio State, was elected as a Fellow in the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM). Election to Fellowship in AAPM signifies that the honored recipient has demonstrated excellence in leadership to the profession, service to the Association, research and scholarly works, and teaching and mentoring. Hintenlang received her Fellow award at the AAPM annual meeting in Denver, Colo. The AAPM is an organization of 8,500 medical physicists in 93 countries.
Arthur Receives Research Trainee Award
Elizabeth Arthur, MS, RN, AOCNP, received the inaugural Research Trainee Award at the 2017 Conference of The Scientific Network on Female Sexual Health and Cancer, which was held at the University of California Davis near Sacramento. The award supports the professional development of new investigators in this field. Arthur was recognized for research focusing on developing a measure of self-efficacy for women to communicate with a partner about sex and intimacy, to manage post-cancer treatment and to assess content validity of the scale. Her abstract was ranked highest by a panel of judges. In addition, Arthur was appointed to a two-year term as an associate editor on the Editorial Advisory Board for Oncology Nursing Forum, a bimonthly publication of the Oncology Nursing Society.
Hock Elected to LANA® Board of Directors
Karen Hock, PT, MS, CLT-LANA, a physical therapist and manager of the Ambulatory Oncology Rehabilitation Program at the Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center, was elected to the Lymphology Association of North America® (LANA®) Board of Directors. Her term on this multidisciplinary board — which includes physicians, nurses and therapists — will extend until the end of the LANA® 2019 annual fall board of directors meeting. LANA® is a non-profit corporation specializing in the certification of health care professionals who diagnose and/or treat lymphedema and related disorders.
Rosselet Appointed to OA Journal of Nursing Editorial Board
Robin Rosselet, DNP, RN, CNP, AOCN, director of advanced practice providers at the OSUCCC – James, was appointed to the editorial board for OA Journal of Nursing, an open-access, peer-reviewed, international online journal that publishes premier papers on all areas of advanced nursing research. According to its website, the journal publishes articles on geriatric nursing, pediatric nursing, oncology nursing, fertility nursing, disaster nursing, midwifery, diabetes nursing, nursing management and all other related areas.
The James Gains Full Accreditation After Joint Commission Survey
The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute earned a full three-year accreditation from the Joint Commission following a five-day survey of the hospital that resulted in numerous accolades and relatively few findings. Joint Commission surveyors consistently expressed how impressed they were with the teamwork, passion, leadership and commitment to excellence they observed. They also were complimentary about the hospital’s culture of Relationship-Based Care and placing the care of patients, families and staff as the top priority. Nancy Colburn, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, director of the Department of Accreditation and Compliance at The James, says High Points/Best Practice comments from surveyors included: “Radiation Oncology top notch in the nation”; “Pharmacy is state-of-the-art”; and “Amazing inclusion of the patient’s voice.”
OSUCCC – James Earns Press Ganey Award for Second Year
In recognition of exceptional patient care by dedicated clinical staff, the OSUCCC – James was named a 2017 Guardian of Excellence Award winner by Press Ganey for the second consecutive year. The Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award honors top-performing health care organizations that have consistently achieved the 95th percentile or above for inpatient care experience performance excellence as measured by the Centers for Medicare/Medicaid’s Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS). Presented annually, the award is a nationally recognized symbol of achievement in health care. Read more
Pfizer Inc. Designates OSUCCC as INSPIRE Site
Pfizer Inc., a pharmaceutical corporation based in New York City, has designated The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center as an INSPIRE site, part of the company’s Investigator Networks, Site Partnerships and Infrastructure for Research Excellence (INSPIRE) program. Meryl Pascua of Pfizer Clinical Sciences and Operations – Global Product Development stated in a letter that INSPIRE-designated sites are highly productive and effective entities that are given early access to Pfizer portfolio and advanced information regarding Pfizer-sponsored clinical trials. The designation was awarded after a site visit and evaluation that gauged experience in conducting clinical trials, site expertise aligned with Pfizer’s pipeline, site infrastructure and resources, and high-recruitment reliability.
OSUCCC – James Hosts 2017 Graft Versus Host Disease National Symposium
The OSUCCC – James hosted the 2017 Graft Versus Host Disease (GvHD) National Symposium on Oct. 13 at The Grand Event Center in Columbus, Ohio. The symposium — designed to raise awareness about the signs and symptoms of GvHD, review cutting-edge approaches to prevention and treatment, and promote research into its causes — featured a scientifically rigorous track for physicians and practitioners, along with a survivor track on challenges faced by blood and marrow transplant (BMT) recipients and families. The keynote address, “Biomarkers in Graft Versus Host Disease: Acute and Chronic,” was delivered by James Ferrara, MD, professor of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at The Mount Sinai Hospital.
National Symposium Focused on Innovations in Immobilization and Patient Setup
Radiation therapists, medical dosimetrists and medical physicists from across the nation, along with students in those fields and residents in radiation oncology and medical physics, attended a symposium on the state of radiotherapy immobilization and patient setup on May 19-20 at Ohio State. The symposium addressed several clinical treatment sites/modalities, including breast, head and neck, stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic body radiotherapy. It also included a session for participants to present solutions, ideas and workflows in patient immobilization and setup.
Robotic Surgery Conference Held at The James
The Ohio State University Center for Advanced Robotic Surgery presented “Taking It to the Next Level: Strategies for a Successful Robotic Surgery Program” on May 20 at the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. The conference included lectures and hands-on breakout sessions that provided surgeons, perioperative nurses and allied health professionals with strategies for managing a successful robotic surgery program across multiple specialties from a pre-, intra- and postoperative perspective. Emphasis was placed on improving communication, efficiency and patient safety.
James Patient Participation Tops 24,000 in Total Cancer Care® Protocol
More than 24,000 patients at the OSUCCC – James are voluntarily participating in the Total Cancer Care® (TCC) protocol for sharing clinical data that helps move cancer research forward and personalizes cancer care. The TCC protocol helps clinicians understand the differences between cancer patients and find ways to individualize prevention, detection and treatment. The TCC protocol has been adopted by all 17 member institutions across the nation that constitute the Oncology Research Information Exchange Network (ORIEN), a research collaboration that was co-founded and is co-anchored by the OSUCCC – James and Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla.
ORIEN members implement a common protocol (TCC) and share de-identified clinical data from consenting patients to support research and help match patients to clinical trials. Through ORIEN, thousands of TCC-consented patients across the United States have agreed to donate their clinical data for research to help scientists understand cancer at the molecular level, making ORIEN the world’s largest precision medicine collaboration to address cancer. Some 94 percent of patients at the OSUCCC – James who have been approached about joining the TCC protocol have consented to participate, and more than 200,000 patients are participating nationwide.
The James Wins Top Award in OHA Hospital Occupational Safety Campaign
The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute was named a group winner in the Statewide Ohio Hospital Association (OHA) 2017 Hospital Occupational Safety Campaign.
In a letter to James leaders, OHA President and CEO Mike Abrams reported that the hospital earned the top award in its cohort for having the lowest total recordable incident rate and the most effective occupational safety program.
Abrams stated that hospitals participating in the campaign are group-based on the total number of hours worked by all employees. The OHA uses work-related illness and injury information to calculate comparable employee injury data for the hospitals in each group.
“OHA has led the campaign for more than 60 years to promote workplace safety and recognize successful occupational health programs,” Abrams wrote. “Your hospital’s superior safety record is an excellent example for all hospitals across the state.”