Introduction

Stephen J. Forman, M.D.
Chair, Division of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
Physician, Division of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research
Director, Clinical Research, Division of Cancer Immunotherapeutics & Tumor Immunology

Thirty years ago, City of Hope Cancer Center became one of the first six medical centers in the country to help develop bone marrow transplantation (BMT) as a treatment for leukemia. In 1977, we celebrated for the first time the one-year anniversary of a City of Hope patient’s transplant. Since that time, thousands of people have come to the City of Hope BMT Program for help: children, parents and grandparents with diseases ranging from the rare to the common, each hoping the therapies we were developing could cure them of their diseases and return them to life and their families.
 
Each year since 1977, we celebrate with our patients, their families and our staff, the victory and acts of courage of all patients, and every year, the number of patients and families who attend grows. The patients who come to the “Celebration of Life” provide the inspiration for all of us, as well as for our patients currently in treatment.
 
Ours is not an individual success but rather the result of the hard work, inspiration, dedication and esprit of physicians, scientists, nurses, social workers, technicians, support staff, administrators and a whole organization whose focus is on the individual life and dignity of each patient. We are very proud to celebrate the 30th anniversary of this program and look toward the future when even greater numbers of people can benefit from our work.
 
There is a sculpture in the fountain in front of the Medical Center that greets every new patient who comes to City of Hope. The sculpture shows a man, woman and child, each connected to the other. They are individuals and a family at the same time, representing people of all faiths, all ethnicities and all ages. This also speaks to the idea, taken from the Talmud, that teaches us that to save a life is as if one has saved the whole world. City of Hope is a community of physicians and scientists whose goal is to make the world a better and healthier place, while at the same time respecting the individual dignity of every patient who comes to us for care. Thus it is with both pride and respect that I offer my congratulations to our patients and their families for what they have accomplished, as well as my gratitude for helping us do the work that will aid the patients who will come to us tomorrow.

This 30th anniversary is also an opportunity for reflection, and we dedicate the occasion to the memory of those who came to us for help but for whom we were not successful. It is only for a moment that we pause and reflect on our successes, knowing that our job is to come to work the next day and do it better.

It is for us, as Tennyson wrote: “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”

Michael A. Friedman, M.D.
President and Chief Executive Officer, City of Hope

Thirty years of remarkable achievements by the City of Hope Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT) Program has meant enormous progress in the treatment of patients with cancer. The successes of the program’s physicians, scientists and staff are testimony to hope translated into real benefits for real patients with real needs. Their efforts continue to vastly improve treatment results. And knowing that those who once faced near-certain death now have an opportunity for healthy and productive lives inspires even greater expectations for the future.

The exemplary efforts of Stephen J. Forman, M.D., and all of his staff provide insights into avenues of innovative scientific research for new methods of saving lives. Simultaneously, the HCT Program is a direct means of helping patients who come to City of Hope and an extraordinary vehicle for helping all patients with these kinds of cancers throughout the world.
 
Not only do cancer patients benefit from this work, but also diabetes patients receiving islet cell transplants and patients receiving HCT for autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and lupus. This program and its interdisciplinary collaborations across the clinical and laboratory faculty are a consummate model for the kind of efforts we should expect from cancer centers in the coming century.

Each year, my colleagues and I are uniquely reminded of the importance of the work that takes place at City of Hope and the impact it has on so many lives. The annual “Celebration of Life” Bone Marrow Transplantation Reunion is an inspiration to all patients. Equally, it is a source of renewed energy and commitment for our staff, and provides clear evidence to us of the benefits of our daily efforts.

City of Hope is fortunate to have such courageous patients and their families, such excellent scientists, such devoted and skilled health care professionals, and such farseeing donors. They all contributed to the life-changing improvements of the past 30 years.
 
I warmly congratulate Dr. Forman and the staff of the HCT Program, and I look forward to what I am sure will be breathtaking progress in the years to come.