Osborn Distinguished Professor in Hematological Malignancies Research .
He comes to WVU from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center , where he served as professor of medicine and pharmacology , the associate director for clinical research , and the director of the Translational Genomics Laboratory .
The new department will be comprised of physicians and advanced practice providers in Morgantown and those at 15 existing WVU Cancer Institute sites across the state and region .
Simultaneously , the process of reorganizing the existing Cancer Prevention and Control program into a new department of the same name is underway . The new department will allow for expanded services to patients and communities , increased educational experiences for learners and trainees , and expanded research opportunities . Stephenie Kennedy-Rea , EdD , who has served as director of Cancer Prevention and Control since 2012 , will be the inaugural chair of the department .
Hannah Hazard-Jenkins , MD , executive chair and director of the WVU Cancer Institute , said the new departments are integral and vital to the success of the state and university ’ s land-grant mission to provide the highest quality care and access to help improve cancer outcomes in WV and beyond .
“ These departments showcase the commitment of WVU Medicine and the university to prevent , research , and treat cancer for our patient population ,” Hazard-Jenkins said . “ By establishing focus areas in these departments , we are able to better concentrate on our patients ’ needs , research cutting-edge treatments and preventive interventions , and attract and retain top talent to the university , state , and region .”
The NCI leads cancer research across the country and recognizes cancer centers with an official NCI designation , the highest federal rating a cancer center can achieve . This designation is awarded to cancer centers that are leading in innovative research and treatments and is the gold standard for cancer programs .
Currently , there are 72 NCI-designated cancer centers in 36 states , and centers with this designation represent the top 2 % of cancer centers in the country . The WVU Cancer Institute would be the first NCI-designated cancer center in WV .
Image : The WVU Cancer Institute , located on West Virginia University ' s Health Sciences Campus , announces new departments and names inaugural chairs . Photo by West Virginia University .
West Virginia Medical Journal • March 2024 • 31