Society of Surgical Oncology 2014 Presidential Address

I would like to begin with thank-you, especially to Dr. Copeland, my residency chairman, and Dr. Bland, my residency director, for their training and continued mentoring to this very day. Thanks to my fellow chiefs, Drs. Lee Ellis, Tim Yeatman, and Mark McCoy, who made life competitive and who are exemplary surgeon-scientists, whether in the academy or in private practice. Under the tutelage of our mentors, we had more than 80 papers on finishing residency (Fig. 1). I would also like to say thank you to my many other mentors, who have contributed so much to my education and development in a variety of different venues over the years (Fig. 2). Some I did not formally train with, but they nevertheless took an active interest in my development. Thanks to my clinical team, including my longtime clinical research nurse, Maureen McCarthy, and data manager, Laura Akins, and to those with whom I do translational research, including my fellows, many of whom have presented at this meeting. I would especially like to acknowledge Dr. Soheila Korourian, breast pathologist, with whom I have worked with for over 20 years on multiple novel ideas to lessen the morbidity to patients undergoing breast cancer treatment Fig. 3). Many thanks to my regional partners, who join in a collaborative effort to improve care and increase research in the rural states of Kansas (Drs. Carol Fabian and Carol Connor), Oklahoma (Drs. Bill Dooley and LaNette Smith), Missouri (Dr. Julie Margenthaler), South Carolina (Dr. Ginny Herrmann), and Arkansas (Drs. Ronda Henry-Tillman and Daniela Ochoa). Thanks to my pioneers—my patients—who help by participating in research, and especially to Representative Josetta Wilkins, a breast cancer survivor with whom I helped write and pass the Arkansas Breast Cancer Act of 1997, which has funded more than $60 million in indigent breast care and over $16 million in breast cancer research monies. Finally, a special thanks to my ever-patient family, who have given me time and support to pursue my work (Fig. 4). The year 2013 was the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO)’s first as a stand-alone operation, then led by its president, Monica Morrow; this was one of the major accomplishments of that year. As a result, Eileen Weidmer, our executive director, organized a staff structure with a full team of highly qualified, capable, and hard-working members. The Executive Committee and Executive Council worked hard to expand global initiatives and education. The Finance Committee, led by Dr. Dan Coit, worked on making the SSO fiscally sound and creating research and development and strategic funds totaling nearly half a million dollars to invest in new global and educational initiatives. These efforts were supported by the James Ewing Foundation, led by Dr. Bill Cance, which also sponsors the James Ewing Lecture, the Harvey Baker Traveling Fellow Award, the James Ewing Layman’s Award; and the Corporate Relations Committee, headed by Dr. Rob Martin, who knows how to get blood out of a turnip, as we say in the South. Congratulations to the Membership Committee, led by Dr. Giuliano, who has continued to increase, diversify, and expand our global ranks. This investment in infrastructure has positioned us to provide what I call translational education (Fig. 5). A video of the presentation of this Presidential Address, given at the 67th Annual Society of Surgical Oncology Cancer Symposium, is available at www.surgonc.org/vm.