Newswise — Officials from the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology are pleased to announce that Fred Eilber, M.D., from the University of California School of Medicine in Los Angeles and LaSalle D. Leffall Jr., M.D., from Howard University in Washington, D.C., have been chosen to receive Honorary Memberships, the highest honor ASTRO bestows upon distinguished cancer researchers and leaders in disciplines other than radiation oncology, radiation physics and radiobiology.
"Honorary Membership is reserved for individuals who have made significant contributions to the care of the cancer patient," said ASTRO Chair Nora Janjan, M.D. "I am privileged to present this award to these two outstanding physicians who, in the course of their careers, have helped improve access to cancer care and assisted the development of multidisciplinary treatment that is now the standard of care for cancer patients."
Dr. Eilber was recognized for being an important force in the introduction and refining of preoperative chemo-radiation for soft tissue sarcomas. He has been an advocate for radiation therapy in all areas of oncology and he has made a large contribution to the stature and application of radiation oncology through his work and his training of young surgical oncologists. Dr. Eilber's advocacy efforts for radiation therapy by a surgeon have led to the widespread practice of limb-conservation by surgeons.
Dr. Leffall, a world-renowned surgical oncologist, has spent much of his career working to ensure that patients of a lower socioeconomic status receive the highest quality of cancer care. He has dedicated his professional life to the study of cancer, particularly in African Americans, with a concentration on soft part sarcomas and cancers of the breast, colorectum and head and neck. Dr. Leffall has trained more than 4,500 medical students and 250 residents and is the current Chair of President Bush's Cancer Panel.
Dr. Eilber and Dr. Leffall will be formally presented with their Honorary Memberships on Wednesday, October 21, 2003, at ASTRO's 45th Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City.
The American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology is the largest radiation oncology society in the world, with more than 7,000 members who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. As a leading organization in radiation oncology, biology and physics, the Society's mission is to advance the practice of radiation oncology by promoting excellence in patient care, providing opportunities for educational and professional development, promoting research and disseminating research results and representing radiation oncology in a rapidly evolving socioeconomic healthcare environment.
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