Levine Cancer Institute Continues to Add Top Physician Talent to Its Roster

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 30, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Levine Cancer Institute (LCI) is pleased to announce that Declan Walsh, MD, has joined the Institute as the new Chair of Medical Support Services. Dr. Walsh will lead the Department of Supportive Oncology, Levine Cancer Institute. Upon completion of the Institute's ongoing $150 million expansion, his department will have new and updated facilities within The Center for Supportive Care and Survivorship. Under his direction, LCI will build upon its strong foundation of exceptional clinical care, continuing to lead the way in the fields of survivorship, medical oncology, palliative medicine, cancer rehabilitation, and nutrition. As a pioneer in palliative medicine, Dr. Walsh developed the first palliative care program in the United States in 1987.

Prior to joining Levine Cancer Institute, Dr. Walsh held a joint Chair as the Fottrell Professor of Palliative Medicine in the medical schools at both Trinity and University Colleges in Dublin, Ireland. Previously, he served at the Cleveland Clinic in senior leadership positions. He has received the John Mendelsohn Award from MD Anderson Cancer Center and was a Visiting Fellow at Oxford University, UK. He has served on the boards of professional organizations in the U.S. and Europe and was given a lifetime achievement award by the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer and a Visionary Award by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

"We are very pleased to be welcoming Declan Walsh to our team at Levine Cancer Institute," said Derek Raghavan, MD, PhD, president of Levine Cancer Institute. "We feel confident that he will provide the Institute with the means to build existing survivorship and supportive care programs to new heights, and are excited that someone of Declan's caliber is leading this critical initiative of our System."

Dr. Walsh obtained his medical degree from University College Dublin, an MSc from the University of Newcastle-on-Tyne, U.K., and a Medical Oncology/Pharmacology Fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York. Dr. Walsh is an elected Fellow of the American College of Physicians and of the Royal Colleges of Physicians in both Edinburgh and London. He is the senior editor of a major textbook entitled Palliative Medicine published by Elsevier. In 2013, he was elected a Fellow of Trinity College Dublin. He is a trustee of Marie Curie Cancer Care, a major UK cancer charity. In 2017, he will assume the position of Editor-in-Chief for the BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care journal.

"I am honored to be joining Levine Cancer Institute," said Dr. Walsh. "Levine Cancer Institute is one of the most comprehensive and integrated programs in the nation, combining extraordinary care with an unwavering commitment to patients and their families. The Institute's commitment and accomplishments in delivering survivorship and supportive care positions is at the forefront of cancer care and treatment in the U.S."

About Carolinas HealthCare System

Carolinas HealthCare System (www.carolinashealthcare.org), one of the nation's leading healthcare organizations, provides a full spectrum of healthcare and wellness services and programs throughout North and South Carolina. Its diverse network includes academic medical centers, hospitals, freestanding emergency departments, physician practices, surgical and rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, nursing homes and behavioral health centers, as well as hospice and palliative care services. With more than 60,000 employees, 900 care locations and 11.5 million patient encounters annually, the System drives quality and value by integrating primary care – delivered in a variety of easily accessible settings – with world-class specialty services. In 2015, Carolinas HealthCare System provided more than $1.6 billion in community benefit, which includes the combined value of patient financial assistance, medical education, research, preventive health initiatives, and community outreach to address common public health issues such as diabetes and childhood obesity.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161130/444165LOGO

SOURCE Carolinas HealthCare System

Related Links

http://www.carolinashealthcare.org