Dateline
Institute affirms its goal of becoming 'model cancer center'
In the four years since Dana-Farber launched its Strategic Plan, the Institute has made considerable progress toward becoming the "model cancer center" that it aims to be. New research centers have opened. Collaboration is on the rise. Satellite clinics and a new building will accommodate more patients. Staff have launched efforts to enhance care. Administrative changes are increasing efficiency.
However, more work remains to achieve Dana-Farber's goals of bringing the benefits of science to cancer patients and their families and conquering at least one major form of cancer within a decade.
This past year, leaders from across the Institute and its chief partners in care reviewed the 2003 Strategic Plan and agreed that its overall principles and direction are sound. They also concluded it needs some adjustments as the Institute works toward becoming the "go-to" place for cancer patients, researchers, clinicians, donors, and pharmaceutical and biotech industry scientists seeking research partners. Among the plans going forward:
Patient care: Further improve patient care through specialized disease centers and partnerships with Brigham and Women's Hospital, Children's Hospital Boston, and other institutions; expand the network of satellite clinics and referring physicians; and enhance programs in such areas as survivorship and palliative (comfort) care.
Research: Continue to recruit, retain, and develop faculty; strengthen relationships around drug development; encourage collaboration among research centers in such areas as population sciences, genome discovery, systems biology, and vaccines; and build on capabilities in chemical biology, proteomics, imaging, computational biology, and other fields.
Organization: Create an environment that enables staff members to achieve their potential by encouraging career development, strengthening diversity, improving processes, addressing technology and space needs, and seeking new funding sources.
