As the summer winds to a close, we gradually turn our attention to the fall and the next set of challenges that we face. Personally, I look forward to the opportunities ahead of us. Cancer treatment, driven by research, has evolved over the past decade. Patients who previously would have lost their lives to the disease are now cured. And while there is still much work to be done, the pace of progress continues to accelerate at an unprecedented rate.
What are our goals for the year(s) ahead? First, we continue to push the cancer research agenda. For many malignancies, we have remarkably effective, almost uniformly successful, treatment. But for other diseases and many patients, we need to identify new and better therapies. We, and our colleagues around the world, will not rest until we develop new and better approaches. Our commitment to basic science, translational research, clinical trials, and population-based research remains critical.
Second, while we anxiously await new and better therapies, we want to deliver the best care available in 2024. This commitment not only requires technical expertise and expert decision-making, but it also mandates smooth and rapid access to our care, and the compassion, understanding, and availability of our clinicians to the thousands of patients and their families who we see each year. I frequently hear unsolicited comments about the phenomenal care we provide, and we can always do better. As many of you have heard me say, I want every patient to feel enveloped in care from the moment they call to make a first appointment until the time when they no longer need us. Cancer can be terrifying, and our patients need to feel that we not only have their backs, but that we are ever ready to provide the support they need. In the months ahead, we will be talking further about how we can use the systems we develop to provide care that is unsurpassed in all ways.
Finally, we know that care is not distributed equitably, nor is access to research. The Yale Cancer Center and Smilow are dedicated to eradicating cancer care disparities. We are laser focused on the need to ensure that EVERYONE has access to care, and we must work to make it possible for all individuals to complete the treatment that they have started. The many divides in our society exacerbate the challenges, but we will continue to strive for cancer care that is not only outstanding but is equitable.
We have work to do, but it is work that has deep meaning and we have a team— a truly exceptional team—that can work together in our desire to eliminate suffering and loss of life from cancer. We are in this together.