International Cancer Association recognizes Baptist Cancer Center lung cancer team

MEMPHIS, Tenn. –The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) recently named Baptist Cancer Center the 2022 North America Regional Winner for one of the association’s most prestigious awards—the IASLC Cancer Care Team Award during the IASLC 2022 World Conference on Lung Cancer.

The Cancer Care Team Award recognizes a single institution in North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia/Rest of the World for extraordinary patient care in the field of lung cancer and thoracic malignancies. Patients and their loved ones nominate teams for the award.

“We are honored to be one of only three cancer teams across the globe to receive this award, but it is most meaningful because we were nominated by one of our patients,” said Dr. Raymond Osarogiagbon, chief scientist for Baptist Memorial Health Care and director of the multidisciplinary thoracic oncology program and the thoracic oncology research group for Baptist Cancer Center. “Our team is dedicated to caring for our patients and furthering research in the field of lung cancer. This award demonstrates our exceptional teamwork and how it benefits our patients.”

The Asia/ROW Regional Winner of the Cancer Care Team Award is Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, affiliated with Tongji University in Shanghai, China, and the Latin America Regional Winner is Instituto Nacional del Tórax in Providencia, Chile.

“Lung cancer care requires contributions from strong multidisciplinary teams to offer the best therapy for today’s patients,” said Dr. Heather Wakelee, president of IASLC. “This year’s Cancer Care Team Award winners all demonstrate tremendous commitment to patient care and communication.”

The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) is the only global organization dedicated solely to the study of lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies. Founded in 1974, the association's membership includes nearly 7,500 lung cancer specialists across all disciplines in over 100 countries, forming a global network working together to conquer lung and thoracic cancers worldwide. The association also publishes the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, the primary educational and informational publication for topics relevant to the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of all thoracic malignancies. Visit www.iaslc.org for more information.

The World Conference on Lung Cancer is the world’s largest meeting dedicated to lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies, attracting more than 7,000 researchers, physicians and specialists from more than 100 countries. The goal is to increase awareness, collaboration and understanding of lung cancer, and to help participants implement the latest developments across the globe. The conference will cover a wide range of disciplines and unveil several research studies and clinical trial results. For more information, visit https://wclc2022.iaslc.org/.

Baptist Cancer Center provides world-class cancer care close to home throughout Baptist Memorial Health Care’s tristate service area of Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee. The center takes an interdisciplinary approach to patient care and offers treatment, research, support services, community education and the area's first genetic counseling and testing program for cancer. In addition, BCC has the Mid-South's first adult myelosuppression unit, which provides specialized care for patients who have received chemotherapy that interferes with blood cell production or stops bone marrow activity. In 2019, BCC was awarded a second $9 million research grant from the National Cancer Institute to continue building out its clinical research infrastructure to expand lifesaving, leading-edge treatment across the Mid-South, including overcoming disparities in cancer care under the Minority-Underserved NCI Community Oncology Research Program, known as NCORP. In 2021, BCC announced a multifaceted initiative called the Mid-South Miracle aimed at reducing lung cancer deaths in the Mid-South 25% by 2030. For more information, please visit baptistcancercenter.com, or follow us on Facebook.