New Chairman of Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Appointed at Memorial Sloan-Kettering

Newswise — David Kissane, M.D. has been named Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC).

Dr. Kissane will be responsible for a broad program of services, research, and training in the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric problems related to cancer and its care. He replaces Jimmie Holland, MD, founder of the field of psycho-oncology, who decided to step down after 26 years. Dr. Kissane plans to expand the department's psychological assessment and intervention services across MSKCC's 17 multidisciplinary Disease Management Teams.

"Since Dr. Holland expressed a desire, about three years ago, to step down from her administrative responsibilities, Memorial Sloan-Kettering has been seeking a successor," said Robert E. Wittes, MD, Physician-in-Chief of MSKCC. "We sought an individual whose leadership, academic achievements, and clinical skills would insure the Department's status in the front rank of psycho-oncology units worldwide, as well as advance its programs in the behavioral sciences relating to cancer. At the conclusion of the process, Dr. Kissane was the search committee's unanimous choice. His breadth of interests in the full range of issues in psycho-oncology will serve our patients and the institution well." Born and raised in Australia, Dr. Kissane received his medical degree from the University of Melbourne and completed his residency and fellowship at St. Vincent's Hospital, also in Melbourne. In 1987, after several years of family medicine practice, he joined the faculty at St. Vincent's as Clinical Instructor in Psychiatry and subsequently joined the Department of Psychological Medicine at Monash University and Monash Medical Centre in Victoria, Australia. In 1996, he became the Foundation Professor of Palliative Medicine at the University of Melbourne, a position he held until his move to MSKCC. His professional interests include psychotherapy trials, palliation and symptom control in the cancer patient, support of the family unit during illness and bereavement, and end-of-life decision-making. His work characterizing demoralization of late-stage cancer patients and distinguishing between this syndrome and depression is a particularly noteworthy contribution and one for which he has been internationally recognized. From 2000 - 2003, he served as President of the International Psycho-Oncology Society.

Dr. Kissane has a particular interest in physician-patient communication and will initiate a formal instructional program at MSKCC. In addition, he plans expanded efforts in clinical supportive care trials, neurocognitive studies of patients receiving chemotherapy, and behavioral research.

"In addition to promoting patient adaptation to illness, developing a model of family centered care has proved challenging to clinical services, yet so needed in oncology," said Dr. Kissane. "Our family therapy trials have paved the way to achieve this through the coordinated use of the psychosocial multidisciplinary team. We plan to further develop this teamwork at Memorial Sloan-Kettering so that our psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, chaplains, and all other healthcare workers collaborate to achieve an integrated and expanded program of supportive care services. We aim to optimize the quality of life of all affected by cancer, including those graduating as survivors, as well as those receiving palliative care or becoming bereaved."

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center is the world's oldest and largest institution devoted to prevention, patient care, research and education in cancer. Our scientists and clinicians generate innovative approaches to better understand, diagnose and treat cancer. Our specialists are leaders in biomedical research and in translating the latest research to advance the standard of cancer care worldwide. For more information, go to http://www.mskcc.org.