The Society of Surgical Oncology has named Allegheny Health Network (AHN) surgical oncologist Norman Wolmark, MD, a recipient of this year’s Charles M. Balch, M.D., Distinguished Service Award for his work with the NSABP Foundation.
Dr. Wolmark is an internationally recognized cancer surgeon and Medical Director of Surgery and Cancer Program Development, AHN Department of Surgery and Cancer Institute. He is also Chairman of NSABP Foundation, a not-for-profit academic research organization led by AHN clinicians with a 60-year history of conducting groundbreaking research studies in breast and colorectal cancers, and Chair and Principal Investigator of NCI-funded NRG Oncology. He received the Balch award along with Bernard Fisher, MD, former chairman of the NSABP.
The NSABP Foundation has a nearly 60-year history of conducting groundbreaking research studies in breast and colorectal cancer, enrolling more than 110,000 men and women in clinical trials, and coordinating research at nearly 700 major medical centers, university hospitals, large oncology practice groups and health maintenance organizations in the United States, Canada, and Ireland.
A member of a number of professional associations and organizations including the American Surgical Association, Dr. Wolmark is widely published, with more than 400 scientific journal articles and book chapters in print. He is a widely sought-after speaker and lecturer in his field and serves on the editorial board of The Journal of Clinical Oncology, JAMA, and Lancet, on numerous advisory boards, and as an advisor to oncology programs, societies, and institutes throughout the United States and abroad.
Dr. Wolmark received his medical degree from McGill University of Montreal, completed his residency at the University of Pittsburgh, and served a fellowship in Surgical Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He is also Professor and Chairman of Human Oncology at Drexel University School of Medicine.
Last year, Dr. Wolmark was inducted into the OncLive® 2017 Giants of Cancer Care® recognition program along with 12 other groundbreaking cancer researchers.
“Dr. Wolmark’s groundbreaking research on the biology and treatment of breast and colorectal cancer resulted in significant, practice-changing advances for all people with cancer,” said David Parda, MD, Chair, Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute. “His collaborative work led to longer survival rates and improved quality of life for people with cancer. His research helped make possible the personalized care we now offer cancer patients, with genomic testing and targeted treatments based on their individual tumor biology. What’s more, he is also a compassionate, skilled clinician with a constant focus on improving patient care. Dr. Wolmark is very deserving of this prestigious award.”
The award is named for Charles M. Balch, MD. Founding Editor-in Chief of the Annals of Surgical Oncology, who led the journal to worldwide prominence over 25 years of service.
About the Society of Surgical Oncology
The Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) is the premier organization for surgeons and health care providers dedicated to advancing and promoting the science and treatment of cancer. The Society’s focus on all solid-tumor disease sites is reflected in its Annual Cancer Symposium, monthly scientific journal (Annals of Surgical Oncology), educational initiatives and committee structure. The Society’s mission is to improve multidisciplinary patient care by advancing the science, education and practice of cancer surgery worldwide.
About Allegheny Health Network
Allegheny Health Network, a Highmark Health Company, is a western Pennsylvania-based integrated healthcare system that serves patients from across a five state region that includes Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The Network’s Cancer Institute employs more than 200 physicians and 500 oncology professionals who provide a complete spectrum of oncology care at more than 50 affiliated oncology clinics, including access to state-of-the-art technologies and new therapies being explored in clinical cancer trials. The Cancer Institute has the only cancer program in the Pittsburgh region with Integrated Network Cancer Program accreditation by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, and its radiation oncology program is the largest in the country accredited by the American College of Radiology. The Cancer Institute has also earned accreditations from the Quality Oncology Practice Initiative, Foundation for Accreditation of Cellular Therapy and National Accreditation Program for Breast Cancer, all of which indicate commitment to the highest standards of patient care. AHN also has a formal affiliation with the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, one of the nation’s 41 comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute, for research, medical education and clinical services. To schedule an appointment with an AHN oncologist, please call 412.DOCTORS or visit www.ahn.org/find-a-doctor.
Throughout the year, our writers feature fresh, in-depth, and relevant information for our audience of 40,000+ healthcare leaders and professionals. As a healthcare business publication, we cover and cherish our relationship with the entire health care industry including administrators, nurses, physicians, physical therapists, pharmacists, and more. We cover a broad spectrum from hospitals to medical offices to outpatient services to eye surgery centers to university settings. We focus on rehabilitation, nursing homes, home care, hospice as well as men’s health, women’s heath, and pediatrics.
