New administrative appointments at Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University

The Georgia Cancer Center has seen tremendous progress in its research and patient care missions and has been highlighted by Augusta University President and Augusta University Health System CEO Brooks A. Keel as a key institutional priority. In recognition of the rapid growth and significance of the center’s work, Dr. Daniel Albo has been named director of the Cancer Service Line for the Georgia Cancer Center. In this capacity, Albo will work collaboratively across both the health system and the broader community to provide critical leadership for the cancer center’s rapidly expanding clinical practice.

Albo is an internationally recognized surgical oncologist, an accomplished cancer researcher and an experienced clinical leader. For the past year, he has served as the director of surgical oncology, director of health services research and leader of the Colorectal Cancer Team at the Georgia Cancer Center. Albo is the Floyd C. Jarrell Jr., MD, Distinguished Chair in Surgical Oncology. Prior to coming to Augusta University, he served as the vice chairman of the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

“I’m grateful to President Keel and to Dr. Khleif for their confidence in me, particularly at this transformative time in the cancer center’s history,” Albo said. “Our work together as a team and a health care system is critical to improving the quality of life for so many in our city, our state and in this entire region.”

Additionally, Dr. Samir Khleif, director of the Georgia Cancer Center, has named Dr. Sharad Ghamande to serve as the associate cancer center director for clinical research, to enhance clinical trials and translational research associated with the center. Ghamande joined the obstetrics and gynecology faculty of the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University in 2000. His research interests include chemotherapy trials for gynecologic cancers, ovarian cancer and innovative approaches to gynecologic cancer surgery.

These appointments are further evidence of the Georgia Cancer Center’s ongoing progress. In August of 2015, plans were announced to expand the cancer research facility by 72,000 square feet and to add an elevated connector across Laney Walker Boulevard, physically bridging the gap between research and patient care. The project, expected to begin later this month, is an essential component in maintaining the Georgia Cancer Center’s momentum toward National Cancer Institute designation.

“This is truly an exciting time at our institution,” said Keel. “We at Augusta University are committed to our community and its needs, to providing excellent patient care and to cutting-edge cancer research.”