Names in the news
Names in the news
Fadlo R. Khuri receives another honor – and important role Following a year-long international search, Winship Cancer Institute’s Deputy Director has been named Editor-in-Chief of Cancer, a peerreviewed journal of the American Cancer Society(ACS). Fadlo R. Khuri, MD, professor and chair of hematology and medical oncology at Emory University and Roberto C. Goizueta Distinguished Chair in Cancer Research, began his term on Sept. 1, succeeding Dr. Raphael E. Pollock. Khuri will retain his multiple responsibilities at Winship. “Fadlo’s selection as editor-in-chief is a tremendous honor that puts him at the helm of one of the most prestigious cancer journals in the world,” says Winship Executive Director Walter J. Curran, Jr. “His energy, expertise, and integrity will influence the national and international cancer research conversation. He is a world-class researcher and clinician, and we – not just Winship but Georgia – are very fortunate to have someone of his stature in the fight against cancer.” “The Search Committee reviewed many exceptional candidates and is very pleased to have been able to select Dr. Khuri,” says Otis W. Brawley, MD, chief medical officer of the ACS. “As an accomplished molecular oncologist who has conducted seminal research on oncolytic viral therapy and has led major chemoprevention efforts against lung and head and neck cancer, Dr. Khuri brings an expertise that will benefit our journal and the entire oncology community.” Khuri, who has served as the editor for the journal’s lung cancer section since 2005, is equally thrilled. “It is a great privilege for me to serve as editor-in-chief of Cancer, succeeding my long-time friend and colleague, Dr. Raphael Pollock, who has done an outstanding job,” says Khuri. “I received my first peer-reviewed grant from the American Cancer Society and published my first senior authored paper in Cancer. Given my long-standing relationship with both this exceptional journal and the ACS, this is a particularly meaningful honor for me and for Emory University. Cancer is one of the oncology community’s oldest and most prestigious journals. We will work hard to enhance its already stellar and hard-earned reputation by publishing only the very best work in the field.” 2 | Winship Magazine | cancer.emory.edu
Khuri serves as a grant reviewer for the ACS, National Cancer Institute (NCI), the American Association for Cancer Research, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. He serves the NCI as a permanent member of its Thoracic Malignancies Steering Committee and its Clinical Oncology Study Section and serves on the Council for Extramural Funding of the America Cancer Society. He has published more than 200 peer-reviewed articles and has received numerous awards, including the Nagi Sahyoun Award from the Middle East Medical Assembly and the Waun Ki Hong Award from MD Anderson Cancer Center for his work on targeting signaling pathways in lung and aerodigestive cancers.
Would that he stay forever... World-renowned breast cancer surgeon William C. Wood MD bade farewell
The Fadlo File Fadlo Khuri is such a presence at Winship Cancer Institute that he has been called its “essential man.” While many know that he is a graduate of Yale University (1985) and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (1989) and came to Winship via Boston City Hospital, New England Medical Center and MD Anderson, many of us may not know that he likes Italian food and Led Zeppelin. Read on for some other things you might not know about Dr. Khuri: Birth date: Sept.13, 1963. Birthplace: Boston Family: Wife Lamya and two daughters and a son. What is your favorite type of music? Bob Dylan or Led Zeppelin What was the last concert you attended? Robert Plant on Feb. 5, 2011, with daughter Layla, for her 17th Birthday As a child, what did you want be when you grew up? Astronaut, English league soccer player or the Godfather! If you could trade places with anyone at Winship for a day, who would it be? No one, really. My colleagues are all great, but I am very fortunate to have a fantastic wife, family, and job. Well, maybe Haian Fu — to understand what it is like for a day or so to be a true genius!
Breast Surgical Oncology Fellows Sharla Gayle Patterson, (far left) Paige Teller (second left), and Jared Linebarger, second from right, share a moment with Wood, Sheryl Gabram, Director, SSO Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship and Monica Rizzo, Associate Director, SSO Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship at Emory.
Among smiles, hugs and and words of good wishes, many tears fell on Friday, Aug. 19, as patients of world-renowned breast cancer surgeon William C. Wood, MD, bade farewell to the man whom many credit with saving their lives. “He is so, so wonderful,” says Annie Miller, of Atlanta. She was one of hundreds of former patients who came to say goodbye to Wood, who retired officially Sept. 1, at a breakfast reception at the Whitehead Room at Emory University Hospital. Patient after patient had stories to tell about the man they describe as humble, compassionate and reassuring. “That first day, I was so nervous, and he was so encouraging,” says Gloria Sykes, also of Atlanta. While patients appreciate Wood’s gentle, encouraging manner, scientists and physicians praise his contributions to cancer therapy and his influence on the design and analysis of national clinical trials. Wood, a 1966 graduate of Harvard Medical School, was chair of surgery in
the Emory University School of Medicine for 19 years. He stepped down from that post in 2010 and focused his attention on innovations in cancer therapy and clinical care. During his time at Emory and Winship Cancer Institute, where he served for a time as interim director, Wood was awarded the American Society of Clinical Oncology Statesman Award in 2007. In 2000, at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, he was presented the “Celebrating Survival Award,” which went to the principal investigators “of the 10 most influential clinical trials in breast cancer in the last century.” “His medical expertise can be looked at from two levels: his patients and his colleagues,” says Grant Carlson, MD, a Winship breast cancer surgeon. “He is an outstanding clinician who is a paragon of empathy, always listening to his patients. Every one of them adored him. On the second level, he taught his colleagues how to think critically and not to accept dogma blindly. He was instrumental in coordinating many of the clinical trials in
breast cancer because of his leadership and clarity of thought. “ Wood, who was honored by Winship on Aug. 20 with a day-long breast cancer symposium, is hardly going quietly into retirement. He is a professor of surgery at Emory’s medical school and professor also in the Hubert Department of Global Health in the Rollins School of Public Health. Of special meaning to Wood will be his work to train doctors in Africa to treat cancer. Wood will leave in late September to visit several sites where residents are trained and to see how he can best contribute to their medical training and education. “I am leaving with a sense of great gratitude, and I’m happy to wear an Emory hat (in his work in Africa),” says Wood. “I look forward to it with real joy.”
Annie Miller of Atlanta says she set her alarm clock early on Aug. 19 to make sure she would not be late for a reception at Emory University Hospital to honor Dr. Wood.
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