EDUCATION: A Quest for Knowledge

 

Several cancer specialists from M. D. Anderson and other medical institutions gather at a liver tumor meeting conducted by Dr. Yehuda Z. Patt, associate professor of gastrointestinal medical oncology and digestive diseases.

 

 

Education activities at M. D. Anderson span the spectrum from the most advanced training in cancer medicine specialties to a summer science program for college-bound students. The strength of the academic programs lies in how teaching is a fully integrated part of the institution's mission.

 

Extensive programs are offered to prepare physicians, scientists, nurses and diverse allied health professionals for careers in oncology and related fields. Since the first formal postgraduate program in 1947, M. D. Anderson has trained more than 35,000 individuals in various aspects of cancer care, research, education and prevention.

 

One highlight of the past fiscal year was a closer partnership with The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS), which affords an academic bridge between M. D. Anderson and University of Texas-Houston components. For the first time, M. D. Anderson now is jointly granting those degrees as reflected by President Dr. John Mendelsohn's signature being added to the degree certificates.

 

M. D. Anderson faculty have long supervised GSBS students. During the most recent academic year, 220 GSBS predoctoral students and 272 postdoctoral fellows received their training at M. D. Anderson, and 31 of 49 doctoral students who graduated conducted their thesis projects in research laboratories at the cancer center.

 

An additional 622 clinical fellows, medical residents and interns received all or part of their training at M. D. Anderson.

 

"The primary reason for M. D. Anderson's success in our integrated mission areas is our incredible world-class faculty. They are sharply focused on delivering the best cancer treatments, conducting productive research, training future oncology professionals and, ultimately, helping make cancer prevention a reality," says Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach, executive vice president and chief academic officer, and holder of the Roy M. and Phyllis Gough Huffington Clinical Research Chair in Urologic Oncology.

 

Dr. von Eschenbach notes that one of the institution's most important strategic initiatives involves "nurturing the faculty." Assuring that faculty members have the necessary resources to conduct their patient care and research programs is a high priority in order to retain current faculty and recruit new members.

 

As of last fall, the M. D. Anderson faculty was comprised of more than 700 full-time physicians and scientists, whose expertise was recognized during the year by organizations throughout the world.

 

A few major honors include:

 

· Dr. Mendelsohn received the fourth Raymond Bourgine Award for achievements in cancer research during the Seventh International Congress on Anti-Cancer Treatments in Paris. He also was honored with a prestigious research grant from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Company of New York.

 

· Four senior women faculty leaders headed or were elected presidents of major professional organizations. Dr. Louise C. Strong, chief of the Section of Medical Genetics, completed a term as president of the American Association for Cancer Research; Dr. Margaret R. Spitz, who chairs the Department of Epidemiology, was chosen president of the American Society of Preventive Oncology; Dr. Margaret L. Kripke, chair of the Department of Immunology, was elected president of the American Society for Photobiology; and Dr. Carol B. Stelling, chief of the Section of Breast Imaging, served as president of the Society of Breast Imaging.

 

· Dr. Frederick F. Becker, vice president for research, received a Gold Medal of Merit in Science from the government of Thailand in recognition of contributions to improving the understanding of cancer biology.

 

· Dr. Gabriel N. Hortobagyi, chairman of the Department of Breast Medical Oncology, was president of the International Society of Senology; and Dr. Victor A. Levin, chairman of the Department of Neuro-Oncology, served as the first president of the new Society for Neuro-Oncology.

 

· A special symposium celebrated the career-long achievements of Dr. Emil J Freireich, director of the Adult Leukemia Research Program. He also received the Medicus Hippocraticus Prize from the International Hippocratic Foundation.

 

Dr. von Eschenbach says partnering with other academic institutions was enhanced during the past year. Cooperative clinical training programs are conducted in various oncology specialties with faculty in Baylor College of Medicine's Affiliated Hospitals (Methodist, St. Luke's Episcopal, Texas Children's and the Veterans Administration Medical Center) and with the Harris County Hospital District's Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital. Collaborative teaching programs are offered with The University of Texas-Houston Medical School, Hermann Hospital, St. Joseph Hospital, the Memorial Hospital System and other institutions.

 

M. D. Anderson has one of the nation's largest programs for allied health students interested in the cancer field. Students in nursing, pharmacy, respiratory therapy, hospital administration and other diverse health care fields receive a portion of their training at the institution.

 

Other educational activities include continuing education programs and conferences attended by almost 30,000 individuals. In the public education arena, the federally supported toll-free Cancer Information Service headquartered at M. D. Anderson provided information to almost 17,000 callers.

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