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Welcome From the Director
In 2002, the Cancer Institute at the University of Tennessee Medical Center adopted statements of our mission, vision and goals that centered around patient care, education and research. Our first priority is and will always be patient care. Our unique approach to cancer care involving multiple cancer specialists reviewing patient cases as a team, seeing patients side-by-side in the clinics and providing the latest treatment modalities has proven to be an effective way to battle this disease as evidenced by our outcomes and growth data. In 2006, almost 1,600 new cancer patients entrusted their care to the men and women of our Cancer Institute who commit daily to make a difference in the lives of patients and families that are fighting this disease.
As an academic medical center and a regional referral center, the Cancer Institute seriously addresses our role in educating physicians and the community on cancer prevention strategies and early detection methodology. Our focus is to decrease cancer incidence and see more cancers diagnosed at early stages by increasing awareness and compliance with early detection and screening guidelines. Hopefully, these efforts will translate into fewer patients facing a diagnosis of advanced cancer. Outreach initiatives have expanded to include 25 counties and more than 200 community programs provided by Cancer Institute physicians and staff annually. Professional education efforts included a number of CME accredited conferences provided at the medical center, including a presentation by John Adler, MD, the founder of the CyberKnife Radiosurgery System.
Finally, the Cancer Institute remains committed to the basic science, clinical and translational research efforts that will increase our knowledge and advance cancer treatments that more effectively fight this disease. The net result will be more patients living with cancer. Our dedicated oncology clinical trials department offers patients both federally funded and pharmaceutical-sponsored studies that provide the latest and innovative treatment options. The Molecular Imaging and Tracer Program led by David Townsend Ph.D., who conceived and developed some of the initial research and clinical PET/CT technology, continues to collaborate with practicing clinicians. This research and clinical collaboration leads to further development of PET and CT scanning technology ,which diagnoses, stages and evaluates treatment responses earlier than conventional methods.
We hope that you will take time to review our past accomplishments and then join us in our commitment to make a difference in the future for all East Tennesseans.
Sincerely,
John L. Bell, M.D.
Director, Cancer Institute |
