OncLive and The Ruesch Center to Honor the Winners of The Luminary Awards in GI Cancers

The inaugural Luminary Awards in GI Cancer, which will be hosted by OncLive® and The Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers, will honor Julie Fleshman, Daniel G. Haller, Henry T. Lynch, Frank McCormick and Andrew L. Warshaw for their dedication to the gastrointestinal (GI) cancers community. The celebratory cocktail reception will be held at The St. Regis Washington, D.C., on Dec. 1. The winners were selected for their tremendous devotion and leadership in research, clinical care and advocacy in GI cancer.

“We are honored to recognize these five individuals for their outstanding work and passion for improving the lives of those impacted by GI cancer. Each of these winners helps propel the field of GI cancer through their commitment and groundbreaking contributions in treatment, research and advocacy,” said John L. Marshall, MD, director of the Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers.

The Luminary Awards in GI Cancers winners are:

• Julie Fleshman, J.D., MBA, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network After losing her father to pancreatic cancer in 1999, Fleshman dedicated herself to making a difference in the lives of others facing similar circumstances. After becoming the president and CEO of Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in 2004, the organization’s revenues grew from $228,000 to $38 million. Under her leadership, the organization has awarded 159 pancreatic cancer research grants and provided assistance for more than 165,000 patients with pancreatic cancer and their families.
• Daniel G. Haller, M.D., FACP, FRCP, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania Haller joined the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania in 1980, where his clinical research focused on the management of GI malignancies. In 2009, he was designated the Deenie Greitzer Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology Professor. Haller has also served as the Gastrointestinal Committee Chair for Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group and is currently the co-chair of the US NCI GI Intergroup.

• Henry T. Lynch, M.D., M.S., FACP, FAACR, Creighton University School of Medicine Lynch’s great discoveries have made vital contributions to the field of oncology. Prior to his discovery of Lynch syndrome, cancer was considered an environmentally caused disease. In addition to his clinical career, Dr. Lynch has published over 900 peer-reviewed papers.
• Frank McCormick, Ph.D., FRS, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center McCormck is a professor at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. Previously, he served as the chief scientific officer and founder of Onyx Pharmaceuticals. Under his leadership, Onyx Pharmaceuticals received approval of sorafenib in 2005 for the treatment of renal cell cancer. His current research is focused on the fundamental differences between normal and cancer cells that can allow the discovery of novel therapeutic strategies. Additionally, McCormick holds the David A. Wood Chair of Tumor Biology and Cancer Research at UCSF.
• Andrew L. Warshaw, M.D., FACS, FRCSED (HON), Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital During his tenure, Warshaw has held many important titles, including president of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, the International Association of Pancreatology, the Massachusetts Chapter of the American College of Surgeons, the New England Surgical Society, the Halsted Society, the Boston Surgical Society, the Society of Surgical Chairs and the American Pancreatic Association. He has made important contributions to the diagnosis, treatment and understanding of the pathogenesis of inflammatory and malignant lesions of the pancreas. Harvard Medical School has established the Warshaw Family Professorship in Surgery, honoring Warshaw’s career and accomplishments as a surgical leader.

“This award reception not only celebrates the five exceptional individuals, it also honors all of the unsung heroes of the GI cancers community. We appreciate their commitment to this field and are pleased to honor them,” said Michael J. Hennessy Jr., president of Michael J. Hennessy Associates Inc., parent company of OncLive®.

Robert Goldsmith, vice president of OncLive® states, “we are honored to collaborate with The Ruesch Center for the inaugural Luminary Awards in GI Cancer. This program allows us to celebrate these dedicated individuals who make a difference every day.”

The Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers, a part of the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, focuses on personalizing patient care while fighting GI cancers. Ruesch provides the highest standard of care and individualized treatments through clinical trials and research, education and advocacy, and regional and global alliances.

For more information about the reception, visit https://www.onclive.com/luminary-awards

About OncLive^®

A digital platform of resources for practicing oncologists, OncLive.com offers oncology professionals information they can use to help provide the best patient care. OncLive® is the official website for Michael J. Hennessy Associates’ Oncology Specialty Group, which publishes OncologyLive®, Oncology Nursing News®, Oncology Business Management™ and more. Michael J. Hennessy Associates Inc. is a full-service health care communications company offering education, research and medical media, including curetoday.com and CURE® magazine, the largest U.S. consumer publication focused entirely on cancer. Combining science and humanity to make cancer understandable, CURE® reaches patients, cancer centers and advocacy groups.