Northern Illinois Proton Treatment and Research Center appoints Cherilyn Murer as Chair of its board of directors

The Northern Illinois Proton Treatment and Research Center (NIPTRC) announced today that Cherilyn Murer has been named Chair of its board of directors. Murer, who previously served as vice-chair of NIPTRC is also a Northern Illinois University Trustee and concluded a two year term as Chair of the NIU Board of Trustees on June 30, 2009.

"I am honored to lead this distinguished group of board members who are charged with bringing the Northern Illinois Proton Treatment and Research Center to fruition," Murer said. "Our work must continue with all due speed so that we can bring this life-saving treatment to the thousands of cancer patients who will benefit from it each year."

"Cherilyn's background as an expert in the field of healthcare makes her eminently qualified to lead NIPTRC into the future," said John Lewis, Executive Director of NIPRTC. "She will bring skill, determination and forward thinking ideas to the table as we continue to build what we believe will be the best proton treatment and research center in the country."

Murer is President and CEO of the Murer Group, a healthcare consulting company. She has long been an active voice in the advancement of quality, cost-effective health care. Ms. Murer received a Juris Doctor degree with honors from Northern Illinois University and has coupled her background in law with her previous operational experience as the Director of Rehabilitation Medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Ms. Murer is a sought after lecturer and educator whose focus is on assisting her clients navigate through the complex regulatory, strategic and financial issues facing healthcare today.

Murer's appointment was made official following a unanimous vote of approval by the Northern Illinois Research Foundation, the sole member of the Northern Illinois Proton Treatment & Research Center.

NIPTRC is a tax-exempt entity that will make available proton beam therapy, an advanced and highly effective form of radiation therapy currently unavailable in Illinois; the noninvasive therapy is the treatment of choice for certain pediatric and adult cancers.

NIPTRC is working with NIU and physicians from the Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation to provide clinical and educational services to patients. Joint research partnerships between researchers from Fermilab and Argonne National Lab will help to advance the field of proton therapy worldwide.

NIPTRC's unique holistic cancer care mission will provide patients with services that include nutrition, speech pathology, physical therapy, family counseling and educational tutoring for pediatric patients. NIPTRC is also committed to charity care and to providing training for particle therapy specialists throughout the U.S.

"The comprehensive scope of the Northern Illinois Proton Treatment and Research Center makes our mission not only challenging but exciting," Murer said. "I believe that this facility will be a catalyst that can open new doors to propel us to higher levels of advanced cancer treatment and research."