Robert L. Coleman, MD, Professor, Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, started his 1-year term as the 47th President of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) and 5th President of the Foundation for Gynecologic Oncology. These terms began at the conclusion of the Society’s 46th Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer, March 28–31, 2015.
Dr. Coleman, who is also Vice Chair of Clinical Research, Ann Rife Cox Chair in Gynecology, and Deputy Chair in the Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine at MD Anderson, commented that SGO’s newly formed Health Policy & Socioeconomic Committee, and the task forces created within it, will address important quality and payment issues that are specific to the subspecialty of gynecologic oncology.
Dr. Coleman’s research interests include novel therapeutics for ovarian, uterine, and cervical cancers; clinical trial development and statistical design; surgical innovations; and graduate education. In partnership with his department’s faculty, he has established a translational medicine pipeline, which fosters, facilitates, and vets promising compounds and treatment strategies from preclinical to clinical investigation. He is MD Anderson’s NRG Oncology Principal Investigator (PI) and is PI or Co-PI for several NRG Oncology prospective clinical trials. He has been instrumental in representing SGO in conversations with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on rethinking trial designs to allow for continued drug development in the ovarian cancer space.
“I am excited to be president at a time when SGO continues to align its resources to meet the ever-changing needs of the members in their practices. These issues directly impact the care we provide to our patients and how that is valued by the federal government and insurers,” said Dr. Coleman. “As health care practitioners across the country adapt to the changes brought about by the Affordable Care Act, SGO needs to be the voice of our subspecialty.” ■
