News Details

NCCN Board of Directors Welcomes New Chair and Vice-Chair

JENKINTOWN, Pa., April 11, 2007 —Al B. Benson III, M.D., has been elected to the position of Chairman of the Board of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). Thomas A. D’Amico, M.D., has been elected to the position of Vice-Chairman.

Dr. Benson is the Associate Director for Clinical Investigations at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University and Professor of Medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Benson is recognized internationally as a leading expert in the treatment of colon, rectal and other GI cancers. Dr. Benson has conducted research and written extensively about biologics, cancer therapy and cancer prevention. He has served NCCN in a variety of capacities, including as chair of several NCCN Guidelines Panels and committees.

Dr. D’Amico is Director of Clinical Oncology, Program Director of Thoracic Surgery and Associate Professor in the department of surgery at Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. D’Amico is a recognized thought leader with interests including lung cancer, esophageal cancer and thoracic surgery. His research focus has been the molecular biology of lung cancer and esophageal cancer. Dr. D’Amico is also a member of several NCCN Guidelines Panels and committees.

“I am excited and honored to accept this new role at NCCN,” Dr. Benson said. “With the combined expertise of our 21 NCCN Member Institutions, we will continue to make great contributions to oncology and to patients whom we serve.”

Dr. Benson assumes a position previously held by David Hohn, M.D., who served as chairman for 3 years and was responsible for substantial growth of NCCN. He remains active as a member of the executive committee and the board of NCCN.