Jessica Ryan, MD, FACS, Medical Director of the CMC Breast Care Center, has been appointed as the New Hampshire State Chair of the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC) Cancer Liaison Program. State Chairs are volunteer physicians who serve as CoC representatives and provide leadership and support to the CoC-accredited programs and Cancer Liaison Physicians in their state. Dr. Ryan will serve as State Chair for three years. Her term started on January 1st, 2022.
Dr. Ryan is among a network of 64 State Chairs who guide the activities of more than 1,500 volunteer Cancer Liaison Physicians appointed in cancer programs across the country. Cancer Liaison Physicians are responsible for evaluating, interpreting, and reporting their facilities’ performance data through the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) and facilitating quality improvement initiatives based on data findings. In addition, the Cancer Liaison Physician is responsible for leading CoC initiatives within their cancer programs and collaborating with agencies such as the American Cancer Society on behalf of the hospital.
Dr. Ryan will also work with the American Cancer Society, state cancer coalitions, and departments of health to support data-driven comprehensive cancer control planning throughout the state. This collaborative effort is an integrated and coordinated approach to reducing cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality.
As State Chair, Dr. Ryan is the main contact between the CoC and local chapter of the American College of Surgeons.
For more information on the Cancer Liaison Program and the CoC, contact the Commission on Cancer at the American College of Surgeons, 633 N. Saint Clair St., Chicago, IL 60611; call 312.202.5085; or visit facs.org/cancer
About the Commission on Cancer:
Established in 1922 by the ACS, the CoC is a consortium of more than 50 professional organizations dedicated to improving patient outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education and the monitoring of comprehensive quality care. The CoC’s accreditation program encourages hospitals, treatment centers and other facilities to improve their quality of patient care through various cancer-related services. There are currently more than 1,500 CoC-accredited cancer programs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. For more information on the CoC, visit: facs.org/quality-programs/cancer/coc