President Bill Clinton has appointed James Armitage, M.D., dean of the
University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, as a member
of the National Cancer Advisory Board.
Members of the board advise the president, the Secretary of the Department
of Health and Human Services, and the director of the National Cancer Institute,
with respect to the activities and policies carried out by the Institute.
Dr. Armitage, one of 18 advisory board members, will serve a six-year
term.
“It’s a tremendous honor for Jim to be appointed by the president to
the board,” said UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D. “It not only recognizes
his accomplishments in the field, but also what people think about his
perspective in the overall treatment of cancer policy. He will have a wonderful
opportunity to help shape cancer policies in the National Cancer Institute
and beyond.”
Dr. Armitage’s research focuses on bone marrow transplantation and the
management and classification of lymphoma. He established UNMC’s bone marrow
transplant program in 1982, when he joined UNMC.
He serves as president of the American Society for Blood and Marrow
Transplantation and is a past president of the American Society of Clinical
Oncology and past member of the Board of American Society of Hematology.
Dr. Armitage has authored more than 300 scientific papers, articles
and publications.
UNMC is the only public academic health science center in the state.
Through its commitment to research, education, outreach and patient care,
UNMC has established itself as one of the country’s leading centers for
cancer research and treatment, solid organ transplantation and arthritis.
During the past year, nearly $31 million in research grants and contracts
were awarded to UNMC scientists, and UNMCs funding from the National Institutes
of Health increased by 28 percent, going from $16.2 million to $20.7 million.
UNMC’s educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals
practicing in Nebraska than any other institution.