Nationally Recognized Cancer Executive to Join Norton Healthcare as President of Norton Cancer Institute
LOUISVILLE, KY. : (Aug. 22, 2008): Norton Healthcare has hired a nationally recognized and highly experienced cancer executive to become president of Norton Cancer Institute, the region’s leading cancer provider, Norton officials announced today.
Robert N. Shaw of San Antonio, Texas, whose 39-year health care career includes stints with two premier cancer organizations holding the prestigious National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation, will join Norton Healthcare Sept. 15 as president of Norton Cancer Institute. NCI-designated Cancer Centers are recognized for their scientific excellence and extensive resources focused on cancer treatment, research and prevention.
Shaw will succeed Dan Scott, chief administrative officer of Norton Cancer Institute, who in January 2009 will transition to semi-retirement but will continue with a part-time leadership role for Norton Healthcare’s CPA Lab.
Shaw’s extensive cancer experience includes his most recent six-year role as executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Cancer Therapy and Research Center (CTRC) in San Antonio , beginning in 2002. Shaw was responsible for the business activities of CTRC and worked collaboratively with the president & CEO to develop and implement the overall strategy and vision for the organization, which in collaboration with the University of Texas Health Science Center sponsors the NCI-designated San Antonio Cancer Institute. During Shaw’s tenure, CTRC maintained its ranking as the world’s largest Phase 1 cancer research program, accruing more than 450 patients a year and completing clinical trials on 14 of the most recent cancer drugs approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. CTRC was also known worldwide for its sponsorship of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, which hosted more than 8,000 participants each year for what is recognized as the world’s premier breast cancer conference.
In the mid-1990s, Shaw was president & CEO of the M.D. Anderson Outreach Corporation in Houston . During Shaw’s tenure, M.D. Anderson dramatically increased referrals; built a strong network of community cancer providers who treated more than 15,000 new cancer patients annually in their local communities; negotiated and implemented a joint venture outpatient cancer center between the three largest cancer providers in the Fort Worth, Texas area; negotiated the M.D. Anderson Espana joint venture in Madrid, Spain; and transitioned the operations and branding of the joint-ventured Orlando Cancer Center into what is today M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando. M.D. Anderson Outreach Corporation, now known as the Management Services Corporation, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, an NCI-designated facility recognized nationally and internationally for its contributions to cancer patient care, research, education and prevention.
“We are delighted to attract a national leader who has served in executive positions at some of the preeminent cancer organizations in the nation,” said Stephen A. Williams, president & CEO of Norton Healthcare. “We have made tremendous progress in expanding our cancer programs and services over the past couple of years, following our board’s $100 million commitment in January 2007 to fight cancer in our region. We are looking to Bob to accelerate the positive momentum we have established to take Norton Cancer Institute to the next level of making it the unquestioned leading state and regional cancer care provider.
“Norton Healthcare is committed to bringing to the Louisville region the very best cancer services in the nation, with world-class physicians, state-of-the-art facilities and technology, and highly progressive new programs for cancer patients and their families. Under Bob’s strong leadership, we plan to accomplish all of these goals over the next few years.
“As part of this effort to continue the growth of our cancer programs and services, Bob will provide important leadership to help our team expand our existing extensive clinical research program, as well as partnerships and affiliations,” Williams concluded.
According to Don A. Stevens, medical director of Norton Cancer Institute, “Dan Scott as the inaugural Norton Cancer Institute executive leader has transformed an expanded vision into expanded cancer care for our community. In fact, the ability to attract a cancer program executive with Bob Shaw’s depth and breadth of experience is a testimony to the great accomplishments of Norton Cancer Institute under Mr. Scott. We are a larger and more effective force against cancer due to the unwavering commitment of Norton Healthcare’s Board of Trustees and the dedication of our leaders, physicians and staff. The entire Norton Cancer Institute is excited about Mr. Shaw joining us. He is familiar with our accomplishments and plans and is expertly qualified to take us forward in our fight against the disease that claims far too many in this community.”
Shaw has provided consulting services for Norton’s cancer services intermittently over the last 10 years, and most recently since January 2008. He also has served since 2007 as executive in residence at Trinity University in San Antonio in its Master’s Program in Health Care Management. In addition to his direct cancer-related experience, Shaw’s extensive executive health care experience includes roles as senior vice president of Memorial Healthcare System (now Memorial Hermann Healthcare) in Houston ; and several executive health care roles with Community Hospital of Indianapolis and the U.S. Army Medical Services Corps.
“I have been involved in consulting roles with the Norton cancer programs at various times over the past decade, and I am excited by the tremendous progress and growth that the organization has achieved,” Shaw said. “I’m looking forward to enhancing the positive momentum that Norton Cancer Institute has achieved through the remarkable dedication and expertise of the institute’s executive management, physicians and staff. While much has already been accomplished, I think we will see a future of even greater achievements and advancements in the treatment and prevention of cancer.”
Shaw, a native of Kaufman, Texas, holds two degrees from Trinity University: a master’s degree in health care and a bachelor’s degree in business. He and his wife of 37 years, Sarah, will relocate to Louisville from San Antonio.
About Norton Cancer Institute
Treating more than half of the cancer cases in Louisville, Norton Cancer Institute is the leading provider of comprehensive cancer care in Kentucky and Southern Indiana. Its team of specialists is dedicated to offering patients confidence and hope through a multi-disciplinary approach to advanced cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. Norton Cancer Institute offers the community a broad range of cancer specialists, services and programs, including two orthopaedic oncologists; a neurologic oncologist; the da Vinci surgical system; a $1 million Mobile Prevention Center; and a cancer radiation center with IMRT, BrainLab radiotherapy and MammoSite technology. Norton Cancer Institute also provides extensive educational, physical and emotional support services for patients, as well as the opportunity to participate in a variety of cancer research studies and clinical trials. Norton Cancer Institute is designated by the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) as the only accredited Network Cancer Program in Kentucky and one of only 27 in the nation.
