Foundation honors longtime Yuma oncologist

As Yuma Regional Medical Center expands cancer care in Yuma, the Foundation of YRMC celebrated the new journey with a special luncheon Monday.

The foundation honored a longtime Yuma physician with the announcement of the Dr. Peter Sullivan Fellowship Award, completely surprising the Yuma Regional Cancer Care oncologist.

“I'm totally undone by this wonderful honor,” Sullivan said.

The first recipient of the $250,000 fellowship is Yuma native and Kofa High School graduate Dr. Augustine Lau, who is completing a fellowship in medical oncology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson. He previously practiced internal medicine in Yuma.

According to peer comments, Sullivan is considered a pioneer in oncology in Houston. After practicing in Houston for more than 25 years, he retired but soon discovered that traveling and new hobbies weren't for him.

“He decided to go back to what he loved and that is medicine,” Camie Overton, YRMC vice president of clinical service lines, said.

Sullivan moved to Yuma, where he founded the Yuma office of Arizona Oncology Associates. “I always had in mind to go to a smaller community and start a cancer center.”

“Yuma wasn't on my mind,” he noted, eliciting laughter from the audience. But after he met a colonel who suggested Yuma, he came and saw a need.

In 2008, Sullivan co-founded Sonoran Desert Oncology. In November 2011, YRMC acquired the practice and renamed it the Yuma Regional Cancer Center.

Sullivan has been instrumental in plans to establish a comprehensive cancer program in Yuma. Overton noted the program wouldn't be “anywhere near where it is” without Sullivan's participation.

“We have an opportunity to make it the best cancer program it can be. Yuma will become famous for its cancer care,” Sullivan said.

In explaining why the foundation established the fellowship, Overton said, “By the year 2020, there will be a shortage of 3,000 oncologists across the United States. So one of the areas the cancer committee reviewed is how are we going to meet the needs of oncologists?”

Overton explained that YRMC CEO Pat Walz initiated funding for a fellowship program on a continuing basis. The fellows will choose the location, with the promise to return to Yuma to practice. The foundation expects the fellowship will become self-funding through donations and endowments.

Dr. Daniel McKellar was the featured speaker at Monday's celebration. A full-time general surgeon and director of the cancer program at Wayne HealthCare in Dayton, Ohio, he has served on many local, state and national cancer organizations.

As the current chairman of the Accreditation Committee of the Commission on Cancer, McKellar helps to develop program standards for all accredited cancer programs.

He talked about the value of accreditation to improving cancer programs. He said the commission's mission is to improve survival and quality of life of cancer patients through setting and improving standards, focusing on prevention, better access to resources, education and monitoring of comprehensive quality care.

“It is the only system in place that is looking over the shoulder of cancer care. We are holding cancer programs accountable. We're going to hold their feet to the fire.”

McKellar noted that requirements for accreditation are rigid. “Is it easy? No, it's not easy.”

Programs must meet all of commission standards, from maintaining a database of cancer cases treated to undergoing external assessments by the commission every three years. The assessments will include identifying areas that need improvement.

“Why should you do it? It highlights your commitment to patients to provide optimal care so they don't have to go somewhere else. It's a promise that you will give them optimal care,” he said.

The No. 1 reason the local program should seek accreditation, he said, is “because the citizens of Yuma need the assurance that they can receive high quality cancer care close to home. Patients want to be treated close to home, close to their support system.”

Only 30 percent of hospitals in the U.S. are accredited. Arizona has seven accredited programs: three in Phoenix, three in Scottsdale and one in Sun City.

“Yuma will be the eighth program,” McKellar noted.