Honors & Accomplishments

MUSC Hollings Cancer Center researchers, doctors, and staff are routinely recognized by local and national organizations for their innovative research efforts, dedication to outstanding patient care, and leadership in the fight against cancer.

Toll named to chair AACR steering committee

 

Benjamin Toll, Ph.D., was invited to serve as chair of CRTEC Associate Director Steering Committee (CCA-CRTEC-AD) of the AACR Cancer Centers Alliance’s Cancer Education, Training, Professional Advancement, and DEI Subcommittee (ETPA-DEI), led by Dr. Ruben A. Mesa and AACR CEO Dr. Margaret Foti.

The committee aims to develop impactful education and training resources tailored to the diverse needs of trainees across cancer centers. This subcommittee will focus on formulating actionable proposals, which include recommendations on survey implementation, organizing regional or national meetings, and supporting career, skills, and leadership development for early-career researchers.

Hollings NCORP-MU honored

MUSC Hollings Cancer Center's NCORP-MU was awarded a Gold Certificate of Excellence at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) annual meeting “for exceptional achievement in patient enrollments in National Cancer Institute cancer control, prevention, screening and treatment trials.”

Ford honored as immunization champion

Marvella Ford, Ph.D., associate director of Population Science and Community Outreach and Engagement, was honored by the Association of Immunization Managers as a 2024 Immunization Champion.

This award recognizes individuals doing an exemplary job or going above and beyond to promote or foster immunizations in their communities for children and adults. Dr. Ford’s team operates the Mobile Vaccination Unit. The goal of the unit is to bring HPV vaccines to communities across South Carolina but, in partnership with the S.C. Department of Public Health, the team has enrolled in the Vaccines for Children program so that the van can provide all required school vaccines.

In the past year, the team has traveled to more than 50 schools and community events and administered more than 1,500 vaccines.

Dahne recognized with president's Values in Action award

 

Cancer Prevention & Control researcher Jennifer Dahne, Ph.D., was selected as the MUSC President's Values in Action awardee for exemplifying the MUSC value of "innovation."

Dahne, far right, is pictured with Rachel Tomko, Ph.D., who nominated her, MUSC first lady Kathy Cole and MUSC president David Cole, M.D.

Paczesny named to ASTCT board

 

Sophie Paczesny, M.D., Ph.D., has been elected to a three-year term as a director of laboratory science on the board of the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy.

Graboyes named vice chair of NRG health disparities committee

 

Evan Graboyes, M.D., head and neck cancer surgeon and director of the Survivorship and Cancer Outcomes Research Initiative at Hollings, has been named vice chair of NRG Oncology's health disparities committee. 

NRG Oncology is a cooperative group conducting multi-institutional, federally funded cancer clinical trials. On the health disparities committee, Graboyes will enhance the incorporation of health disparities research in NRG Oncology trials and help to expand the committee's health disparities educational and mentoring efforts. 

Ford named top diversity leader

 

MUSC Hollings Cancer Center is proud to announce that Marvella Ford, Ph.D., was recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of 2023’s Top Diversity Leaders.

Ford is the associate director of Population Science and Community Outreach and Engagement for MUSC Hollings Cancer Center and the South Carolina State University SmartState Endowed Chair in Prostate Cancer Disparities.

The Top Diversity Leaders in Healthcare recognition program honors leading diverse health care professionals who are influencing policy and care delivery models across the country. This recognition places Ford in an elite group of leaders who are implementing strategies and practices to promote diversity, equity and inclusion and significantly affecting the communities they serve.

“I am incredibly proud of the work Dr. Ford and her team do on behalf of Hollings to address health care disparities throughout South Carolina – from cancer education and prevention services in underserved communities to breakthrough research to training the next generation of physicians and scientists,” said Raymond N. DuBois, M.D, Ph.D., director of Hollings Cancer Center. “We, and all South Carolinians, are lucky to have such a prestigious, dedicated leader on our team.”

Ford received her Master of Social Work, Master of Science, Doctor of Philosophy and postdoctoral training at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she was awarded pre- and postdoctoral fellowships from the National Institute on Aging. Subsequently, she held faculty positions at the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit and Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, before coming to MUSC and the Hollings Cancer Center. Her training in the social determinants of health affecting disease and its treatment has uniquely positioned her to take a leading role in tackling a distressing and incompletely understood public health problem in the state: the fact that societal differences in the population can lead to markedly different health outcomes for members of diverse racial and ethnic groups.

Hollings NCORP-MU honored for enrollment achievements

 

MUSC Hollings Cancer Center's NCORP-MU was awarded a Gold Certificate of Excellence at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) annual meeting in August 2023 because of success in enrolling patients in NCI treatment, cancer control, prevention and screening clinical trials. 

DuBois elected to AACI board

 

MUSC Hollings Cancer Center director Raymond N. DuBois, M.D., Ph.D., was elected to the board of the American Association of Cancer Institutes (AACI). AACI’s mission is to accelerate progress against cancer by enhancing the impact of North America’s leading academic cancer centers and promoting cancer health equity. Dr. DuBois' term begins in October 2023 at the AACI/CCAF Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.

