2020 was a difficult year in which a viral pandemic presented life-changing challenges for everyone, but faculty and staff at the OSUCCC – James heroically adapted to continue providing outstanding science-based cancer care and accomplishing exceptional cancer research.
OSUCCC – James physicians, nurses, allied medical personnel, researchers and support staff displayed remarkable resilience and an ability to work within extraordinary safety measures that were implemented throughout Ohio State’s health care system to protect patients and caregivers alike from the COVID-19 threat that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives in the United States alone.
Through such precautionary measures as universal masking of staff and patients, frequent sanitizing, continual temperature and symptom monitoring, restricting visitors, increasing the use of telemedicine or “virtual” appointments when possible, and testing all patients for COVID-19 before surgical, diagnostic and screening procedures, the OSUCCC – James diligently balanced quality cancer care and COVID-19 risk reduction.
Amid an escalating anti-racism movement and increasing calls for racial and social justice in the United States during 2020, the OSUCCC – James joined efforts by the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center to address racism within the organizations — efforts that are embodied in an Anti-Racism Action Plan (ARAP) that was launched in summer 2020.
Despite the challenges, there were several high points, including the re-designation of the OSUCCC – James as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The NCI review is a competitive peer-review process that includes both written and on-site — this year performed virtually — evaluation of the research program and infrastructure by a team of NCI surveyors. For the third consecutive time, the NCI rated Ohio State’s cancer program as “exceptional” — the highest rating provided.
In 2020, we also said goodbye to two renowned and beloved scientists, Clara D. Bloomfield, MD, and Albert de la Chapelle, MD, PhD, whose leadership, mentorship and revolutionary research made an impact at Ohio State and around the world.
Read the report for more about other notable research achievements, grant awards, clinical initiatives, recruitment successes, and prestigious awards and honors gained by our faculty and staff in 2020, as well as special in memoriam sections in honor of Drs. Bloomfield and de la Chapelle.
View the complete report in PDF format