UAB: Comprehensive Cancer Center

The UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center mourns the loss of John R. Durant, M.D., who died peacefully at his home on Sunday, October 28, 2012.

Dr. Durant was the Founding Director of the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center. His vision and ability to create a transdisciplinary team of clinicians and basic scientists led to UAB's cancer program being one of the first eight institutions to be designated as a "comprehensive cancer center" by the National Cancer Act in 1971. Following 14 years as the Director of the UAB CCC, Dr. Durant was named President and CEO of the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, serving in that capacity from 1983-1988.

In 1988, Dr. Durant returned to UAB as Senior Vice-President for Health Affairs, and in 1995, he became the first Executive Vice-President for the American Society for Clinical Oncology. Dr. Durant made a major impact on each of these organizations in addition to being one of the “pioneers” in medical oncology and the use of combination chemotherapy.