PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE GOVERNOR'S REPORT YOUNG SURGEONS REPORT CANCER COMMITTEE UPDATE


Cancer Committee Update

The next meeting of the Cancer Liaison Physicians of the American College of Surgeons will take place after the education program and lunch of the Northern California Chapter meeting, on May 7, 2005. I hope all of you can attend. For those physicians who live too far to come down just for the meeting, a small fund is available to cover your expenses.

The Commission on Cancer has some plans to focus its efforts.

  • Expand the visibility of the Commission and its approved cancer programs to both the public and payers through a more aggressive marketing program.
  • Define and develop more tangible benefits for programs participating in the approvals process. Refine the role of the Cancer Liaison physician as the facilitator of CoC initiatives in areas such as the implementation an d assessment of quality measures and community outreach, and t serve as the key contact a the facility for these activities.
  • Define a formal plan of communication and involvement with the American Cancer Society to expand collaborations at all levels (national, State, and community).
  • Expand the use of the National cancer Data Base.

There is a new California cancer plan which is published and in the process of implementation. It is called the California Dialogue on cancer, or CDOC. This plan was developed with the contribution of many individuals and organizations, in collaboration with the American Cancer Society, California Division, and the California Department of Health Services. The purpose is to work together across the state in order to reduce the cancer burden on California. It is important that the Cancer Liaison Physicians are involved in the implementation of the plan, so that we can improve cancer prevention and early detection, reduce mortality, reduce disparities in access to care, and improve quality of life for our patients and their families. Let me know if you would like to get a copy of this plan, and/or are interested in how you can become part of this effort.

I hope to see all of you on May 7, 2005.

Lisa Bailey, MD, FACS
State Chair, ACS, Commission on Cancer