The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (colloquially MD Anderson Cancer Center) is a comprehensive
cancer center in
Houston, Texas
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...
. It is the largest cancer center in the U.S. and one of the original three comprehensive cancer centers in the country. It is both a degree-granting academic institution and a cancer treatment and research center located at the
Texas Medical Center in Houston. It is affiliated with
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. According to Newsweek, MD Anderson Cancer Center is considered the best hospital in the world for oncology and related cancer treatment.
History
The cancer center is named after
Monroe Dunaway Anderson
Monroe Dunaway Anderson (1873–1939) was a banker and cotton trader from Jackson, Tennessee. With William L. Clayton, Anderson built Anderson, Clayton and Company (formed in 1904 by his brother Frank E. Anderson and Frank's brother-in-law, Will ...
, a
banker and
cotton trader from
Jackson, Tennessee. He was a member of a business partnership with his brother-in-law Will Clayton. Their company became the largest cotton company in the world. Anderson feared that in the event of one of the partners' deaths, the company would lose a large amount of money to
estate tax and be forced to dissolve. To avoid this, Anderson created the MD Anderson Foundation with an initial sum of $300,000. In 1939 after Anderson's death, the foundation received $19 million.
In 1941 the
Texas Legislature had appropriated $500,000 to build a cancer hospital and research center. The Anderson Foundation agreed to match funds with the state if the hospital were located in Houston in the Texas Medical Center (another project of the Anderson Foundation) and named after Anderson.
Using surplus World War II Army barracks, the hospital operated for 10 years from a converted residence and 46 beds leased in a Houston hospital before moving to its current location in 1954.
The institution became the subject of controversy in 2005 when it leased the use of its name to private investors who intended to promote a particular therapeutic approach,
proton therapy
In medicine, proton therapy, or proton radiotherapy, is a type of particle therapy that uses a beam of protons to irradiate diseased tissue, most often to treat cancer. The chief advantage of proton therapy over other types of external beam ra ...
. An article in the ''
Houston Chronicle'' suggested that the arrangement between the center and the investors might skew incentives, providing M.D. Anderson with non-medical reasons to "send as many patients as possible into the program."
Organization
Status
Being part of The University of Texas System, MD Anderson Cancer Center is managed under a nonprofit structure; however, for-profit agreements
have caused some to question the motives of the center.
MD Anderson enjoys university status by providing
fellowship,
internship and
residency
Residency may refer to:
* Domicile (law), the act of establishing or maintaining a residence in a given place
** Permanent residency, indefinite residence within a country despite not having citizenship
* Residency (medicine), a stage of postgrad ...
opportunities to Ph.D.s and medical professionals. The institution offers master's degrees, Ph.D.s and dual M.D./Ph.D. degrees to students enrolled in
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences ''formerly The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston (UT-GSBS)'', which it operates with UT Health Science Center at Houston. Areas of study include: Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Cancer Biology, Genetics & Epigenetics, Immunology, Medical Physics, Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, Neuroscience, Quantitative Sciences, and Therapeutics & Pharmacology. Additionally, the institution offers bachelor's and master's degrees to students enrolled in The UT MD Anderson Cancer Center School of Health Professions. Areas of study include clinical laboratory science, cytogenetic technology, cytotechnology, diagnostic imaging, diagnostic medical sonography, healthcare disparities, diversity and advocacy, histotechnology, medical dosimetry, molecular genetic technology, diagnostic genetics, radiological sciences and radiation therapy.
Recognition
In addition to its No. 1 ranking in cancer care by U.S. News & World Report, the cancer center ranks first in the number of
National Cancer Institute grants and invested more than $862.8 million in research in FY 2018.
The cancer center also has received Magnet Nursing recognition from the
American Nurses Credentialing Center
The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association (ANA), is a certification body for nursing board certification and the largest certification body for advanced practice registered nurses in the U ...
.
In May 1996, the
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) established the Collaborating Center for Supportive Cancer Care at the Pain Research Group, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. The terms of reference engage the Anderson Center in the development of palliative care programs throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
Presidents
MD Anderson has had five full-time presidents in its history:
*
R. Lee Clark R. Lee Clark (July 2, 1906 – May 3, 1994) was a surgical oncologist and the first permanent director of MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Early life
Randolph Lee Clark Jr. was born in Hereford, Texas, one of nine children. He was born into a fami ...
, M.D. (1946–1978)
*
Charles LeMaistre
Charles Aubrey "Mickey" LeMaistre (February 10, 1924 – January 28, 2017) was an American physician, medical educator, and academic administrator who served as chancellor of the University of Texas System from 1971 to 1978 and as president of t ...
, M.D. (1978–1996)
*
John Mendelsohn, M.D. (1996–2011)
*
Ronald DePinho, M.D. (2011–2017)
*Peter WT Pisters, M.D. (2017–present)
Mendelsohn stepped down from his position on Sept. 1, 2011, when
Ronald A. DePinho
Ronald A. DePinho (born 1955) is an American physician and research scientist. He served as president of MD Anderson Cancer Center from 2011 to 2017. DePinho states that his concern for reducing the burden of cancer suffering became his life goal ...
