Hello, Friends!
I have just returned to Wenatchee after meeting with colleagues from the SCCA and fellow Network Site members at the annual SCCA Network Summit. It is a great opportunity to share about how our institutions can help each other reach our mutual goals of high quality patient care for cancer patients in North Central Washington and at all of their network affiliate sites. Dr's Smith and Carlson as well as Mary Gunkel, Larry Sexton, Kelli Van Wagner, and Mall Boyd joined me at the meeting. Key representatives from the SCCA that were hosting the event included Dr. Ben Greer-Network Medical Director, Cecilia Zapata- Director of Regional and Global Network, and Reza Macaraeg-SCCA Network Office.
The keynote address was given by Dr. Frederick Appelbaum of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Dr. Appelbaum is the Executive Director of the SCCA, director of the Clinical Research Divsion at the FRCRC, head of Medical Oncology at UW medicine. It was an honor to hear him speak. Dr. Appelbaum spoke on the coming decade in clinical oncology.
Dr. Frederick Appelbaum
Dr. Appelbaum emphasized the need for early detection as a key in minimizing cancer mortality. He emphasized biomarkers, serial sampling and circulating microRNA's as potential strategies for cancer detection. Dr. Appelbaum next discussed imaging breakthroughs for cancer care. Functional imaging may supplant anatomic only imaging to best care for cancer patients. He then moved to the rapidly developing field of immunotherapy. Immunotherapy continues to show promise in the treatment of several tumor types. He stated that adoptive immunotherapy will become an important therapeutic modality and that application will require centers of excellence. Finally Dr. Appelbaum commented on the societal evolution he and others have observed. There is now rapid and easy access to information. He stated there continues to be new technologies developed but we are approaching the limit to what can be afforded. Therefore it is going to be exceedingly important that we develop partnerships and increase our focus on continuing educating ourselves and our staff.
Once again it is my pleasure to write about Wenatchee Medical Center's relationship with the SCCA.
I wish the best to all our patients, but especially to our patients who have the wonderful and most important role of being a Father. Happy Father's Day!
Best Regards Always,
Mitch
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