Capitalizing on Research and Clinical Synergy in the UMass Memorial Cancer Center
By Dario Altieri, MD, Director, UMass Memorial Cancer Center

This article originally appeared in Pathways, a magazine published for physicians and the community by UMass Memorial Medical Center.

Dario Altieri, MD

It is not just an impression due to increased media coverage. Finally, after decades of research and clinical intervention, we are making big strides in our fight against cancer. We are testing new, smart drugs that kill cancer cells and spare normal tissues. We are improving the technology for early diagnosis so that a tumor can be removed before it spreads beyond its borders. We are more aware of the pollutants in our environment and how they constitute a risk to our health. The progress is tangible and has already made a clear difference. While cancer incidence is in general on the rise, our patients live longer and better lives thanks to recent progress. 

So, where do we go from here? What can we do to capitalize on these successes, and provide our patients and their families with even better options and solutions? And, just as important, what can we do here, in our backyard, to fulfill the promise of cancer care in the 21st century?

Born out of a long-range partnership between the University of Massachusetts Medical School and UMass Memorial Health Care, the UMass Memorial Cancer Center is ready to tackle these challenges and provide comprehensive cancer care in Central Massachusetts. 

Our mission is clear and threefold. Be the best in cancer research and education, put our patients paramount in everything we do, and enhance cancer awareness and prevention in our communities.  

Our approach to cancer care is synergy and integration. The synergy is between our physicians and researchers working together to move new discoveries from the laboratory to the bedside as fast and as safely as possible.  The integration is between our multiple cancer specialists, including surgeons, internists, diagnostic and therapeutic radiologists, oncologists, pathologists and psychologists. In our comprehensive model of cancer care, these specialists are working together under the same roof to provide our patients, during a single visit, that unique multidisciplinary consultation that is needed to tackle all aspects of cancer. 

Our progress in these directions is substantial. New outpatient facilities in the dedicated Levine Cancer Center demonstrate our comprehensive model of cancer care; new research laboratories on the University Campus are being staffed with outstanding researchers coming to Worcester from premier institutions around the country; and new public initiatives will introduce our doctors and researchers to the communities that we serve.

It is this comprehensive culture and philosophy of integration that makes the UMass Memorial Cancer Center a world-class resource for outstanding cancer care in Central Massachusetts.