A SPECIAL PUBLICATION FOR MEMBERS OF THE CANCER INSTITUTE OF NEW JERSEY NETWORK

CentraState Surgeon Appointed Chair of State Cancer Liaison Program

Freehold, NJ - Jarrod Kaufman, MD, FACS, a surgeon on staff at CentraState Medical Center, recently received a three-year appointment as the State Chair of the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC) Cancer Liaison Program. Dr. Kaufman also is the chair of the Melanoma Work Group of the New Jersey Governor’s Task Force on Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment. Dr. Kaufman leads skin cancer programs at CentraState, including the new MoleSafe program, a total skin documentation system for early detection of melanoma and other skin cancers. State Chairs are volunteer physicians who serve as CoC representatives and provide leadership and support to the CoC-accredited programs and Cancer Liaison Physicians in their state.  Dr. Kaufman is among a network of 64 State Chairs that guides the activities of more than 1,600 volunteer Cancer Liaison Physicians appointed in cancer programs across the U.S. Cancer Liaison Physicians are responsible for spearheading CoC initiatives within their cancer programs; collaborating with agencies such as the American Cancer Society, and facilitating quality improvement initiatives utilizing data submitted to the CoC's National Cancer Database.  Dr. Kaufman also will work with the American Cancer Society, state cancer registries, and departments of health to support data-driven comprehensive cancer control planning throughout the state. This collaborative effort is an integrated and coordinated approach to reducing cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality. The CoC State Chair assists in the development and implementation of a state cancer plan, which identifies cancer issues, provides strategies of implementation, and evaluates the effectiveness of cancer control activities at the state and local levels.   As State Chair, Dr. Kaufman is the main contact between the Commission on Cancer and local chapter of the American College of Surgeons. This responsibility includes serving as a member of the chapter council and involving Chapter members in CoC initiatives and activities.

Somerset Medical Center Earns National Recognition for Breast Care Services

Somerville, NJ - Somerset Medical Center has earned national recognition for its breast care services. The Sanofi-aventis U.S. Breast Care Program at the medical center’s Steeplechase Cancer Center is only one of six in New Jersey to achieve full accreditation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, a program administered by the American College of Surgeons. The three-year accreditation was granted after the center underwent a voluntary evaluation and rigorous review of their performance, demonstrating proficiency in the areas of center leadership, clinical management, research, community outreach, professional education and quality improvement. “This national accreditation is testament to our outstanding physicians, nurses and staff who are leaders in their fields and are dedicated to providing the highest quality patient care,” added Maureen Schneider, senior vice president of clinical program development and chief nursing officer at Somerset Medical Center. The Sanofi-aventis U.S. Breast Care Program has also been designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology. In addition, it has earned a reputation for its caring, experienced staff, consistently ranking among the top in New Jersey in patient satisfaction. The center’s state-of-the-art technologies include digital mammography, the ImageChecker™ computer-aided detection system, breast ultrasound, vacuum-assisted core breast biopsy with stereotactic or ultrasound guidance and MRI scans and MRI-guided breast biopsy. Each week, a multidisciplinary team of health care specialists - the Sanofi-aventis U.S. Breast Cancer Institute -- meets to discuss breast cancer patients diagnosed the previous week at the medical center, reviewing patient cases to ensure that the patient is offered the most appropriate treatment options. A breast cancer patient navigator helps coordinate patients’ treatment plans in conjunction with the multidisciplinary team.