The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center today announced an agreement with Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein (HIAE) in São Paulo, Brazil, creating an alliance to develop a comprehensive, multidisciplinary oncology program at the hospital.
The 10-year agreement calls for MD Anderson to provide its specialized expertise to help transform HIAE's oncology program into the premier cancer care center in South America by focusing on four key initiatives: patient care, research, education and prevention.
Dan Fontaine, MD Anderson senior vice president for business affairs, called the new agreement another milestone in the cancer center's efforts to extend its mission of eliminating cancer in Texas, the United States and the world.
"Collaboration is vital to eradicating cancer worldwide," said Fontaine."Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein is one of the most respected hospitals in Latin America, the region's leading acute care provider and a collaborator capable of, and committed to, implementing our multidisciplinary, research-driven patient care model."
The collaborative effort will build excellence across the full spectrum of cancer care at HIAE. Programmatic development will center on hospital-based disciplines, including radiation oncology, medical oncology, surgical oncology, diagnostic imaging, nursing, pathology and pharmacy. Centers of Excellence will also be developed, beginning in breast, prostate, thoracic, gastrointestinal and hematology, and eventually extend to all cancer diagnoses.
"Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein is an excellent institution with outstanding physicians," said Deborah Kuban, M.D., professor in the MD Anderson Department of Radiation Oncology and clinical lead on the project. "We complement their excellence with vast oncology experience developed during the past 70 years. The resulting program will offer high quality, comprehensive cancer care to patients in the region and beyond."
Brazil, which reports more than 520,000 new cancer cases a year, represents an excellent opportunity to make a significant and lasting impact on cancer care delivery, said Amy Hay, vice president for global business development. The alliance seeks to improve cancer care outcomes not only in São Paulo, but all of Brazil and South America.
"Everyone will benefit from this collaboration," she said. "Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein will incorporate MD Anderson's multidisciplinary approach to oncology care to address the cancer burden in Brazil, and MD Anderson advances its mission by extending its reach to South America. "Most importantly, patients in Brazil will have a powerful force to aid in their fight against cancer."
The new agreement represents an expansion of a long-standing relationship between the two institutions. HIAE became MD Anderson's first formal sister institution in 2002, leading to a number of academic exchanges. Prior agreements between MD Anderson and HIAE, starting in 2008, have resulted in the launch of multidisciplinary breast and genitourinary clinics, as well as a redesign of oncology facilities to centralize services and optimize the patient experience.
"Both institutions are committed to delivering the most superior cancer care and ensuring that the extraordinary potential of this collaboration is fully realized," said Hay. "Cancer patients in Brazil will benefit from the shared expertise and extensive resources of two exceptional institutions."
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