Lawrence N. Shulman, MD, FACP
Lawrence N. Shulman, MD, FACP, Professor of Medicine in the Perelman School of Medicine and Deputy Director for Clinical Services of the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania, has been named the new Chair of the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons.
The Commission on Cancer is a multidisciplinary organization that seeks to improve quality of life and survival rates for cancer patients in the United States by setting professional standards and strengthening prevention, research, and education, as well as establishing quality assessment and improvement programs and metrics. Dr. Shulman aims to expand the Commission’s role in enhancing the overall quality of cancer care in the United States as well as reinforce its relationship with its accredited hospital programs.
“One of my priorities will be helping to reduce cancer health disparities. There are proven steps we can take to address these disparities, such as promoting greater use of screening tests; enhancing access to care; improving the quality of that care; providing more dietary and lifestyle education; and increasing participation in clinical trials,” Dr. Shulman said. “All Americans should have ready access to high-quality cancer care, regardless of geographic location, socioeconomic factors, or ethnicity.”
Dr. Shulman leads the cancer quality program for the University of Pennsylvania Health System and its five hospitals. He is also Director of Penn’s Center for Global Cancer Medicine, working with cancer programs in Rwanda, Botswana, and Haiti. The author of more than 150 articles in peer-reviewed journals, Dr. Shulman was previously Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School as well as Chief of Staff and Director of the Center for Global Cancer Medicine at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
He received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School. He completed his residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in hematology and oncology at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, Boston.
Dr. Shulman carries out his international cancer efforts in Rwanda and elsewhere in his capacity as Senior Oncology Advisor to the nonprofit organization Partners in Health. In June 2012, the Lance Armstrong Foundation honored him with its first LiveStrong Leaders in Oncology Award. ■
