DETROIT, June 28, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Michael C. Joiner, Ph.D., professor in the Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Oncology, at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and Wayne State University School of Medicine, will be honoured by the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) with the 2018 ESTRO Lifetime Achievement Award. He will receive the award at ESTRO's Annual Conference next April in Barcelona.
Dr. Joiner is the first American to receive the award since it was established in 2007. He will be joined by four other doctors from various European countries who also are receiving the award.
"We at Karmanos are enormously proud of Dr. Joiner for this lifetime achievement award," said Gerold Bepler, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO, Karmanos Cancer Institute. "Dr. Joiner exemplifies what is so extraordinary about the partnership between Karmanos and WSU SOM. Our medical staff receives the benefit of consulting with world-renowned experts like Dr. Joiner, which translates to superior care for our patients. I personally congratulate him on this tremendous honor."
Dr. Joiner is passionate about teaching. He not only teaches clinical residents and medical physicists who go through the residency programs at WSU, he teaches radiation oncologists in training all over the world, from Paris to Russia to Australia. Over the past 30 years or so, he has taught more than 6,000 students globally the basics of clinical radiobiology.
"I like to think that I'm doing good by imparting my knowledge to the next generation," he said. "I'm achieving giving the people the best knowledge that will stay with them for the rest of their lives."
The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an ESTRO member who is nearing the end of his or her active career and has contributed "tremendously" to ESTRO activities, according to ESTRO officials.
"Dr. Joiner has been a valuable member of ESTRO for many years, and has always been very active in our society, both in the committees (namely, as member of the Radiobiology Committee) and in the ESTRO School, where he has been, since 2012, course director of the extremely successful Basic Clinical Radiobiology course," said Marta Jayes, Governance Affairs manager of ESTRO, which is headquartered in Brussels. "The Nominating Council has therefore unanimously agreed on bestowing this award upon him, in recognition of this outstanding contribution."
Dr. Joiner has continually taught classes through ESTRO since 1990. He came to Wayne State University in 2001, where he gained tenured professorship in 2002. He received both his bachelor's and master's degrees in Experimental Physics from Queens' College, Cambridge University, and his Ph.D. at the Institute of Cancer Research at the University of London. He holds dual citizenship in America and England, where he was born.
Dr. Joiner is the editor of the textbook "Basic Clinical Radiobiology," which is now in its fourth edition, with a new fifth edition on its way. He also has received National Institutes of Health funding to develop an education program to address the declining number of scientists with expertise in the application of radiobiology to the clinical practice of radiation oncology.
Jay Burmeister, Ph.D., chief of Physics at Karmanos and professor in the Department of Oncology at WSU SOM, has taught alongside Dr. Joiner for 15 years and describes him as an "incredible asset" as one of the most recognizable radiobiologists in the world, providing clinical advice, and teaching WSU's graduate students and residents.
"What makes Mike a great teacher is his passion for education, specifically the translation of his science to clinical care," said Dr. Burmeister. "You can see it in his excitement to teach these applications, whether it is in the classroom or at conferences. So while his scientific expertise is a great resource for our radiation oncology program, his educational expertise is also a great resource for our educational infrastructure."
About the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
Karmanos Cancer Institute is headquartered in Detroit, with 14 locations throughout Michigan. As part of McLaren, Karmanos is the largest cancer care and research network in the state. It is among the nation's best cancer centers as one of the National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States and the only one located in metro Detroit. Karmanos cancer experts focus solely on cancer to prevent, detect and treat as well as eradicate all forms of cancer. Its long-term partnership with the Wayne State University School of Medicine enhances the collaboration of critical research and academics related to cancer care. For more information, call 1-800-KARMANOS (800-527-6266) or visit www.karmanos.org. Follow Karmanos on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
SOURCE Karmanos Cancer Institute
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