Farrar Becomes CEO of The James
William B. Farrar, MD, a renowned surgical oncologist who had served as interim CEO of The James since November 2017, became permanent CEO in August 2019. Farrar has a long and successful history with Ohio State, serving on The James medical staff since the hospital opened in July 1990. The late Arthur G. James, MD, for whom the hospital is named, mentored and later worked alongside Farrar. Over the years Farrar has held a number of leadership positions, including director of the Division of Surgical Oncology at Ohio State for 28 years and director of medical affairs at The James for 22 years. He also holds the Dr. Arthur G. and Mildred C. James – Richard J. Solove Chair in Surgical Oncology and directs the Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center.
Verschraegen Named Woman Oncologist of the Year
Claire Verschraegen, MD, professor and director of the Division of Medical Oncology at Ohio State and associate director for translational research at the OSUCCC – James, was named 2019 Woman Oncologist of the Year at the first-ever Leadership Empowerment and Development (LEAD) 2020 Conference: Enriching Experiences for Women in Hematology and Oncology held in Santa Monica, California. More than 100 women from across the nation attended the conference, which focused on addressing challenges women face in the hematology/oncology field, and on identifying strategies for women to advance into leadership roles. A conference report about Verschraegen’s award states that she “is committed to advancing women in medicine and promotes programs to enhance gender equity and parity in promotion and leadership.”
Presley Receives New Investigator Award From American Geriatrics Society
Carolyn Presley, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Medical Oncology at Ohio State and member of the Cancer Control Program at the OSUCCC – James, received the 2019 Health in Aging Foundation New Investigator Award from the American Geriatrics Society. The award recognizes individuals committed to a career in aging research. A thoracic and geriatric oncologist, Presley specializes in treating older adults with advanced lung cancer. Her research focuses on optimizing functional status and minimizing treatment burdens for these patients.
Lee Garners Prestigious Mid-Career Award
The Society of University Surgeons (SUS) bestowed its Mid-Career Award on Clara Lee, MD, MPP, associate professor in the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Ohio State and a member of the Cancer Control Program at the OSUCCC – James. Given to one person annually, this prestigious award supports Lee’s research on the implementation of breast reconstruction decision support in diverse practice settings.
Conteh Named National ‘40 Under 40 Leader in Minority Health’
The National Minority Quality Forum recognized Lanla Conteh, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at Ohio State, as a 2019 40 Under 40 Leader in Minority Health. Representing the next generation of thought leaders in reducing health disparities, only 40 outstanding individuals are selected nationally each year for this honor. Conditions that Conteh treats as a physician include hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Lonser Elected as Director on American Board of Neurological Surgery
The American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS) elected Russell Lonser, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery at Ohio State, as an ABNS director. The ABNS consists of 15 directors and officers elected from among practicing neurosurgeons certified by the board. Directors are elected to a single six-year term after receiving nominations from five other national neurosurgical societies. As a neurosurgeon, Lonser provides treatment for several cancers, including brain, oropharyngeal, head and neck, pituitary and spinal malignancies.
Knopp & Wright Re-Elected to ACNM Board of Directors
The American College of Nuclear Medicine (ACNM) re-elected Michael Knopp, MD, PhD, and Chadwick Wright, MD, PhD, to its board of directors. The ACNM enhances the practice of nuclear medicine through the study, education and improvement of clinical practice. Knopp is a professor, Distinguished University Scholar and Novartis Chair of Imaging Research in the Department of Radiology at Ohio State. Wright is an assistant professor in the Department of Radiology. Knopp also is in the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James.
Roychowdhury Profiled in ‘Best of the AACR Journals’
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) profiled Sameek Roychowdhury, MD, PhD, associate professor in the Division of Medical Oncology at Ohio State and member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James, in The Best of the AACR Journals collection for co-authoring one of the most-cited articles published in 2017 across the AACR journals. Roychowdhury was corresponding author for “Akt Activation Mediates Acquired Resistance to Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitor BGJ393” in the journal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics.
Hintenlang Selected for 2019 Class of ASTRO Fellows
Kathleen Hintenlang, PhD, a medical physicist in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Ohio State, was among 26 distinguished members of the American Society of Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) selected to receive the ASTRO Fellow (FASTRO) designation. The 2019 class of Fellows was recognized during ASTRO’s Annual Meeting. The Fellows program recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of radiation oncology and to ASTRO through research, education, patient care and service. ASTRO is the world’s largest radiation oncology society.
