Samuel M. Silver, MD, PhD, of the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, has been elected Chairman of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Board of Directors. Dr. Silver was previously Vice Chairman of the Board and succeeds Thomas A. D’Amico, MD, of the Duke Cancer Institute. The change in leadership was formalized at the NCCN Board of Directors meeting held in conjunction with the NCCN 18th Annual Conference.

“NCCN thanks Dr. D’Amico for his outstanding service as Chairman of the Board of Directors of NCCN during the past 3 years, and we are extremely pleased that Dr. Samuel Silver has been elected as our new Chairman of the Board,” said Robert W. Carlson, MD, CEO, NCCN. “We look forward to Dr. Silver’s leadership and to working with him to even further improve the services provided by NCCN.”

Leader in the Field

Dr. Silver is the Assistant Dean for Research and Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center. A recognized leader in the field of oncology, Dr. Silver was elected a Master of the American College of Physicians for 2013, and specializes in hematology. He is holds several leadership roles within NCCN, most notably, Chair of the NCCN Governance Committee and member of the NCCN Executive Committee and the NCCN Guidelines Steering Committee.

“I am both humbled and excited to be elected as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the NCCN,” said Dr. Silver. “NCCN represents 21 of the world’s leading cancer centers, and the clinical and research expertise that this encompasses is truly remarkable. This is an exciting time for the NCCN. The Board has just approved an extensive strategic plan, and over the next few years, we are planning many projects, including electronic point of service deployment of the NCCN Guidelines, the introduction of enhanced oncology pathways, and enlarging our influence in coverage and public policy, among many other changes. I look forward to working with our members, our new CEO, Dr. Robert Carlson, and the wonderful, dedicated NCCN staff.”

Dr. D’Amico, of the Duke Cancer Institute, was Chairman of the NCCN Board of Directors since 2010. A committed member of several NCCN committees and NCCN Guidelines Panels, Dr. D’Amico will remain a Member of the Board. Succeeding Dr. Silver as Vice Chairman of the NCCN Board of Directors is Timothy J. Eberlein, MD, of Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. ■