, M.D., became president. Mendelsohn remained on the faculty as co-director of the new Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy. Mendelsohn died on January 7, 2019, from
glioblastoma.
Growth
United States growth
The cancer center continues to grow, increasing in size by 50% in the past 10 years. Presently, the Houston complex now includes more than 680 inpatient beds, several research buildings and outpatient clinic buildings, two faculty office buildings, and a patient-family hotel in addition to other off-site facilities for clinical and research use.
Recently completed construction projects include two new research buildings on MD Anderson's South Campus and the addition of nine floors that can accommodate more than 300 new inpatient beds in Alkek Hospital on the North Campus.
[MD Anderson to Expand 12-Story Alkek Hospital]
"
MD Anderson's first facility on its Mid Campus opened in 2011 and includes a 25-story building to support current office space and future growth needs.
Also in 2011, the
Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation gave $150 million to MD Anderson. The new Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Building for Personalized Cancer Care is an international center of clinical excellence focusing on using the latest advances in genetic information to develop safe, more effective treatments for patients on a case-by-case basis.
In 2012 the
(originally the Prudential Building) was demolished, with plans to redevelop the site. The building had originally been purchased by MD Anderson in 1974 for $18.5 million.
[Hoover, Kent.]
Preservationists oppose plan to demolish historic building
" '' Houston Business Journal''. Friday March 29, 2002. Retrieved on April 4, 2010.[Bell, Jim.]
The Art Problem at M.D. Anderson
" '' KUHF''. April 22, 2008. Retrieved on April 4, 2010.
Locations
Texas Medical Center
MD Anderson Cancer Center is located at the
Texas Medical Center in
Houston.
[Locations]
" University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Retrieved on April 4, 2010. The
Texas Medical Center is the largest medical center in the world with one of the highest densities of clinical facilities for patient care, basic science, and
translational research.
The MD Anderson campus is divided into the North Campus, Mid Campus and South Campus. The North Campus includes: The Main Building, which comprises Alkek Hospital,
Bates-Freeman Building, Clark Clinic, Gimbel Building, Jones Research Building, LeMaistre Clinic, Love Clinic and Lutheran Hospital Pavilion. Other facilities on this campus are the Dan L. Duncan Building, Clinical Research Building, Faculty Center, Mays Clinic, Mitchell Basic Sciences Research Building, Pickens Academic Tower, Radiology Outpatient Center and Rotary House International. The T. Boone Pickens Academic Tower, a 21-story, building, which opened in 2008, is named after
T. Boone Pickens
Thomas Boone Pickens Jr. (May 22, 1928 – September 11, 2019) was an American business magnate and financier. Pickens chaired the hedge fund BP Capital Management. He was a well-known takeover operator and corporate raider during the 1980 ...
, who donated to the cancer center. It houses classrooms, conference facilities, and executive and faculty offices.
The South Campus is home to the McCombs Institute for the Early Detection and Treatment of Cancer,
[McCombs Institute]
which includes seven translational research centers focused on
genomics
Genomics is an interdisciplinary field of biology focusing on the structure, function, evolution, mapping, and editing of genomes. A genome is an organism's complete set of DNA, including all of its genes as well as its hierarchical, three-dim ...
,
proteomics
Proteomics is the large-scale study of proteins. Proteins are vital parts of living organisms, with many functions such as the formation of structural fibers of muscle tissue, enzymatic digestion of food, or synthesis and replication of DNA. In ...
, screening,
diagnostic imaging and drug development.
The Mid Campus building, a 25-story building to support current office space and future growth needs, opened in 2011.
MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital
MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital is the pediatric unit of the MD Anderson Cancer Center system. The hospital treats infants, children, teens, and young adults even up to age 29 through their
AYA cancer program. MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital is located on the 9th floor of the main building at the Texas Medical Center campus.
Other locations
MD Anderson operates several other locations within the
Houston area. They include:
*MD Anderson
League City
League City is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, in Galveston County, within the metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 112,129.
The city of League City has a small portion north of Clear Creek within Harris C ...
, on the University of Texas Medical Branch League City campus. Specialties include breast cancer, colorectal cancer, dermatology and skin cancer, endocrine cancer, genitourinary cancer, gynecologic cancer, head and neck cancer, neurologic cancer, and thoracic cancer.
*MD Anderson
Sugar Land, on the campus of St. Luke's Sugar Land Hospital. Specialties include breast cancer, colorectal cancer, dermatology and skin cancer, endocrine cancer, thoracic cancer, neurologic cancer, genitourinary cancer, and gynecologic cancer.
*MD Anderson West Houston. Specialties include breast cancer, colorectal cancer, dermatology and skin cancer, endocrine cancer, head and neck cancer, thoracic cancer, neurologic cancer, genitourinary cancer, gynecologic cancer, and urology.
