WASHINGTON, DC – Children's National Medical Center today announced the installation of Jeffrey Dome, MD, chief of the division of oncology, as the recipient of the Thomas Willson and Lenore Williams McKnew Professorship in Pediatric Oncology.
"I am pleased to accept this esteemed professorship," said Dr. Dome. "As the first professorship in oncology at Children's National Medical Center, this is an important day not only for our hospital and the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, but also for our young patients in our community and around the world who are battling cancer. This generous support will go a long way in furthering our research and helping us develop innovative therapies and treatment regimens -- all in the name of finding a cure."
The McKnew Professorship in Pediatric Oncology was established through an initial gift to Children’s National Medical Center from the Lenore Williams McKnew Trust in 1998. The remaining funds for the professorship, more than $700,000, were raised over the past year by Heroes Against Childhood Cancer and their sponsored events, including a “Be Brave and Shave” event featuring the Honorable Yousef Al Otaiba, United Arab Emirates ambassador to the United States.
Colleen Avis, who co-founded Heroes Against Childhood Cancer with Amanda Keating, said, “We are thrilled to be here today as supporters of Dr. Dome, Children’s National and the brave young patients who are battling cancer. The installation of this professorship is only the first step in our mission to help support the doctors and researchers here at Children’s National. We look forward to continuing to engage our community in the fight against childhood cancer.”
Dr. Max Coppes, senior vice president of the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s National, added, “This professorship is a fitting recognition of the work of Dr. Dome and his colleagues, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work and dedication of Heroes Against Childhood Cancer and the thousands of individual donors and supporters who have contributed to this effort. By shaving their heads, running in races, and supporting a fashion show, so many people have rallied around our common cause of finding a cure for childhood cancer. With the continued support of the Heroes Against Childhood Cancer community, we are one step closer to finding a cure.”
Contacts:
Mark Miller, Children’s National Medical Center, [email protected], 301-565-8507
Amanda Keating, Heroes Against Childhood Cancer, [email protected], (202) 441-5332
About Heroes Against Childhood Cancer
Established in 2009, Heroes Against Childhood Cancer is a community-based fundraising organization founded by Colleen Avis and Amanda Keating that supports the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children's National Medical Center. Since its inception, Heroes Against Childhood Cancer has raised more than $1 million and enlisted over 5,000 individual donors in events like Be Brave and Shave's group head shaves and a Night at Washington Nationals Park. To learn more, visit www.heroesagainstchildhoodcancer.org.