James Armitage, M.D., Shapiro Professor of Medicine and oncologist in UNMC’s Internal Medicine Department, has been named to the French Institut Nation du Cancer International Scientific Advisory Board.
Dr. Armitage is one of only six Americans selected to serve on the international board for cancer research in France. The 18-member board is comprised of cancer experts from other countries such as Italy, Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom and France.
Dominique Maraninchi, M.D., Ph.D., professor and director at the Institute Paoli-Calmettes of Marseille, France, will serve as president of the advisory board.
“France doesn’t have a National Cancer Institute like the United States,” Dr. Armitage said. “This will be the beginning of their National Cancer Institute.”
The members will meet three times a year to discuss the development of cancer research in France. The development of the French National Cancer Institute is the most important agenda item established by French President Jacque Chirac during his second term in office.
President Chirac was unable to meet with the committee during its first meeting in March. However, he plans to meet with the board at the end of June to discuss future goals and initiatives.
David Khayat, M.D., Ph.D., is president of the French Institut Nation du Cancer. Last November, he delivered the address for UNMC’s 2004 Carol Bell Lectureship and brought to Omaha the Charter of Paris Against Cancer, a unique effort to bring world and medical leaders together in the fight against cancer.
“This appointment provides wonderful recognition for UNMC and Dr. Armitage,” said UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D. “Dr. Armitage is considered one of the world’s best in treating people with lymphoma, and this just reaffirms his worldwide status.”
Dr. Armitage graduated from UNMC in 1973 where he completed his internship and residency in internal medicine. After completing a fellowship in hematology-oncology at the University of Iowa Hospitals and working in private practice, he returned to the University of Iowa as an assistant professor of medicine and developed the Bone Marrow Transplantation Program. In 1982 he returned to UNMC as an associate professor of medicine and presently holds the position of the Joe Shapiro Professor of Medicine.
Dr. Armitage serves on several national and international committees and on the editorial boards of a number of peer-reviewed journals. He has authored/co-authored 400 articles, 86 book chapters, more than 450 abstracts and is the editor/co-editor of 21 books.