INTRODUCING THE NEW UNIVERSITY OF HAWAIʻI CANCER CENTER DIRECTOR
NAOTO T . UENO , MD , PhD
UH CANCER CENTER DIRECTOR
The UH Cancer Center already works closely with the community and our healthcare systems to reduce cancer patients ’ suffering through our novel strategies and advanced research . I would like to see us build on these efforts .”
– NAOTO T . UENO
In mid-December , after an extensive and anticipated search , the University of Hawai ‘ i Cancer Center selected and welcomed Naoto T . Ueno , MD , PhD , an internationally renowned leader , physician , and researcher , as director .
His vision is to make the UH Cancer Center a national and international leader in treatment and care development that will provide access to the latest cancer treatment to the people of Hawai ‘ i and beyond . “ We will impact not only patients in our region — Hawai ‘ i and the Pacific — but also internationally ,” said Dr . Ueno . “ UH Cancer Center will be known for our high quality standard of care that , along with our research , will create a stronger connection between the United States and Asia .”
Dr . Ueno most recently served as the executive director of the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center . His research focus is inflammatory breast cancer — the most lethal and aggressive form of breast cancer — and is widely regarded for his preclinical development and research efforts that translate into clinical trials .
Dr . Ueno is one of the very few cancer physician scientists with a unique , comprehensive view of healthcare as a clinician , a researcher , and a two-time cancer survivor . This experience is why he is passionate about patient-centered research-driven clinical care . “ Being a cancer survivor provided me with a unique understanding because it is an important perspective you can only have if you have actually experienced life with cancer and survived ,” he said .
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