*MD Anderson
The Woodlands, on the campus of St. Luke's The Woodlands Hospital. Specialties include breast cancer, colorectal cancer, dermatology and skin cancer, endocrine cancer, head and neck cancer, thoracic cancer, neurologic cancer, genitourinary cancer, and gynecologic cancer.
*MD Anderson Surgical Clinic
Memorial City
Memorial City is a commercial district in the Memorial area of Houston, Texas, United States. Located along Interstate 10 (Katy Freeway) between Beltway 8 and Bunker Hill Road, the district is anchored by Memorial City Mall, the nation's 38th-larg ...
, on the campus of Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center. This location offers surgical consultation for many types of cancer. It has special expertise in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of breast cancer, gynecologic cancer, thoracic cancer, head and neck cancer, urologic cancer, neurologic cancer, and plastic surgery and reconstruction.
*MD Anderson Gynecologic Oncology Clinic in the
Texas Medical Center, on the campus of The Woman's Hospital of Texas. This facility specializes in gynecological cancers and treats cervical cancer, fallopian tube cancer, uterine (endometrial) cancer, vaginal cancer, ovarian cancer, vulvar cancer, gynecologic sarcomas, gestational trophoblastic disease, pre-invasive diseases of the lower genital tract, and primary peritoneal cancer.
*In September 2018, in collaboration with The University of Texas Medical Branch, the MD Anderson Bay Area location moved to a newly built facility in League City, Texas.
MD Anderson also has operations outside of Texas.
*The MD Anderson Radiation Treatment Center at Presbyterian Kaseman Hospital is located in the Presbyterian Kaseman Hospital in
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque ( ; ), ; kee, Arawageeki; tow, Vakêêke; zun, Alo:ke:k'ya; apj, Gołgéeki'yé. abbreviated ABQ, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Its nicknames, The Duke City and Burque, both reference its founding in ...
.
*
Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in
Gilbert Gilbert may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Gilbert (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters
*Gilbert (surname), including a list of people
Places Australia
* Gilbert River (Queensland)
* Gilbert River (South ...
, a city in the
Greater Phoenix
The Phoenix Metropolitan Area – also the Valley of the Sun, the Salt River Valley, or Metro Phoenix (known by most locals simply as “the Valley”) – is the largest metropolitan area in the Southwestern United States, centered on the city ...
area of
Arizona, opened in September 2011.
*MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, located in Camden, New Jersey, opened in October 2013.
*Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center in Jacksonville, Florida, opened in October 2015.
*The Scripps MD Anderson Cancer Center opened in
San Diego, California in 2018.
*The MD Anderson Radiation Treatment Center in Istanbul at American Hospital is located in the Vehbi Koc Foundation (VKF) American Hospital in
Istanbul,
Turkey.
*Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center at
North Colorado Medical Center
North Colorado Medical Center is a hospital located in Greeley, Colorado. The hospital is managed by Banner Health
Banner Health is a non-profit health system in the United States, based in Phoenix, Arizona. It operates 30 hospitals and seve ...
in
Greeley, Colorado, opened 2018.
Sister institutions
MD Anderson has formed sister institution relationships with more than 25 organizations in Asia, Europe, Central America and South America through its Global Academic Programs department. Collaborations focus on research, prevention, education and patient care.
MD Anderson Services Corporation
MD Anderson Services Corporation (formerly MD Anderson Cancer Center
Outreach Corporation
) was established in 1989 as a not-for-profit corporation to enhance revenues of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center by establishing joint ventures in selected markets, providing additional referrals to the institution, contracting for delivery of inpatient and out-patient management, using existing UT MD Anderson Cancer Center reference laboratory services, and fostering additional philanthropy in distant areas.
See also
*
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
*
*
James L. Abbruzzese
James Lewis Abbruzzese is the Chief of the Duke Division of Medical Oncology and associate director for Clinical Research for the Duke Cancer Institute. Previously, Abbruzzese was Chairman of the Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology ...
*
Leon Dmochowski
*
Stephen Hahn
*
John McGinness
John Edward McGinness (born November 19, 1943), is an American physicist and physician. McGinness worked in the fields of organic electronics and nanotechnology.
Education
McGinness studied physics at the University of Houston, and after his B.S. ...
*
Eleanor Montague
Eleanor D. Montague (February 11, 1926 – November 9, 2018) was an American radiologist and educator who established breast-conserving therapy in the United States and improved radiation therapy techniques. She became a member of the Texas Wo ...
*
Radhe Mohan
Radhe Mohan is a medical physicist who significantly advanced radiation treatment safety for oncology patients. He is a recipient of the ASTRO Gold Medal for outstanding contributions in the field of radiation oncology.
Career
During the 1970s, M ...
*
James P. Allison
References
External links
Official website
{{authority control
Cancer hospitals
Hospital buildings completed in 1954
Institutions in the Texas Medical Center
NCI-designated cancer centers
Teaching hospitals in Texas
Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
University of Texas System campuses