Le t t e r f ro m t h e C EO In mid-June, we announced a change in leadership at the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center. Richard I. Fisher, M.D., who has helped our cancer center achieve many milestone accomplishments over the past 11 years, stepped down as director of the center to accept the new position of Medical Center Vice President of Strategic and Program Development. Dr. Fisher presided over more than a decade of remarkable growth and achievement within the Wilmot Cancer Center and we are immensely grateful for his contributions. From spearheading the initial construction and recently completed expansion of our state-of-the-art cancer center, to being a driving force behind exemplary gains in grant funding, to leading the way to significant gains in quality and national reputation, he has built a solid foundation upon which we will continue to build. We are extremely pleased to have Jonathan Friedberg, M.D., M.M.Sc., chair of Hematology/Oncology and whom Dr. Fisher personally recruited in 2002, serving as acting director of the Cancer Center, pending an announcement of permanent leadership. Dr. Friedberg is a nationally recognized expert in lymphoma and a key member of the group that secured the highly prestigious Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant from the National Cancer Institute nearly four years ago. He is a graduate of Harvard Medical School and completed his residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, and a subsequent fellowship at Dana-Farber/Partners Cancer Center. He has served as chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology since January of 2009.
On the Cover The newly expanded Wilmot Cancer Center. photo by Christian Scully
Wilmot Cancer Center National Advisory Board Members 2011-2012 Stephen McCluski, Chair Richard T. Bell Constance Brown Michael Buckley Alvaro Cadena Rina Chessin Elaine Del Monte Richard DiMarzo Michael Donnelly Janet Felosky
Marc Fischer James Hammer Paul Hanrahan Gary Haseley Thomas Ioele Barbara Juskiw Robert Kessler Mark Kokanovich Kathleen Landers Michael Linehan Carol Mullin Gerry Pierce Jeffrey Pierce Larry Rabinowitz
Donald Rhoda Greg Smith Steven H. Whitman Dennis Wilmot Paul Wilmot Bruce Zicari, II
Faculty Board Members
Yuhchyau Chen, M.D., Ph.D. Alok Khorana, M.D. Hucky Land, Ph.D. Rabih Salloum, M.D.
As our health system responds to the rapidly evolving environment of healthcare reform, we, like all other providers, will be challenged to work differently than we have in the past. Academic medical centers like ours must build bridges with community providers in order to take responsibility for large populations of patients. As we enter into a new phase of strategic planning for the Wilmot Cancer Center, Dr. Friedberg’s strength as a collaborator and his inclusive approach within the local medical community melds particularly well with the demands of the new healthcare environment. We have talented faculty and staff, engaged board members and donors, and a newly expanded facility that more accurately reflects the world class care provided within. Dr. Friedberg has earned the respect of his physician colleagues, including private and faculty physicians alike, and has a demonstrated ability to recruit scientist/clinicians who are excited about the future of the Wilmot Cancer Center. As we begin work on a new strategic plan and comprehensive campaign, the Wilmot Cancer Center is poised for continued success. With your continued support and engagement, we are confident that Dr. Friedberg can continue to build on our commitment to excellence. Sincerely,
Bradford C. Berk, M.D., Ph.D. CEO, University of Rochester Medical Center
Emeritus Members
Dialogue
Ex-Officio Board Members
Editor Michael J. Tedesco Assistant Director of Public Relations (585) 276-5788
Judy Wilmot Linehan Jim Ryan, Jr.
Bradford C. Berk, M.D., Ph.D. Art Director/Designer Jonathan Friedberg, M.D. Kathleen Mannix Mark Taubman, M.D. Frank Interlichia Monica Lewis