Luminary Awards Highlight Exemplary Work of Experts in GI Cancers

OncLive^® and The Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center in Washington, DC, have announced the winners of the 2023 Luminary Award in GI cancers. The 5 winners, which consist of 3 clinicians, a member of the House of Representatives, and a patient advocate, will be honored at the 14th Annual Ruesch Center Symposium.

The Luminary Awards in GI Cancers are designed to highlight the lifetime achievements of individuals who have dedicated their careers to expanding the knowledge of the GI cancer community. These individuals are highly accomplished and have improved the lives of countless patients with GI cancers by advancing the treatment paradigm and contributing to the development of curative agents.

“The Luminary event is our chance to honor those who have set a standard for us all. Each awardee’s dedication, creativity, compassion, and laser-like focus on improving outcomes for [patients with] GI cancer has translated into new standards. We give these awards to recognize their efforts and to inspire others as we continue in the fight,” John L. Marshall, MD, the director of The Ruesch Center, said in a news release. Marshall is also chief of hematology and oncology at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital and a professor of medicine and oncology at Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center of Georgetown University.

The 2023 Luminary Awards in GI Cancers honorees are:

• Monica M. Bertagnolli, MD, National Cancer Institute

• Luis A. Diaz, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
• Edith Peterson Mitchell, MD, FACP, FCPP, FRCP, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson Health
• United States Representative Donald M. Payne, Jr, of New Jersey
• Martha Raymond, MA, The Raymond Foundation and GI Cancers Alliance

The awards reception will be held in conjunction with the 14th Annual Ruesch Center Symposium. The event will take place in person at the Westin Georgetown from 6:00 to 8:30 PM EST on November 16, 2023.

On Friday, November 17, the symposium will also feature state of the science session on early-onset GI cancers, a session on the microbiome/biological basis of early-onset GI cancers survivorship, a session on issues and approaches following early-onset GI cancer, a lecture from Dr Diaz, and a session on the epidemiology and prevention of early-onset GI cancers.

Events being held on Saturday, November 18, include a session on unmet needs for patients with GI cancers, a talk on the experience of patients with GI cancers who participated in clinical trials, a session on how biomarkers guide GI cancer treatment, and breakout ask-the-expert sessions.

“We are honored to work with the Ruesch Center to celebrate the individuals who have made such remarkable developments in the lives of patients with gastrointestinal cancers,” Bobby Goldsmith, senior vice president of sales at MJH Life Sciences^® said in the release. “The winners of the 2023 Luminary Awards are very deserving, and we are grateful for their dedication to the field.”

Clinicians referring a patient to MSK can do so by visiting msk.org/refer, emailing referapatient@mskcc.org, or by calling 833-315-2722.

Reference

OncLive^® and the Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers Name Winners of the 2023 Luminary Awards in GI Cancers. News release. OncLive. October 11, 2023. Accessed October 18, 2023. https://www.wate.com/business/press-releases/globenewswire/8947566/onclive-and-the-ruesch-center-for-the-cure-of-gastrointestinal-cancers-name-winners-of-the-2023-luminary-awards-in-gi-cancers/