Senator Weinberg and Assemblywoman Huttle Honored with John Theurer Cancer Center Public Service Award

John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, one of the nation’s top 50 best hospitals for cancer, held their first annual Holiday Meet and Greet for Local Businesses and Public Officials on Tuesday, December 11th. Among those in attendance were guests of honor Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg and Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle, who received the John Theurer Cancer Center Award for Public Service in recognition of their primary sponsorship of the Oral Chemotherapy Access Bill.

“Along with science and technology, public service is the engine of progress in our society. The John Theurer Cancer Center Public Service Award was created to recognize those individuals who serve at the crossroads of public service medicine,” said Robert C. Garrett, president and chief executive officer of Hackensack University Medical Center. “Senator Weinberg and Assemblywoman Huttle, in addition to their recent legislative accomplishments, have longstanding commitment to fair and equitable healthcare practices. We are pleased to honor them with this award.”

The John Theurer Cancer Center Public Service Award celebrates those individuals who, through their service, have advanced and enriched the welfare of the New Jersey cancer community. Recent developments in cancer research have allowed patients with specific types of cancer to take their anti-cancer medications at home in pill form, rather than through radiation or IV drip in a hospital setting. The Oral Chemotherapy Access Bill mandates that insurance policies must cover orally administered cancer medications on at least an equal basis as they provide for IV administered or injected cancer medications.

“John Theurer Cancer Center is committed to research and innovation, but we require support from our elected officials to ensure that these kinds of breakthroughs can be effectively used and accessed by those patients who need them the most,” said Andrew Pecora, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.P.E., chief innovation officer, professor and vice president of cancer services, John Theurer Cancer Center and president of Regional Cancer Care Associates. “As a result of the support of Senator Weinberg and Assemblywoman Huttle when applicable we can offer our patients cancer treatment in the form of a pill that can be taken at home.”

“Cancer research and innovation is one of the most exciting and rapidly developing fields of medicine,” said Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg. “It is fundamentally important that when places like John Theurer Cancer Center develop new and effective ways of treating patients, there is legislative support to ensure that patients can access and benefit from them.”

The event was well attended by several business owners, city councilmen, freeholders, and the Mayors of Hackensack and Englewood. Mr. Garrett, Dr. Pecora, and Andre Goy M.D., M.S., chairman and director and chief of lymphoma, John Theurer Cancer Center made remarks thanking the honorees and speaking to the importance of cutting-edge research and care.

“Medical advancements offer so many new opportunities, but there is little benefit if patients cannot afford them,” said Assemblywoman Huttle, Chair of the Assembly Human Services Committee. "There is simply no reason why these oral anti-cancer medications should be treated any differently than traditional medications.”

About John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center
John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University is among the nation’s top 50 U.S. News and World Report Best Hospitals for cancer – the highest-ranked in New Jersey with this designation. It is New Jersey's largest and most comprehensive cancer center dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment, management, research, screenings, preventive care, as well as survivorship of patients with all types of cancer.

Each year, more people in the New Jersey/New York metropolitan area turn to John Theurer Cancer Center for cancer care than to any other facility in New Jersey. The 14 specialized divisions feature a team of medical, research, nursing, and support staff with specialized expertise that translates into more advanced, focused care for all patients. John Theurer Cancer Center provides comprehensive multidisciplinary care, state of the art technology, access to clinical trials, compassionate care and medical expertise—all under one roof. Physicians at John Theurer Cancer Center are members of Regional Cancer Care Associates one of the nation’s largest professional hematology/oncology groups. For more information please visit jtcancercenter.org  .