November 22, 2005

General Assembly Is Resolute in Honoring IU Cancer Physicians

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana lawmakers administered a dose of good medicine on Organization Day Nov. 22 by honoring outstanding Indiana University cancer doctors recognized this fall as among the nation’s top specialists.

The concurrent resolution introduced by Sen. Thomas Wyss, R-Fort Wayne, and Rep. Peggy Welch, D-Bloomington, recognized leaders in cancer research and clinical care from Indiana University School of Medicine and Clarian Health Partners who were included in the first edition of America’s Top Doctors for Cancer. Eighteen cancer specialists from Indiana University Hospital and Riley Hospital for Children were among the nearly 2,000 nationwide included in the referral guide.

The resolution notes that “better methods of preventing, finding, and treating the disease” continues to reduce the mortality rate for cancer.

"The Indiana General Assembly thanks Clarian Health Partners, Indiana University School of Medicine, and their dedicated doctors for their efforts to bring the citizens of Indiana the best possible cancer care and improved treatment capabilities and congratulates them on their well deserved recognition," the resolution states.

IU School of Medicine Dean D. Craig Brater, M.D., Indiana University Cancer Center Director Stephen D. Williams, M.D., and Daniel F. Evans Jr., president and CEO of Clarian Health, were invited to attend the General Assembly’s Organization Day events and were present when all the Indiana senators asked to have their names added as sponsors of the resolution.

"There isn’t one of us here who through a family member or constituent hasn’t been served by this great institute," said Sen. Wyss.

Sen. Patricia Miller, R-Indianapolis, who chairs the Senate Health and Provider Services Committee, said she was grateful for the IU School of Medicine’s service and leadership. "In the area of health care, IU is on the cutting edge of cancer treatment," she said.
  
"Being honored in this way is a humbling experience," said Dr. Brater."We have a charge and that charge is to be the best medical school in the nation to treat you and your constituents."

"The School of Medicine is privileged to be able to attract and retain the talented faculty members that are represented by the 18 cancer specialists who have been specifically recognized. I know they would tell you that they are simply taking care of patients the best way they know how, and at the same time they are advancing our knowledge about this terrible disease with the ultimate goal of eliminating pain and suffering from it," Dr. Brater continued.

The concurrent resolution names and congratulates the 18 "top cancer specialists" mentioned in the publication.

"I want to congratulate all of the doctors who were selected," said Evans. "It is tremendous to have so many of these great doctors recognized nationally and to have them practicing in our hospitals. The physicians recognized in America's Top Doctors are representative of the excellence in patient care that the entire staff at Clarian performs each and every day."

For additional information on the Indiana physicians included in America’s Top Doctors for Cancer, see medicine.indiana.edu/news_releases/viewRelease.php4?art=371.

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Media Contact:

Mary Hardin
(317) 274-7722
(317) 695-4090 (cell)
mhardin@iupui.edu