Cancer Program Gains Top 20 U.S. News Ranking
For the 13th consecutive year, the OSUCCC – James has earned a place on U.S.News & World Report’s top 50 list of “America’s Best Hospitals” for cancer care. The 2011 U.S. News list ranks the OSUCCC – James 20th in the nation, a jump from last year’s ranking of 26th. The OSUCCC – James first made the list in 1999, less than a decade after the hospital opened in July 1990, and it has remained there ever since. The current rankings, which first appeared on www.usnews.com/rankings on July 19, 2011, are based on criteria such as patient volume, safety and mortality, nursing excellence, staffing levels, reputation and technology. To compile its list, the magazine collects data annually from more than 5,000 hospitals. The rankings are considered by many consumers and health care industry analysts to be a leading indicator of quality care and performance.
Gastrointestinal Oncologist Named Physician-in-Chief
Richard Goldberg, MD, an acclaimed gastrointestinal oncologist, has been named physician-in-chief at The James. Goldberg is noted for evaluating new agents for treating colorectal cancer and for studying inherited colorectal cancer syndromes. Before coming to Ohio State, he was physician-in-chief at North Carolina Cancer Hospital at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. In his new role at Ohio State, Goldberg will help lead preparation for and transition into the new OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC) slated to open in 2014. He also will help expand infrastructure to unite researchers and clinicians in science-based patient care.
Cancer Prevention Expert Named OSUCCC Deputy Director
The OSUCCC – James named Peter Shields, MD, a physician-scientist and expert in cancer prevention, as deputy director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center. A leading researcher in biomarkers of cancer risk, molecular epidemiology and carcinogenesis, Shields came to Ohio State from Georgetown University, where he was deputy director of the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. His primary research focus is on identifying clinical biomarkers for use in assessing breast and lung cancer risks, particularly those related to diet, smoking and lifestyle. He has published more than 180 studies on topics from toxicology and epidemiology to behavior and health disparities.