One of Top Cancer Behavioral Scientists from National Cancer Institute

Joins Arizona Cancer Center; Dr. Scott J. Leischow Begins new Post Nov. 14

 

From:  Donna Breckenridge, (520) 626-2277                                                             Oct. 24, 2005

 

The Arizona Cancer Center has selected Scott J. Leischow, PhD, until recently a senior adviser for tobacco policy at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to become the Center’s new deputy director for strategic partnerships and policy, effective Nov. 14.  Dr. Leischow, who will also serve as a professor at The University of Arizona College of Medicine’s Department of Family and Community Medicine, was a UA faculty member affiliated with the Arizona Cancer Center from 1991-2000.

 

Dr. Leischow will help build strategic partnerships for preventing and treating cancer throughout Arizona and will work to build more effective linkages to the growing population of cancer survivors.  He also will help establish a behavioral oncology program at the Arizona Cancer Center and continue his work on improving treatments for tobacco dependence -- the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. 

 

Arizona Cancer Center Director David S. Alberts, MD, said "Scott Leischow is one of the top cancer behavioral scientists in the world today.  His work on tobacco control at the National Cancer Institute was so successful that he was asked to move up to a key role in Health and Human Services.  Now, the Arizona Cancer Center and The University of Arizona have the great honor to welcome Dr. Leischow back to a new position as deputy director for partnerships and policy.  We are extremely fortunate to have him in a strong position to forge new research, education and service relationships with health care partners throughout Arizona, the Southwest and internationally."

 

Dr. Leischow joined the National Cancer Institute in 2000 to serve as chief of the Tobacco Control Research Branch within the Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences.  He was responsible for increasing collaboration across the department on tobacco efforts, advising on tobacco policy, and leading efforts to implement new tobacco control initiatives, such as the national network of smoker quit-lines.  In August 2004, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services appointed Dr. Leischow as the senior adviser for tobacco policy because his national leadership on tobacco control bridged science and policy.

 

Dr. Leischow also works on international tobacco and cancer control efforts and was an official U.S. delegate to the International Agency for Research on Cancer.  At NCI, Dr. Leischow won the NCI Director’s Gold Star Award, the NIH Plain Language Award, and the prestigious NIH Director’s Award.  He represented both NCI and NIH on tobacco control matters, which included testifying before Congress.

 

Dr. Leischow said, "Our best opportunity for preventing and treating cancer is by understanding and developing strong multidisciplinary networks -- including scientists, practitioners, policymakers and the public -- to assure that research is most rapidly put into practice for the benefit of everyone in Arizona.  The Arizona Cancer Center will play a central role in fostering that network."

 

The Arizona Cancer Center is Arizona’s first National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center.  With primary locations at The University of Arizona in Tucson and the Virginia Piper Cancer Center in Scottsdale, the Center has more than a dozen research and education offices distributed throughout the state.  The Center’s mission is to prevent and cure cancer through patient care, research and education.  For more information, go to www.azcc.arizona.edu.

 

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:  Dr. Leischow is available for immediate phone interviews.

 

#    #    #

 

 

 

Susan Guthrie
Senior Public Affairs Coordinator
University of Arizona, College of Medicine - Phoenix
4001 N. Third Street, Suite 401
Phoenix, Arizona  85012
602-631-6555 (office) 480-241-7738 (cell)
sguthrie@email.arizona.edu

www.phoenix.arizona.edu

 

To read about the expansion of the UA College of Medicine in Phoenix go to http://www.phoenix.medicine.arizona.edu/About/News/Campus/