2024 Cancer Liaison Physician Outstanding Performance Winners

Ikechukwu Akunyili, MD
WellSpan Adams Cancer Center
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

“By ensuring quality care is adhered to in the community, the CLP helps patients receive the best care possible from health institutions.”

David Byrd, MD, FACS
University of Washington Medical Center/Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Seattle, Washington

Edwin Chiu, MD
NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County
Brooklyn, New York

“Cancer Care is a complex multidisciplinary working group dedicated to improving the patients, community, and institution affected by cancer. The CLP is the Cancer Committee Quality Improvement Champion designated to build mission-driven teams that improves on weaknesses and optimizes on strengths to raise the standards of cancer care.”

Ryan K. Cleary, MD
Erlanger Health System
Chattanooga, Tennessee

“The work of the CLP most impacts patient care through promoting high level multidisciplinary cancer care on a system-wide level.”

Megan B. Nelson, MD, FAAPMR
UofL Health – UofL Hospital & Brown Cancer Center
Louisville, Kentucky

“Cancer Liaison Physicians have an important interdisciplinary CoC role within an interdisciplinary oncology setting. CLPs connect oncology providers, cancer care teams, and the healthcare system at large to data on their cancer patient outcomes, including the enjoyed successes and even more importantly the areas for improvement and growth. The CLPs then help stimulate change within the oncology care system through Quality Improvement teams and projects that evolve directly from the CLP's access and sharing of NCDB data, creating positive change and momentum for the ultimate benefit of our patients.”

Sharona Ross, MD, FACS
AdventHealth Tampa
Tampa, Floria

“The CLP provides a valuable link between the cancer program and the Commission on Cancer (CoC). We ensure that cancer patients receive quality and comprehensive care by guiding patients through the cancer care continuum, from diagnosis to survivorship. I facilitate communication among the cancer team members, help coordinate multidisciplinary care, and ensure compliance with accreditation standards. Overall, the CLP’s work contributes to improved patient outcomes, patient satisfaction, and the overall quality of cancer care.”

Melwyn Sequeira, MD, FACS, FRCS
MyMichigan Health System
Midland, Michigan

“The Cancer Liaison helps track and monitor standards of care for the cancer patient as they journey through the phases of work-up, management and subsequent survivorship. The CLP stays abreast of both trends and snap-shot views of the quality of the cancer program and help alter, change course or course correct areas that need added resources or attention.”

Carolyn L. Thomas, MD, FACS
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas
Dallas, Texas

“The CLP’s work ensures there is programming in our cancer programs that elevates the quality of patient care in a goal-driven manner.”