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                           JeffNEWS, July 1, 1995
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Jefferson Cancer Specialists Hold National Leadership Roles 
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Three Jefferson cancer specialists hold leadership positions in national 
cancer organizations.


Robert L. Comis, MD
   Group Chair of Eastern Clinical Oncology Group (ECOG)
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Robert L. Comis, MD, the Ludwig A. Kind Professor of Medicine for Jefferson 
Medical College and director of clinical programs for the Jefferson Cancer 
Center and Jefferson Cancer Network, was elected group chair of the Eastern 
Cooperative Oncology Group - a consortium of university medical centers and 
community-based programs working to improve outcomes for cancer patients 
nationwide. 

Dr. Comis began to lead ECOG's cooperative clinical trial and cancer 
prevention activities on July 1. More than 3,500 scientists and healthcare 
professionals participate in ECOG, which is supported by the National Cancer 
Institute (NCI), and is based upon the premise that cooperative studies among 
participating institutions will accelerate the process that will eventually 
lead to the control and cure of cancer.  ECOG works to improve cancer therapy 
through innovative clinical trials, correlative laboratory studies and the 
development and refinement of methodology for clinical trials.


Walter J. Curran Jr., MD
   Deputy Group Chairman of Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG)
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Walter J. Curran Jr., MD, chairman of the department of radiation oncology, 
serves as deputy group chairman of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 
(RTOG).  RTOG is a federally funded cooperative group with members from more 
than 200 institutions, funded by Dr. Simon Kramer at Jefferson in 1968.  

Dr. Curran also serves as chairman of the Brain Tumor Committee within RTOG 
and as principal investigator of three national clinical protocols. 


Carl M. Mansfield, MD
   Associate Director, Division of Cancer Treatment, National Cancer
   Institute (NCI)
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Carl M. Mansfield, MD, ScD, FACR, FACNM, Jefferson Medical College professor 
of radiation oncology and nuclear medicine and former department chair, has 
recently accepted a position with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as 
associate director of the Division of Cancer Treatment responsible for the 
NCI's Radiation Research Program.

Dr. Mansfield's participation in the NCI represents a major commitment of 
professional time and energy as well as a unique opportunity to contribute to 
the national cancer research effort. Members are selected on the basis of 
their demonstrated competence and achievement in their scientific discipline 
as evidenced by the quality of research accomplishments, publications in 
scientific journals and other significant scientific activities achievements 
and honors.


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Information provided by:  Editor, JeffNEWS
                          (215) 955-6204
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