Partner Jeffrey L. Kirshner, MD Receives National Award for Contributions to Cancer Research

East Syracuse, NY – At its national meeting this week in November, The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology Foundation will recognize Jeffrey J. Kirshner, MD with the Richard L. Schilsky Cancer and Leukemia Group B Achievement (RLS CALGB) Award. Established in 2010, the honor is bestowed for significant contributions to cooperative group research for cancer care.

"With our mission to provide the highest level of care to patients, research is integral to identifying better and more effective therapies,” says Anthony J. Scalzo, MD, physician-partner and president of Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY (HOACNY). “We are very thankful and proud that Dr. Kirshner has led the HOACNY research department for over 30 years.”

Scalzo further explained that Dr. Kirshner has consistently represented HOACNY with the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and HOACNY’s main cooperative group, The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology (The Alliance). “His leadership has been instrumental in our national recognition as a strong supporter and contributor to important cancer research,” Scalzo adds.

With The Alliance, Dr. Kirshner serves as Chair of the Alliance Data and Safety Monitoring Board and is a member of the Alliance Breast Committee, Alliance Symptom Intervention Committee, and Alliance Community Oncology Committee. He serves on several committees for ASCO, including CancerLinQ Research and Publications. He is a member of the Practice Guidelines Implementation Network (PGIN) and serves as the community oncology representative on four expert panels. Dr. Kirshner also has authored or co-authored more than 70 peer-reviewed research publications. 

Clinical Trials at HOACNY

“Before, clinical trials were sometimes seen only as a “last resort” when people had no other treatment options,” explains Kirshner. “However, many people with early stage cancers choose to participate in treatment and/or symptom management clinical trials, making today’s clinical trials tomorrow’s standard of care!”

Kirshner explained that patients should ask their physician and other members of their healthcare team about clinical trial options for them, as well as check the NCI website cancer.gov. Additionally, HOACNY also offers individuals the option to contact its Research Department at 315-472-7504 (x1350). 

HOACNY joined The Cancer and Leukemia Group B in 1983 which merged with two other cooperative groups becoming the Alliance in 2014, when the NCI discontinued its Community Clinical Oncology Program. This partnership continues to allow HOACNY to offer patients research opportunities utilizing state-of-the-art cancer treatments with access to many of the same clinical trials typically available at large cancer treatment centers. That is possible because The Alliance is part of the National Clinical Trials Network NCTN) sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and a research base for the NCI Community Research Oncology Program (NCORP). HOACNY also participates in clinical trials sponsored by private industry and pharmaceutical companies.