Association of Community Cancer Centers Presents Annual Achievement Award Posthumously to Arti Hurria, MD, FASCO

Arti Hurria, MD, FASCO

The 2019 ACCC Annual Achievement Award was presented posthumously to Arti Hurria, MD, FASCO, City of Hope. The oncology community experienced a devastating loss with the untimely passing of Dr Hurria in November 2018. Dr Hurria was the George Tsai Family Chair in Geriatric Oncology, Director of the Center for Cancer and Aging at City of Hope, an independent research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases, and nationally and internationally recognized expert and advocate for older adults with cancer.

Established in 1980, the ACCC Annual Achievement Award recognizes distinguished individuals or organizations that have reflected values of community cancer care through their outstanding contributions. The award was presented during the ACCC 36th National Oncology Conference in Orlando, Florida. Dr. Hurria dedicated her career to improving care for older adults with cancer. In addition to serving as chair in Geriatric Oncology at City of Hope, Dr Hurria was the director of the Center on Cancer and Aging, co-lead of the Cancer Control and Populations Sciences Program, vice provost of clinical faculty, a professor in the Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, and a medical oncologist. She was chair and founder of the Cancer and Aging Research Group (CARG), a past-president of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology, and a past-chair of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network^® (NCCN^®) Older Adult Oncology Committee.

At the time of her passing, Dr. Hurria was a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Board of Directors and served several committees and expert panels related to geriatric oncology and breast cancer. She was a co-author the ASCO Guidelines for Geriatric Oncology and developed CARG Chemotherapy Toxicity Tool.

Dr. Hurria’s friend and colleague William Dale, MD, PhD, Arthur M. Coppola Family Chair in Supportive Care Medicine, City of Hope, accepted the award on behalf of her family.

“Her patients were the centerpiece of everything she did,” he said. Among Dr. Hurria’s many accomplishments, Dr Dale noted: identifying biomarkers of aging, identifying cognitive effects of cancer therapy on the elderly, identifying the unique needs of elderly patients and their providers, and identifying issues facing long-term survivors of cancer.

Dr Dale also shared with attendees Dr Hurria’s dream: “One day, all older adults with cancer will receive personalized tailored care, utilizing evidence-based medicine with a multidisciplinary approach.”