Citing City of Hope researchers’ most productive year on record, increased patient volumes, fundraising stability and other achievements in 2010, City of Hope leader Michael A. Friedman, M.D., recently told staff that the institution is well-positioned for growth and success in the coming years.
Friedman, president, chief executive officer and cancer center director, spoke to hundreds of employees Jan. 12 at a City Forum event. He provided an overview of City of Hope’s milestones in 2010 and laid out a course for the current year.
“It’s a golden moment in our history,”
said Friedman, noting increased optimism about City of Hope’s positioning despite a national economy that is improving more slowly than hoped.
Among 2010’s achievements:
- A $6.5 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine for stem cell research
- $8.6 million federal contract to develop and manufacture stem cell therapies
- A top 20 ranking for cancer care and 38th in urology in U.S.News & World Report
- Successful Joint Commission and other accreditation surveys
- Patient satisfaction gains through the Accelerating Care Excellence program
- First clinical trial treating brain tumor patients through neural stem cell therapy
- Announcement of the $1 billion Power of Hope campaign
- Ongoing implementation of the City of Hope Information System
 Scientists and graduate students like Armen Mardiros moved into new labs in 2010. (Photo by Walter Urie) |
In addition, construction was completed on the Leslie & Susan Gonda (Goldschmied) Diabetes & Genetic Research Center expansion, and employees moved into the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center for Cancer Immunotherapeutics & Tumor Immunology, Monrovia Administrative Center and Buena Vista building. Construction also started on a new outpatient surgery center.
Friedman noted that the institution made critical progress toward its 2007-2013 strategic plan goals. Both inpatient and outpatient satisfaction rose, and clinical quality measures remain higher than those at other institutions, he said. City of Hope also attracted nearly 600 more new patients in 2010 compared to 2009.
Researchers also garnered $76.7 million in grant dollars, a 29 percent increase over 2009 and an all-time record for the institution. And development staff raised $73.3 million despite economic challenges, meeting their goals.
This year, Friedman said, the organization is committed to boosting the culture of collaboration within the institution, as well as enhancing patient safety and improving outpatient services. Besides completing its current construction projects, City of Hope also will begin pursuing the renewal of its core cancer center grant and designation as a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center.
He plans to bolster City of Hope’s leadership by hiring key individuals and providing leadership development, and will initiate a collaborative effort within the coming months to create a new strategic plan.
Friedman touched on the institution’s positive discussions with physicians and medical groups to work collaboratively toward a new medical foundation model, and reassured staff that updates would be provided as they become available.
Despite the challenges of 2010, Friedman is optimistic about the coming months. “This institution is poised for the greatest success,” he told staff members. “And we’re in that position because of people like you.”
Slides from City Forum are available on the employee intranet at www.coh.org.
