A COMMON TIE A COMMON HOPE ANNUAL REPORT 2010/2011 A COMMON TIE. A COMMON HOPE. The Abramson Cancer Center is dedicated to one purpose—the eradication of cancer as a cause of human disease and suffering. As we continue to pursue this singular mission, we relentlessly conduct new research, translate our findings into innovative therapies, and investigate new ways to prevent and diagnose cancer. We also make sure that the patients and families we serve can expect the highest level of care, from diagnosis through treatment and recovery as they access our specialists at any one of our three main locations at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and Pennsylvania Hospital. A national leader in cancer research, care, and education, the Abramson Cancer Center has been continuously designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) since 1973. One of only 40 such Centers in the country, the Abramson Cancer Center was recently rated “EXCEPTIONAL” by the NCI following a scientific review and evaluation of essential features of a cancer center—the highest possible rating a Center can receive. These honors reflect our ongoing commitment to interdisciplinary research programs, the expansion and integration of patient services, the recruitment of exceptional faculty, and the development of interdepartmental educational programs. In recognition of Madlyn and Leonard Abramson’s $140 million commitment to cancer research and care, Penn’s Cancer Center was renamed the Abramson Cancer Center in 2002. Today, thanks to the generosity of the Abramsons and many other friends like them, more than 400 research and clinical specialists call the Abramson Cancer Center home, each one of them dedicated to preventing, diagnosing, and ultimately curing cancer. TABLE OF CONTENTS The Abramson Cancer Center Welcomes Dr. Chi Van Dang 2 Letter from the Director 3 Director’s Leadership Council 4 Funding for 2010 5 Cancer Network 5 Translational Research Center 6 Raymond & Ruth Perelman School of Medicine 8 Patient & Family Services 10 Outreach and Education 10 Integrative Medicine & Wellness 11 Survivorship 11 Integrated, Comprehensive Care 12 Madlyn & Leonard Abramson 13 Partners in Hope 14-32 Planned Giving Inside Back Cover Gift of Hope Inside Back Cover Select photography courtesy of: 1 Daniel Burke Photography and Scott Spitzer Photography & Design THE ABRAMSON CANCER CENTER WELCOMES DR. CHI VAN DANG The Abramson Cancer Center is delighted to welcome Chi Van Dang, MD, PhD, as Director of the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania. Dean J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD, joins us in enthusiastically endorsing Dr. Dang’s appointment and in thanking the search committee, chaired by Dr. John Glick, for their efforts. Born in Saigon, Vietnam, Dr. Dang arrived in the United States in 1967. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a BS in chemistry in 1975. In 1978, he earned his PhD in chemistry at Georgetown University; four years later, he received his MD from Johns Hopkins University. Following an internship and residency in medicine at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Dr. Dang took a fellowship in hematology-oncology at the Cancer Research Institute of the University of California at San Francisco. In 1987, Dr. Dang was appointed assistant professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins, where he remained until joining Penn Medicine. For ten years he served as Chief of the Division of Hematology, with five years concurrently as Deputy Director Of Research for the Department of Medicine. In 2000, Dr. Dang was appointed Vice Dean For Research for the entire school, charged with overseeing research administration, policy coordination, and technology transfer. Given his appointments in several departments, it was natural for him to also explore funding opportunities for interdisciplinary research and to create an environment conducive to innovative and collaborative inquiries. As an educator, Dr. Dang was Director of the Hematology Training Program and was a sponsor and mentor for many medical students, PhD candidates, and physician-scientists. The Abramson Cancer Center would like to thank Caryn Lerman, PhD, the Mary W. Calkins Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and the Annenberg Public Policy Center, who ably served as our Interim Director. Penn Medicine and Abramson Cancer Center (ACC) Leaders and Founders: J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD, Dean, Perelman School of Medicine; Caryn Lerman, PhD, ACC Deputy Director; John H. Glick, MD, Former ACC Director; Madlyn and Leonard Abramson, Founding Donors; Chi V. Dang, MD, PhD, ACC Director; and Richard A. “Buzz” Cooper, MD, First ACC Director 2 LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR TOUCHING LIVES AROUND THE