Karmanos Cancer Institute appoints Dr. Justin Klamerus to Chief Quality Officer, Executive Vice President, Community-Based Programs

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Jan 21, 2014, 07:05 ET

DETROIT, Jan. 21, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Justin Klamerus, M.D., M.M.M., has been named chief quality officer and executive vice president, Community-Based Programs for the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, effective immediately.

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Justin Klamerus, M.D., M.M.M., has been named chief quality officer and executive vice president, Community-Based Programs for the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute. (PRNewsFoto/Karmanos Cancer Institute) (PRNewsFoto/KARMANOS CANCER INSTITUTE)

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Prior to his appointment, Dr. Klamerus served as president and medical director of the McLaren Cancer Institute, a regional network of 13 cancer centers in the McLaren health system. Karmanos Cancer Institute recently joined McLaren Health Care, which creates Michigan's largest oncology provider network with more than 12,000 new cancer cases per year.

In his new role, Dr. Klamerus is responsible for ensuring that Karmanos' high quality, cutting edge cancer care is available to patients throughout McLaren hospitals' statewide network. He reports to Gerold Bepler, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of Karmanos.

"Dr. Klamerus is highly qualified to take on this new position," said Dr. Bepler. "He has the depth and breadth of experience to make tremendous contributions to Karmanos' mission of delivering the very best cancer care to patients served by McLaren hospitals each year. I am excited to work with Dr. Klamerus and am pleased that he is now part of our leadership team."

With more than 30 active medical oncology protocols, Dr. Klamerus serves as the principal investigator of cancer research at McLaren. His independent research has focused on upper aerodigestive cancers, health policy and health care disparities.

He also has worked as program director of Cancer Services from 2011-2012 and assistant medical director for Quality and Program Development at McLaren Northern Michigan from 2009-2011.

Dr. Klamerus is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and sits on the Clinical Practice Committee of ASCO. He is also chair of the Pathways Steering Committee of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the Michigan Oncology Quality Consortium, the Michigan Cancer Consortium, the Health Management Academy's Oncology Forum and the American College of Physician Executives.

He is board certified in medical oncology and internal medicine. His published works include the book "The Johns Hopkins Patient Guide to Lung Cancer," and several papers on access to cancer clinical trials and health care disparities. He also serves as a series contributor to patient education books on breast, colon, and prostate cancer published by Jones and Bartlett.

Dr. Klamerus is a graduate of the College of Human Medicine at Michigan State University. He completed his residency and chief residency in internal medicine at The Ohio State University. Dr. Klamerus served as a clinical instructor of Internal Medicine and as a lecturer in the College of Medicine and Public Health at Ohio State. Following internal medicine training, he attended Johns Hopkins University where he completed a fellowship in Medical Oncology. Dr. Klamerus also completed a Master of Medical Management at the Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University.

About the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
Located in mid-town Detroit, Michigan, the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute is one of 41 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. Karmanos is among the nation's best cancer centers. Through the commitment of 1,000 staff, including nearly 300 physicians and researchers on faculty at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, and supported by thousands of volunteer and financial donors, Karmanos strives to prevent, detect and eradicate all forms of cancer. Its long-term partnership with the WSU School of Medicine enhances the collaboration of critical research and academics related to cancer care. Gerold Bepler, M.D., Ph.D., is the Institute's president and chief executive officer. For more information call 1-800-KARMANOS or go to www.karmanos.org.

SOURCE Karmanos Cancer Institute