Stephen S. Grubbs, MD, a community oncologist and managing partner at Medical Oncology Hematology Consultants, PA, in Newark, Delaware, has been named the Senior Director of ASCO’s new Clinical Affairs department. Dr. Grubbs is a longtime ASCO member and volunteer and the Principal Investigator of the Delaware Christiana Care National Cancer Institute (NCI) Community Oncology Research Program. He fully transitioned into his new role in July.
“We are delighted that Dr. Grubbs has joined ASCO to lead our Clinical Affairs Department,” said Allen S. Lichter, MD, CEO of ASCO. “Dr. Grubbs understands and has fully experienced the rewards and challenges of providing care in his community. He has the knowledge and vision needed to assure that this department will provide on-the-ground support to oncology practices across the country.”
New Department to Provide Support to Oncology Practices
Announced in late 2014, ASCO’s Clinical Affairs Department is dedicated to providing education and resources to support oncology practices in all settings to promote the delivery of high-quality, high-value cancer care. To achieve this goal, the Clinical Affairs Department provides tools and services to facilitate innovation in cancer care delivery and respond to growing economic and administrative challenges in oncology practice.
“The health-care delivery and clinical research environment has dramatically changed. Oncology professionals are experiencing a broader range of issues and challenges than they faced even a few years ago,” said Dr. Lichter. “Our new Clinical Affairs department will provide on-the-ground support for oncology practices navigating today’s demanding environment.”
The department provides support to oncology professionals around the country in the areas of business analytics, performance improvement, and practice management, with the ultimate aim of fostering more effective and efficient delivery of cancer care for the benefit of patients.
“I am thrilled to be serving ASCO in this new and vital role,” said Dr. Grubbs. “I look forward to working with the Society’s staff and oncology practices across the country as we strive to consistently improve cancer care.”
Longtime ASCO Volunteer and Board Representative for Community Oncologists
An ASCO member since 1985, Dr. Grubbs serves on the ASCO Board of Directors as the community oncologist representative and is a member of the Finance and Ethics Committees. He has served on the Society’s Government Relations Committee, Cancer Research Committee, and as a Genitourinary Literature Reviewer for ASCO University. He has served as Chair of the Clinical Trials Participation Award Selection Subcommittee, Co-Chair of the NCI/ASCO Clinical Trial Accrual Symposium, and the Clinical Trials Workshop Planning Committee.
Dr. Grubbs serves on the advisory council of the Delaware Cancer Consortium, of which he has been a member since 2003. The Consortium actively worked with the Delaware state government to successfully develop a system for the uninsured to receive cancer screening and cancer therapy. This has resulted in universal cancer screening and care in Delaware and has led to the elimination of health- care disparity for colorectal cancer.
Dr. Grubbs has served on the NCI’s Clinical Trials Evaluation Working Group and Clinical Trials Advisory Committee and has been active in the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology (formerly Cancer and Leukemia Group B), serving on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee. He was President of the Medical Society of Delaware and has held a number of other leadership positions in professional organizations.
Dr. Grubbs earned his medical degree from Thomas Jefferson College and completed his residency and internship at Wilmington Medical Center. He performed his fellowship at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. He has previously held positions at Christiana Care Health System, Dartmouth Medical School, St. Francis Hospital, Memorial Hospital of Salem County, and Jefferson Medical College. ■
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