Orrin Ingram, left, and Hal Moses, M.D., were all smiles at the ‘Steppin’ Down Hoedown’ held to honor Moses’ work as director of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.
photo by Dana Johnson
Chair, fellowship to honor Moses’ Cancer Center work
Harry Jacobson, M.D., right, congratulates Hal Moses, M.D., at the ‘Steppin’ Down Hoedown’ honoring Moses.
photo by Dana Johnson
Ray DuBois, M.D., left, makes a presentation to Moses.
photo by Dana Johnson
More than 400 fans of Hal Moses, M.D., gathered Tuesday night for a “Steppin' Down Hoedown” to honor the many accomplishments of the founding director of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center who became director emeritus on Jan. 1.
The event under a tent in a field on Orrin Ingram's Riverview Farm included warm remarks and recollections from friends, family and colleagues about a scientist, physician, teacher and center director whose work has made, and continues to make, an impact on Vanderbilt and the cancer research community.
It also included the announcement of a new endowed chair and a fellowship fund, both of which will bear his name, to help Vanderbilt carry on Moses' legacy of mentoring young basic scientists and attracting the best and brightest minds in cancer research.
Harry R. Jacobson, M.D., vice chancellor for Health Affairs, praised the spirit of collaboration and collegiality that Moses has fostered in the cancer center, and for which Moses is known by his peers across the country.
“Hal Moses is the face of 'team science' in cancer research,” Jacobson said.
Jacobson noted the many accomplishments under Moses' watch as center director, including significant growth in research funding and gaining comprehensive designation from the National Cancer Institute with one of the best competitive renewal scores ever received. However, he said that Moses' legacy as center director is less about what's been achieved and more about what's left ahead.
“Hal has given us a novel map to follow and his influence will remain,” Jacobson said.
Orrin Ingram, chair of Vanderbilt-Ingram's Board of Overseers, praised Moses' leadership and took the opportunity to raise the bar higher for his successor, Vanderbilt-Ingram's director, Raymond DuBois, M.D., Ph.D. “I'm announcing tonight that we will officially conclude the Imagine a World Without Cancer Campaign in June, and a new campaign will begin in July,” Ingram said. The “Imagine” campaign has brought more than $180 million in philanthropy since it was launched in 1999.
The “Hoedown” theme recognized Moses' down-to-earth character and his love of country music. In fact, several of the artists and songwriters who have come to know Moses as a friend during the 11 years of partnership with the T.J. Martell Foundation and Country in the Rockies were on hand to perform. They included Gary Chapman, Suzy Bogguss and Doug Crider, Lari White and Chuck Cannon, Paul Overstreet, Aaron Barker and Deborah Allen, who also surprised Moses with a special rendition of Happy Birthday.
The guest list also included Chancellor Gordon Gee, who recalled meeting Moses when he served on the search committee that brought Gee to Vanderbilt five years ago; BMI's Frances Preston, who told the group she was thrilled that Moses will now have more time to devote to research in the laboratories that bear her name; Larry Shinn, president of Moses' alma mater, Berea College, and his wife, Nancy; Barbara Duffy Stewart, executive director of the Association of American Cancer Institutes, which Moses leads as president; and Bo Aldige, executive director of Friends of Cancer Research.
The event also honored Moses' wife, Linda, for her role in supporting Moses as he built the cancer center and included the announcement of an internship at Warner Parks in her name to recognize her love of the outdoors.
In thanking the group for the evening, Moses noted that in the past few weeks, he has been able to really devote time to his research without the competing responsibilities of center administration. “I've been able to devote my days to science, and it feels good.”