John
C. Ruckdeschel, M.D., one of the nation’s preeminent clinical, research
and administrative leaders in oncology, has been successfully recruited
to become the Institute’s new director and chief executive officer
(CEO).
Nevada Cancer Institute (NVCI) is the official cancer institute for the State of Nevada. A nonprofit organization, NVCI is committed to reducing the burden of cancer by pursuing the development of a comprehensive cancer research institute, as defined by the National Cancer Institute. Through the knowledge and expertise of the finest scientists, clinicians, educators and caregivers, the Institute provides hope to communities in Nevada, the southwest and beyond through research, education, early detection, prevention and high quality patient care. NVCI is striving for a future without cancer that is achieved through initiated and collaborative research in basic, clinical and population science. For more information, please visit www.nevadacancerinstitute.org or call (702) 822-LIFE.
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Nationally Renown Physician-Scientist Dr. John C. Ruckdeschel accepts position as the Institute’s Director and Chief Executive Officer.
Dr. Ruckdeschel brings an impressive track record of success as both a physician-scientist and an administrator. An internationally renowned lung cancer physician and researcher, Ruckdeschel successfully led two National Cancer Institute (NCI) Designated Cancer Centers to achieve dramatic and significant milestones.
"To hire a leader the caliber of Dr. Ruckdeschel is truly a monumental achievement for Nevada Cancer Institute and the state of Nevada," said Chairman of the Board and Cofounder Heather Murren. "Dr. Ruckdeschel will be instrumental in leading NVCI down the path to achieve its overarching goal of reaching NCI designation."
In his most recent position as president and CEO at Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit for the past six years, Dr. Ruckdeschel strengthened and reorganized Karmanos’ clinical and research programs as well as its administrative structure. This led, in 2004, to the best site visit score in its 26-year history as an NCI- designated center and resulted in a five-year renewal of the prestigious comprehensive designation as well as a four-fold increase in yearly NCI funding. Clinically, Karmanos is one of the only hospitals in southeast Michigan that is both making a profit and ahead of budget.
Prior to his tenure at Karmanos, Dr. Ruckdeschel served as director, president and CEO at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida. Under Dr. Ruckdeschel’s leadership, Moffitt became a NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in 2001 – one of the youngest centers in the country to achieve this prestigious designation. In a period of only ten years under his leadership, Moffitt became the third largest cancer center in the nation in terms of patient volumes.
Dr. Ruckdeschel hopes to have the same positive impact at NVCI.
"My goal is to ensure that the citizens of Nevada have a top tier cancer center available to them that can provide all of the clinical and research opportunities, and services they deserve," said Dr. Ruckdeschel. "Nevada Cancer Institute will work, alongside our partners in the community, to provide the pinnacle of high-quality cancer care in the Southwest. We will grow our research efforts so that we are nationally and internationally competitive, and so that we make a difference in people’s lives through the quality of our research."
A globally recognized lung cancer physician and researcher consistently placed on the America’s Top Doctors and Best Doctors lists, Dr. Ruckdeschel earned a B.S. in biology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York and in 1971 completed his medical degree at Albany Medical College. He interned at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, which was followed by a fellowship at the National Cancer Institute in Washington, D.C. He completed his residency at Boston’s Beth Israel Hospital in 1976.
Dr. Ruckdeschel is board certified in internal medicine and medical oncology, has written or co-written more than 350 publications, book chapters and abstracts, made over 250 invited presentations and has three active, as well as four pending, research grant awards. His clinical and research interests focus on lung cancer and behavioral oncology with a focus on patient-physician communication. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians as well as the American College of Chest Physicians and has served as a consultant to the National Cancer Institute and several university cancer centers. He chairs the external advisory boards for the Wake Forest, University of Texas at San Antonio and Penn State cancer centers.
As a lung cancer researcher and physician, Dr. Ruckdeschel fills a need in Nevada, where lung cancer incidence and mortality rates are among the highest in the nation. According to the American Cancer Society, in 2008, Nevada ranked 10th in the nation for lung and bronchus cancer incidence and 15th for lung and bronchus deaths. Women in Nevada have the 2nd highest incidence and mortality rates for lung and bronchus cancer in the United States.
Murren said that the hiring of Dr. Ruckdeschel marks the beginning of a new era for Nevada Cancer Institute.
"I have complete confidence he will take NVCI to the next level and beyond," Murren said. "His arrival will have a ripple effect on the depth and breadth of oncology care in the state of Nevada."
Contact: Lisa Stark, (702) 822-5580, lstark@nvcancer.org Jennifer McDonnell, (702) 821-0082, jmcdonnell@nvcancer.org
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