Byrd & Ringel Elected to Association of American Physicians
John C. Byrd, MD, senior adviser for cancer experimental therapeutics and co-leader of the Leukemia Research Program at the OSUCCC – James, and Matthew Ringel, MD, co-leader of the Cancer Biology Program at the OSUCCC – James, were elected as members of the Association of American Physicians (AAP). Byrd is a Distinguished University Professor in the Division of Hematology and holds the D. Warren Brown Designated Chair in Leukemia Research. Ringel is professor and director of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. He also holds the Ralph W. Kurtz Chair in Hormonology. The AAP is an honorific, elected society of America’s leading physician-scientists.
White Presents on a Top-Rated Clinical Trial at ASTRO Annual Meeting
Julia White, MD, a professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Ohio State and member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James, was co-principal investigator for a national clinical trial that the American Society for Radiation Oncology highlighted as a top-rated study at its 2019 annual meeting. At the plenary session, White presented an abstract titled “Cosmetic Outcome From Post-Lumpectomy Whole-Breast Irradiation Versus Partial-Breast Irradiation on the NRG Oncology/NSABP B39-RTOG 0413 Phase III Clinical Trial.”
Carrau Elected as Board President for North American Skull Base Society
Ricardo Carrau, MD, professor in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at Ohio State, was elected to serve as the 2019-20 president of the board of directors of the North American Skull Base Society (NASBS), a professional medical society that facilitates global communication among individuals pursuing clinical and research excellence in skull-base surgery. Carrau is an otolaryngologist – head and neck surgeon at The James who has many clinical and research interests.
Walsh Accepted Into ASCO Education Scholars Program
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) accepted Katherine Walsh, MD, associate professor in the Division of Hematology at Ohio State, into the 2019-20 class of the Education Scholars Program. ASCO selects only 12 individuals per annual application cycle to advance medical education within their institution and the medical community as a whole.
Eisfeld Honored as AACR ‘NextGen Star for 2019’
Ann-Kathrin Eisfeld, MD, a hematology/oncology fellow in the Physician Scientist Training Program at Ohio State, was honored as one of 15 NextGen Stars for 2019 at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in Atlanta. The NextGen Stars program represents one of the highest honors for young investigators at the AACR — increasing the visibility of early-career scientists and supporting their professional development and advancement. Eisfeld has published several first-author and co-author manuscripts investigating the molecular landscape of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) under the mentorship of Clara D. Bloomfield, MD.
Mayerson Inducted as President of Musculoskeletal Tumor Society
Joel Mayerson, MD, a professor in the Department of Orthopaedics at Ohio State and medical director of Perioperative Services and the Sarcoma Service Line at The James, was inducted to a one-year term as president of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) at the 2019 MSTS annual meeting in Portland, Oregon. He had previously served as president-elect for a year. The MSTS is the premier source of research, education and advocacy for patients with musculoskeletal cancers.
Abruzzo Appointed to NCI Scientific Board
The NCI appointed Lynne Abruzzo, MD, PhD, professor in the Department of Pathology at Ohio State and member of the Leukemia Research Program at the OSUCCC – James, to its Board of Scientific Counselors – Clinical Sciences and Epidemiology. Members of this board review and evaluate the NCI’s intramural research programs in clinical sciences and epidemiology, including the performance and productivity of tenured and tenure-track principal investigators, senior scientists and senior clinicians in the NCI’s Center for Cancer Research and Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics.
Gray Lands 2019 SCOBY MVP Award From American College of Gastroenterology
Darrell Gray II, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at Ohio State, received the 2019 SCOBY MVP award from the American College of Gastroenterology for his Provider and Community Engagement (PACE) Program for Health Equity in Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Prevention. PACE provides CRC education, prevention and screening for underserved populations in Columbus, Ohio. Gray is in the Cancer Control Program at the OSUCCC – James.
Blackburn Selected for ONS Excellence in Advanced Clinical Practice Award
Lisa Blackburn, MS, APRN-CNS, AOCNS, of the OSUCCC – James, was selected in 2019 to receive the 2020 Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Excellence in Advanced Clinical Practice Award. To be eligible, nurses must be active ONS members who are recognized as an expert in the field of oncology nursing at the local, regional and/or national level and who serve as a role model for other nurses and/or APNs. Blackburn will receive the award at the ONS 45th Annual Congress on April 30 in San Antonio, Texas.
Agnese, Grignol Honored as ‘Exceptional Women of Medicine’
Doreen Agnese, MD, professor in the Division of Surgical Oncology, and Valerie Grignol, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Surgical Oncology, were selected as two of Castle Connolly’s Exceptional Women in Medicine for 2019. This acknowledgment is based on their outstanding accomplishments and dedication to the field of medicine. Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a healthcare research and information company.