NCI Site Visit
Special Message from the Director
Jonathan D. Licht, M.D.
Director
University of Florida Health Cancer Center
Dear Cancer Center Family,
As many of you know, Sept. 24, 2019, was a significant milestone for the University of Florida Health Cancer Center in our mission to become a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center: a panel of experts from around the country convened on campus for our NCI site visit.
I believe the day went well, and we were given a great opportunity to showcase the growth and momentum of the cancer program and its ability to have an impact on the health of the residents of our region. There were probing questions from the site visit team, and we were well-prepared to address these.
The site visitors and NCI officials were impressed, and we look forward to the written report that should arrive six weeks from the visit. The report will be used by the NCI to decide on our designation in early 2020.
I thank you for your continuing efforts to advance the very best in cancer discovery, prevention and treatment on behalf of our patients.
Go Gators!
Jon
Jonathan D. Licht, M.D.
Director
University of Florida Health Cancer Center
Thank you, Dr. Licht!
At the Cancer Center Leadership Meeting on Oct. 14, the Cancer Center’s associate directors and research program leaders presented Dr. Licht with two gifts to thank him for his leadership and hard work throughout the UF Health Cancer Center’s historic NCI grant application submission and site visit.
The first gift was a framed photo of the Cancer Center team directly following the conclusion of the NCI site visit. The second gift was from Children’s Place (because, as Dr. Thomas George joked, the support grant was akin to a birth): the Infinity Gauntlet from Avengers Endgame because Dr. Licht referred to the Cancer Center leadership team as his “Avengers” — with himself as ceremonial Tony Stark (AKA IronMan), given his central leadership role.