The Methodist Hospital Names Jenny C. Chang as Director of Methodist Cancer Center
HOUSTON (Sept. 8, 2010) - Dr. Jenny C. Chang, an internationally acclaimed breast cancer researcher and clinician, has been named director of the Methodist Cancer Center. She begins her new role on Oct. 1.
While serving as the director, Chang will continue her research and patient care activities. The Methodist Cancer Center offers a full range of cancer prevention, diagnostic and treatment options. The center also provides a robust research program, making numerous clinical trials available to its patients.
As the Director, Chang plans to create translational centers in which clinical and research information are fully integrated, leading to individualized therapy that is optimized for each person's biological tumor type. Chang anticipates one of these focus areas will highlight triple negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer, enabling experts in this field to discuss each patient's case in a multi-disciplinary setting. She will lead this multidisciplinary approach for all patients with a team of surgeons, medical oncologists, radiologists, and radiation oncologists.
Chang recently received international attention for her own research, which studied an experimental breast cancer drug that kills cancer stem cells that are not destroyed by conventional chemotherapy. Last year, she presented her research at the country's most prestigious breast cancer symposium in San Antonio.
Chang has collaborated with scientists at Methodist, Baylor College of Medicine, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, and others for years. She and Methodist scientist, Stephen Wong, are studying a drug that may help stop breast cancer from metastasizing to the brain. This study is already in Phase II clinical trials.
"We will enhance our Cancer Center of excellence at Methodist, including patient care, translational research, basic discovery, and education," said Chang, also chief of Methodist's oncology division. "Methodist is one of the nation's premier institutions in clinical care and has the vision of bringing to our community the best in technology, cutting edge research and patient care."
Chang earned her medical degree at Cambridge University in England. She completed her residency in internal medicine at Cambridge and University of New South Wales, and her fellowship in medical oncology at Royal Marsden Hospital, London. Chang is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and received board accreditation in Medical Oncology in the United Kingdom. More recently, Chang was the medical director of Baylor College of Medicine's Smith Breast Center and Chief, Breast Medical Oncology, Ben Taub General Hospital.
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