CoC Celebrates Outstanding State Chair Performance
November 2006

Three state chairs were honored for their outstanding performance in 2005 and 2006 during the recent CoC meetings. Nominees were required to meet approved criteria and were selected based on data provided through the State Chair Activity Reports and collected by CoC staff over the last calendar year.

Michael S. Bouton, MD, FACS, Arkansas State Chair Consistent and Innovative Communication Methods Used for Maintaining Relationships with the Cancer Liaison Physicians (CLPs) Dr. Bouton sends welcome e-mails to all newly appointed liaisons, distributes regular e-mail newsletters to CLPs, integrates CLPs into the activities of the Arkansas Cancer Coalition, and speaks on behalf of the CoC at national and local meetings. Dr. Bouton hosts an annual meeting for his CLPs and plans to offer CMEs at this event.

Danny M. Takanishi, Jr., MD, FACS, Hawaii State Chair Support and Initiation of CoC Activities at the State and Regional Level Dr. Takanishi attended three CoC surveys across the state of Hawaii in 2005 providing assistance and support to the programs and CLPs when needed. He hosts an annual CLP meeting cosponsored and attended by the ACS, assists in recruitment of new CoC programs in Hawaii, and encourages his CLPs to release Level II data. He also served on the program planning committee and as a moderator for the CoC's 2006 conference on quality cancer care.

Alan G. Thorson, MD, FACS, Nebraska State Chair Collaboration with American College of Surgeons Chapter, American Cancer Society (ACS), and Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalitions Dr. Thorson's involvement with the ACS and Nebraska C.A.R.E.S. (Cancer Awareness, Research, Education, and Service) is both outstanding and extensive. He serves as a member of the Nebraska ACoS Chapter Council, is a member of the ACS National Board of Directors, is second Vice-President of the ACS, is Chief Medical Officer of the ACS High Plains Division, President of ACS-CAN (Cancer Action Network), and is Chair of the Nebraska C.A.R.E.S. state cancer coalition. All of these activities are in addition to Dr. Thorson's endless efforts to engage his CLPs in improving the quality of cancer care and recognizing CoC-approved programs in the state of Nebraska.

The leadership demonstrated by Drs. Bouton, Takanishi, and Thorson has set an example for all CoC State Chairs, and we would like to thank them for their exceptional guidance and direction!


Commission on Cancer, Cancer Liaison Physician Program
These FACS web pages provide full detail on the Commission on Cancer mission.