WORLD It is thrilling to be on Penn’s campus and serve as the new Director of the Abramson Cancer Center. When I think about the lives that are affected each day by the Abramson Cancer Center, I am overwhelmed. I am also struck by the level of commitment to our mission that I see here. It’s a commitment that encompasses the work we do, the relationships between our staff members, and the compassionate care we extend to our patients and their loved ones. And it’s a commitment I see from everyone I encounter, from physicians, nurses, and physical therapists to social workers, nutritionists, care coordinators, and all of our support staff. The connections between the Abramson Cancer Center and the community we serve extend outward into the lives of cancer patients around the world. The impact of our work is a responsibility we think about every day as we continue to improve the ways we prevent, diagnose, and treat this devastating disease. TRANSLATIONAL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE The future of cancer care at the Abramson Cancer Center lies in the creation of Translational Centers of Excellence (TCEs) that include intimately connected disease-specific care teams across our entities, including scientists and physicians at Presbyterian Medical Center and Pennsylvania Hospital. By linking scientists, clinicians, clinical investigators, nurses, geneticists, and researchers, these TCEs will allow the ongoing delivery of state-of-the-art therapies and care. Interdisciplinary TCEs will provide the highest standards of care as well as the latest experimental therapy based on research with tangible measures of outcome. Everyone who chooses the Abramson Cancer Center expects the best from us. They expect outstanding care and they expect HOPE. And that’s exactly what we’ll give them. I always remind myself that “the patient is waiting,” and I look forward to being a part of the Abramson Cancer Center as we continue to provide the “patient waiting” in our own clinics and around the world with hope, compassion, and technologies that improve their well-being. Chi Van Dang, MD, PhD Director, Abramson Cancer Center 3 ABRAMSON CANCER CENTER DIRECTOR’s LEADERSHIP COUNCIL CHAIR Daniel J. Keating, III HONORARY CHAIR Madlyn K. Abramson MEMBERS EMERITUS MEMBERS Candice Toll Aaron Jerome S. Goodman Maria Papadakis* Donald S. Cohan Frank Ash Carole Haas Gravagno Rob Rahbari Rena Rowan and Vic Damone Rose and Paul C. Astor Margaret and Paul Guerin Margarita and Andrew K. Rooke, Sr. Sylvia DiBona Paige and Steve Atlass Michael Iafolla Gerard Michael Rosato Albert J. Feldman Nancy Barna Peggy and Andrew Kahn Rafael F. Rosato The late George H. Gallup, Jr. Lynda Barness Monica and Howard Kahn Lynn G. Roseman Elizabeth H. Gemmill Lisa Batastini Esther and Marc Kaplin Lyn Ross G. Davis Greene, Jr. Janice and Gary Blumenthal Sarah Keating Brad Saler Christopher T. Grundner Linda and Jonathan Brassington Michael Krusinski Loretta and Ken Schatz Helene Kendall Eileen Brode Ellen Berman Lee Barbara and Richard Schiffrin James Kravitz Ellen and Ronald Caplan Donna Lee Lista Ann and Harold Sorgenti Felicia Lemonick John Castleman Suzi and Scott Lustgarten Mary Anne M. Stetzer Lorraine and David Popowich Andrew Cohen Mariann and Robert MacDonald Barbara and Leonard Sylk Richard Prezelski Betsy Z. Cohen Frances M. Maguire Deborah Feith Tye Sean Rooney Sandra and Stephen A. Cozen Karen and James Matthews Inez and John B. Wade, III Richard A. Sprague Brian Effron Alice Meehan Frances Longstreth Wallace William Sweidel Donna Cooper Feinberg Cynthia Miller Connie Warner Hanna Wise Marilyn Frank and David Feldman Leslie Anne Miller Marjorie and Bryan Weingarten Bonnie Fox Stacey Mobley Raymond H. Welsh Lucille and Jerry Francesco Ruth and Bennett Nathanson Mindy and Andrew Wilson David I. Goldstein* Margaret Nolen *Co-Chairs of the Young Friends of the Abramson Cancer Center, along with Jon Feinberg, Judy Felgoise, Marcy A. Shoemaker, Jen and Daniel Stern, and Nancy Wolfson. YOUNG FRIENDS Young Friends of the Abramson Cancer Center is dedicated to advocating on behalf of the Abramson Cancer Center and raising awareness of the importance of philanthropic support to fuel cancer research and care initiatives. Young Friends supports the work of young investigators and clinical fellows, whose brilliant ideas often go unrealized because of a lack in funding. 4 FUNDING FOR 2010 As one of the premier cancer institutions in the country, the Abramson Cancer Center receives more federal research funding than all other regional hospitals and centers combined. Nationally, the Abramson Cancer Center is ranked tenth in funding from the National Cancer Institute and eleventh from the American Cancer Society. Federal funding allows us to quickly translate new research into treatments and provide personalized, compassionate