DuBois inducted into Royal College of Physicians

 

Raymond N. DuBois, M.D., Ph.D., director of MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, has been inducted as a fellow into the Royal College of Physicians (RCP).

DuBois traveled to London, England, for the ceremony in July. He had been elected to the prestigious body prior to the COVID pandemic, which delayed the induction ceremony.

The Royal College of Physicians was established in 1518 by a royal charter from King Henry VIII. The college's founding aim was to professionalize physicians through an academic body that required a degree and an exam before entry. Today, the RCP seeks to "drive improvements in health and healthcare through advocacy, education and research." Fellows are senior clinicians who have demonstrated achievement and impact on the field of medicine.

Ford selected for Biobank panel

 

Marvella Ford, Ph.D., will join the External Scientific Panel for the Cancer Moonshot Biobank. The biobank is a voluntary program in which people undergoing cancer treatment donate blood or tissue samples for up to five years to enable researchers to see how cancers behave over time, with a special focus on colon cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, melanoma, gastroesophageal cancer, multiple myeloma and acute myeloid leukemia. The External Scientific Panel includes experts in oncology, nursing, patient advocacy, communications, and more, who provide input on study objectives, protocol, and engagement of research participants and their providers.

Shungu honored with best paper by STFM

 

Nicholas Shungu, M.D., was honored at the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine annual spring conference in April with the 2023 STFM CERA Paper of the Year Award for his paper, “Physician attitudes and self-reported practices toward prostate cancer screening in Black and White men." Shungu sought to quantify whether academic family medicine physicians have informed decision-making conversations with Black men about their increased risk of prostate cancer, compared to White men, and which physicians are most likely to have those conversations. He found that "younger physicians, women physicians, and physicians who see fewer Black patients are more likely to have suboptimal approaches to prostate cancer screening in Black men."

Ford to join cancer stage shift initiative scientific advisory board

 

Marvella Ford, Ph.D., was invited to join the National Minority Quality Forum's Cancer Stage Shifting Initiative's Scientific Advisory Board. The National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit research and educational organization dedicated to ensuring high-risk racial and ethnic populations and communities receive optimal health care. Inspired by the bold goals of the new Cancer Moonshot, NMQF launched the CSSI with the mission to move us from late-stage to early-stage diagnosis and treatment of cancer in minority populations. While the initiative will have a clear focus on equity, the expectation is that it will improve cancer care for all.

Hill named JCO associate editor

 

Elizabeth Hill, Ph.D., Hollings Biostatistics Shared Resource Director, has been named associate editor for the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO). JCO, the flagship publication of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), is the leading journal for dissemination of high-impact clinical oncology research (impact factor 50.7). In her role as associate editor, Hill will work with the JCO editorial board and ASCO leadership to review submissions, assign manuscripts for review, and direct the editorial mission of the journal.

Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco honors Hollings researcher

 

The Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco has named Michael Cummings, Ph.D., as the recipient of the 2023 Doll-Wynder award. This award honors scientists who have made groundbreaking advances in public health, public policy or epidemiological research. It will be presented during SRNT's 2023 Annual Meeting in San Antonio.

Chera named a fellow of the American Society for Radiation Oncology

 

The world’s largest society for radiation oncology professionals recently voted to confer upon Bhisham Chera, M.D., the designation of American Society for Radiation Oncology Fellow (FASTRO). Chera will receive his FASTRO designation at an awards ceremony in San Antonio in October, during ASTRO’s 64th Annual Meeting.

“Dr. Chera, a physician at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, joins an elite group of just 27 physicians and medical physicists who are recognized this year for their far-reaching contributions to the field of radiation oncology and their progress in advancing cancer research, education and patient care,” said Laura A. Dawson, M.D., FASTRO, Chair of the ASTRO Board of Directors. “Congratulations to Dr. Chera for achieving the designation of ASTRO Fellow.”

Chera is a board-certified radiation oncologist, vice chairman for Safety and Quality Assurance in the Department of Radiation Oncology, and the Wendy & Keith Wellin Endowed Chair in Radiation Oncology. His primary clinical emphasis is in the treatment of head and neck and skin cancers. Chera's academic interests are in head and neck oncology and health care quality and safety improvement. He is nationally and internationally known for his pioneering work in evaluating reduced intensity radiation and chemotherapy treatments for patients with human papillomavirus (HPV) associated with throat cancers. He has also co-invented a blood-based biomarker for HPV-associated cancers.

Awarded annually since 2006, the ASTRO Fellows program recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to radiation oncology through research, education, patient care and/or service to the field. Since its inception, the FASTRO designation has been awarded to just 421 of ASTRO’s 10,000 members worldwide.

DuBois receives AACR award

Hollings Cancer Center director Raymond N. DuBois, M.D., Ph.D., received the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Distinguished Service Award during the association’s 2022 convention. The award recognizes people whose extraordinary work has exemplified the AACR’s mission to prevent and cure all cancers through research, education, communication, collaboration, science policy, advocacy and funding for cancer research.

Celebrating its 115th anniversary this year, the AACR was founded in 1907, when a cancer diagnosis was essentially a death sentence. DuBois said the AACR has been invaluable in a sea change that has happened in how cancer is perceived and treated and that he has been privileged to contribute to the demystification of what now is seen as a complex collection of diseases.