U.S. Sen. Bill Frist, left, Dr. Hal Moses and Cancer Center Board of Overseers member Tony Scoville enjoy the press conference announcing the NCI ranking. (photo by Dana Johnson)
Smiles, cheer apparent
at cancer announcement
Dr. Barbara Murphy gets a hug from Dr. Hal Moses after the NCI press conference last week. Murphy is the director of the Pain and Symptom Management program at VICC. Dr. Harry Jacobson, vice chancellor for Health Affairs, looks on. (photo by Dana Johnson)
Designation by the National Cancer Institute as a Comprehensive Cancer Center represents the achievement of a long-standing goal for the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, but is the beginning of a journey, not an end, Dr. Harold Moses said.
The designation, announced last week, is the highest ranking awarded to cancer centers by the NCI, one of the National Institutes of Health and the nation’s foremost authority on cancer.
“Designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center carries with it great obligation,” said Moses, Vanderbilt-Ingram’s director. “We have a mission to work even harder to find ways to defeat cancer and to serve our community, not only through exceptional patient care, but as a resource of accurate information about cancer risk, cancer development, cancer therapy, early detection and prevention.”
About 200 faculty, staff, board members, community leaders and news media were on hand as Sen. Bill Frist formally announced the designation last week. Joining Frist were Mayor Bill Purcell; Dr. Harry Jacobson, vice chancellor for Health Affairs; Orrin Ingram, chairman of Vanderbilt-Ingram’s Board of Overseers; and Moses.
“The Comprehensive Cancer Centers are the leaders of the battle against cancer, and the places where the cures for cancer are most likely to be found,” Frist said. “I’m proud that Vanderbilt has worked so hard to earn this distinction, and I’m pleased that the NCI has awarded this prestigious designation in recognition of Vanderbilt’s commitment to fight cancer.”
Purcell noted that the designation is a source of pride not only for Vanderbilt but for the city as well. Vanderbilt-Ingram is the only Comprehensive Cancer Center in Tennessee. “At the time of a cancer diagnosis, when we need our friends and family the most, we can rest a little easier knowing that we have access to the most advanced cancer care without traveling far from home,” he said.
Jacobson congratulated the Vanderbilt-Ingram team and in particular Moses for the accomplishment. “I know for you, Hal, this must feel like a dream realized – and a promise kept,” he said, drawing laughter from many in the crowd who knew that attaining this designation was a primary goal when Moses was charged with leading the cancer center when it was formed in 1993.
Ingram said that the designation was a “testament” to the quality work being done by scientists, physicians, nurses and others. “This work is helping me to imagine a world without cancer,” Ingram said.