Centers of Excellence

Excerpt

Centers of excellence have become a ubiquitous phenomenon. Enter “Center of Excellence” into a search engine and get ready for a torrent of hits. I recently did so on Bing and was rewarded with 46 million hits. One can find these centers at every level of academe. I recently assumed a new position (Director of Health Service Policy and Practice; University at Buffalo) and during my first week was invited to participate in the development of such a center. The proposed center is a wonderful idea and will bring together a cadre of high-powered, motivated faculty from across the campus to home in on a very important issue. Our meetings got me to thinking that I have been a member of a center of excellence for a number of decade—the American Association for Cancer Education (AACE). While the Association has evolved, its central tenets have remained unchanged. It is an organization that has affected the lives of countless professionals and, more importantly, an unfathomable number of cancer patients, their family members, and never-to-be-cancer patients. Like all centers of excellence, the AACE can only be sustained through a vibrant and expanding membership. A center of excellence is a place for individuals with unique skills and interests to gather and apply the highest standards in addressing a particular issue. The AACE certainly fulfills this definition. The mission of the Association is “Champion the highest standards for cancer education through evidence-based practices to achieve quality outcomes with a vision to achieving excellence in education to reduce the burden of cancer worldwide” [1]. Like all organizations, ours has benefited from a strong organizational philosophy developed over nearly 70 years and vitalized by an active membership. The only criterion for membership is a dedication to the field of cancer education and training. While members come from a variety of disciplines and work in a variety of settings with an assortment of populations, we share the same passion and mission. The Association, like all centers of excellence, is only as strong as its membership. The Association is always on the lookout for new members to bring in new ideas and enhance its strength. As I will recount in this editorial, the AACE has a long and evolving history. Consider becoming part of this long standing center of excellence! …