by Craig Boerner
A generous donation is leading to the Hassell Franklin Lectureship for the Division of Urologic Oncology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Sam Chang, MD, MBA, Patricia and Rodes Hart Professor of Urology and Oncology, is leading the Visiting Professorship being made possible by donor funds from patient Hassell Franklin.
The inaugural conference will initiate a program that will have two visiting speakers — a general prominent thought leader and a Vanderbilt alumnus early in his/her career who is making significant contributions in urologic oncology.
“Hassell Franklin is an appreciative patient who came here from Mississippi for his care when there were drug shortages and he couldn’t get his care locally. He has been impressed with the whole system here at Vanderbilt but usually shuns the spotlight,” said Chang, also chief surgical officer for Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.
“I don’t know of any other program that does something like this where you are bringing back former trainees as an invitee with an established leader in our field to educate and mentor our residents and fellows.”
The first named professor for the inaugural conference in August is James McKiernan, MD, who chairs the Department of Urology of the College of Physicians and Surgeons and is urologist-in-chief at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia.
The first trainee alumnus returning to speak is Chad Ritch, MD, MBA, associate professor of Urology and associate director of UHealth International at University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine.
“Chad was a resident under Dr. McKiernan, did his fellowship with us, and has quickly become a leader at the University of Miami,” Chang said. “To have this duo share their experiences and be role models for our program is truly a unique and special learning opportunity.”