Invest in Our Futureinside view C a N C E R C E N T E R D i R E C T O R s
On John Durant, M.D. Founding Director, 1968-1982
I began working for
Dr. Durant in September
1969, just 14 months after
he arrived at UAB from
Temple University, and
I was his fifth assistant during that time.
he was recruited to build the Cancer
Center during a difficult time in our state.
It’s hard to understand the challenges
he overcame to have the Cancer Center
become one of the first eight National
Cancer Institute-designated comprehen-
sive centers, but I was there to witness it
firsthand. he had the most difficult task
of all because he didn’t have a blueprint to
follow. Dr. Durant was a visionary. While
I was always in “the current day,” Dr.
Durant was 20 years in the future.
On Albert LoBuglio, M.D. Director, 1983-2004
Dr. LoBuglio had a very
practical, common-sense,
hands-on style. he can do
more with a yellow pad
and no. 2 pencil than any
individual on earth. During his tenure as
director, he did not have a computer on his
desk. The staff would jokingly refer to the
pencil and paper as his “hard drive” and his
brain as his “software.” he put the Cancer
Center on the map as being one of the pre-
mier centers in the country for translational
research. Once, during a faculty meeting,
someone stated that a potential cost would
be about $23.75 million to the 17th power.
Dr. LoBuglio raised his eyebrows and
began writing numbers in the air with his
fingers and announced the total. Others
challenged him, saying he could not have
done that in his head, so they pulled out
their calculators and ran the numbers.
Amazingly, they had to admit that he was
correct. everyone in the room was dumb-
founded—except, of course, for me and Dr.
LoBuglio.
On Edward Partridge, M.D. Director, 2007-Present
Dr. Partridge is a true
Southern gentleman and
consummate leader who
has spent the last 20 years
of his life building the
community infrastructure to make sure
that every individual in our region, no
matter their socioeconomic status, has
access to quality medical care and screen-
ing. I can’t even imagine what he had to
deal with and endure in accomplishing
some of these partnerships. Dr. Partridge’s
door is always open. he is one of the kind-
est, most generous individuals I have ever
known. When you have his attention, you
have his undivided attention. he is also
one of the most selfless leaders I have ever
known, and his passion for helping oth-
ers is amazing. Although he has been the
permanent director for only four years, the
progress that he has made in bringing the
Cancer Center to the next level is really
quite remarkable.
In its entire 40-year history, the UAB
Comprehensive Cancer Center has had only
three permanent directors, an accomplishment
no other center can claim. In February 2011,
the center unveiled a commemorative portrait of
the directors to recognize their leadership and
achievements in the field of cancer. Working
alongside each director from the beginning has
been Joan Kemp, director of operations
for the Cancer Center.
UAB Comprehensive Cancer
Center asked Mrs. Kemp to
share her thoughts on each
of the three men.
Invest in Our Future More than 200,000 Americans will be diagnosed with some form of gastrointestinal cancer this year.
= The UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Gastrointestinal
Oncology Research and Patient Care Initiative is an effort
to bring together the resources needed to create a nationally
prominent research and patient care enterprise in GI oncology at
uAb. by developing new treatments, moving these discoveries
into the patient care setting quickly and efficiently and reducing
the number of deaths caused by GI cancers through prevention
and education, uAb has the opportunity to move to the forefront
in addressing this serious regional and national health issue.
The Cancer Center has set a goal to raise $5.5 million from
philanthropic sources to take its GI oncology program to the next
level. The first phase of this effort is to raise $1.5 million for an
endowed chair in memory of Jim Hayes, a longtime friend and
supporter of the center who lost his battle with colon cancer in
2008. mr. Hayes was a strong believer in the work of the Cancer
Center, and this endowed chair will ensure that his name and
legacy will live on in perpetuity.
“I have so much confidence in the mission
of the [UAB Comprehensive] Cancer Center,
knowing that when I make a donation, it will
stay here. It is a rare opportunity to invest
in excellence — not something that’s just
striving for excellence. The Cancer Center is
already there.” — Jim Hayes, 2004
Help us make a difference in the fight against
these deadly cancers. By investing in our future,
you’re investing in the future of the people of
Alabama—and beyond.
For more information, or to make a gift, contact:
Jeannie E. Horton, Director of Development
(205) 934-6326
jhorton@uab.edu
28 u A b C o m P r e H e N S I V e C A N C e r C e N T e r