UC San Diego Health System receives national award for providing quality care to cancer patients

UC San Diego Health System is a recipient of the 2012 Outstanding Achievement Award from the American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer. Seventy-nine cancer care programs—three in California—received this national award based on excellence in providing quality care to cancer patients.

"These 79 cancer programs, surveyed in 2012, currently represent the best of the best—so to speak—when it comes to cancer care," said Daniel P. McKellar, MD, FACS, chair of the Commission on Cancer. "Each of these facilities is not just meeting nationally recognized standards for the delivery of quality cancer care, they are exceeding them."

Established in 2004, the honor was awarded to only 19 percent of the cancer care programs surveyed in 2012. The award is designed to recognize quality cancer care and to help patients make an informed decision on where to seek superior treatment.

UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center is recognized as an innovative leader in cancer treatment and research. Home to 413 physicians and scientists, it employs a multidisciplinary team approach to patient care that includes surgical oncology, medical oncology, gynecologic oncology, radiation oncology, pathology, diagnostic radiology, interventional radiology, palliative care, integrative medicine, psychology and nutrition.

"This award distinguishes us as part of an elite group of cancer programs in the United States that are being recognized for providing the highest quality cancer care," said Jason Sicklick, MD, FACS, surgical oncologist and UC San Diego's cancer liaison physician to the Commission on Cancer. "It highlights our multidisciplinary approach and allows us to share our best practices with other institutions in order to improve patient care not only in San Diego, but nationwide."