SLUHN Cancer Center Earns National Pancreas Foundation Center Designation

St. Luke’s Cancer Center has been nationally recognized as an approved NPF Center by the National Pancreas Foundation. NPF Centers are awarded after a rigorous audit review to determine that an institutions focus is on multidisciplinary treatment of pancreatic cancer, treating the “whole patient” with a focus on the best possible outcomes and an improved quality of life.

“We are honored that St. Luke’s has been designated as NPF Center for treatment of pancreatic cancer,” said Darius Desai, MD, Chief of Surgical Oncology.  “Having the NPF Center designation acknowledges St. Luke’s commitment to providing the best and most innovative care possible.”

“We are thrilled to expand our NPF Centers of Excellence Program to better serve the needs of patients suffering from pancreas disease,” said David Bakelman, CEO of the National Pancreas Foundation.  “The NPF Centers of Excellence Program is one of the pillars of NPF, and we are looking forward to working with our current and new Centers.”

An approved NPF Center has to meet the criteria that were developed by a task force made up of invited subject matter experts and patient advocates. The criteria include having the required expert physician specialties such as gastroenterologists, pancreas surgeons, and interventional radiologists, along with more patient focused programs such as a pain management service, psychosocial support and more.

“Our entire team should be very proud of this achievement,” states Mary-Kate Cellmer, MBA, St. Luke’s Cancer Center administrator.  “This award is certainly validation of our entire team’s delivery of excellent patient care.”  

For more information about St. Luke’s Cancer Center, please visit www.sluhn.org/cancer. 

For more information about the National Pancreas Foundation, please visit www.pancreasfoundation.org.