Andrew Chapman tells us about Jefferson’s final push for Comprehensive designation [Video]

Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson Health can add the word “Comprehensive” to its name, becoming the 57th institution to earn this top-level designation from NCI.

The institution received its Cancer Center designation in 1996, and Andrew Chapman, a geriatric oncology expert who became the center director 15 months ago, got the application over the goal line (The Cancer Letter, Sept. 23, 2022).

“If we think back to March of 2022, the odds were clearly stacked against us, and many thought today would be impossible—with new director with an incredibly short runway, with limited Cancer Center Support Grant expertise, and a lot hanging in the balance,” Chapman said at the April 18 press conference announcing the designation.

“So how does this happen? The answers are familiar, and they are obvious. It’s teamwork and leadership. Everyone came together, worked tirelessly, and stepped up to answer the call. The team learned what is now a very familiar phrase in the cancer center, that this is our time, and the time is now.

“At the site visit, we told the National Cancer Institute about cancer care in the city of Philadelphia and the communities that we serve. We told the National Cancer Institute that we are vital to the heart, the health of this region. And we told the National Cancer Institute that we are indispensable, and in turn, the NCI director, the site reviewers, and the parent committee, which is the governing body of the NCI, validated all that we said, and they responded with one word, friends.

“They told us that we are Comprehensive!”

Chapman singled out the contributions of one of his team members—Matthew Huesser, vice president for research administration.

“As a new director with a short runway of 15 months till grant submission, and then a site visit three months later, the impact of the administrative lead cannot be understated,” Chapman said. “This was made clear to me by the leader of the Office of Cancer Centers at the National Cancer Institute, and those of you who witnessed the site visit saw a logistically perfect orchestration by Matt’s hand. I’m so grateful to have him as my colleague and friend.”

At the press conference, Huesser, a diehard sports fan, drew parallels between the NCI designation and championship sporting events.

“The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center has finally earned its place among the elite,” Huesser said. “Receiving this Comprehensive designation is the highest level of designation given by the NCI. It’s the gold star. To rise up and become a Comprehensive Cancer Center is like winning the World Series or Super Bowl. We know millions are not cheering for us, but hopefully the impact we will be just as- if not even more life-changing.”

Sidney Kimmel, a consortium with Drexel University, sees 8,900 patients annually.

In recognition of the NCI designation, philanthropists Caroline and Sidney Kimmel will match every dollar raised for the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center Innovation Fund, up to $250,000, as part of Jefferson’s annual Giving Day. The Kimmels have given more than $200 million over the years including: providing cornerstone funding to establish the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center in 1995, as well as transformational support for research into the prevention of cardiovascular disease, and Jefferson’s largest-ever gift of $110 million to name the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in 2014.

With this latest NCI Comprehensive designation, the Kimmels are the only family to have two NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the country named after them, the other center being the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Read more: https://cancerletter.com/conversation-with-the-cancer-letter/20240419_1/