Don Dizon, MD, FACP, director of medical oncology and integrative care with the Program in Women's Oncology at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island and assistant professor of obstetrics/ gynecology and medicine at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, was recently elected president of the National Consortium of Breast Centers (NCBC).

Organized in 1985, NCBC is an interdisciplinary organization of professionals who are devoted to comprehensive breast care and gather to exchange information, network and learn from each other. The organization has since included private sector businesses and corporations in its membership, which keeps professionals informed about advances in equipment, technology, drugs and services that can help improve patient care.

For the past three years, Dr. Dizon has served as program chair of the group's National Interdisciplinary Breast Center Conference, which attracts more than 750 professionals each year in Las Vegas. He will serve a two-year term as president.

"The NCBC is evolving in such a rapid pace at this time with increases seen in the number of people attending our program and our leadership in ensuring quality in breast centers," Dr. Dizon tells DOTmed reporter. "I want to capitalize on this momentum and increase the visibility of our group nationally. My objectives are to increase the involvement of our own members and streamline our programs to ones that can serve to strengthen care systems within Breast Centers."

Dr. Dizon reported that the NCBC leads in certifying for clinical and self-breast examinations and last year initiated a certification program in nurse navigation. "I want to foster these programs and offer new avenues for both education and certification, both within the NCBC and through networking with other national groups," says Dizon.

In addition to Dr. Dizon's appointment, Jennifer Gass, MD, surgeon-in-chief at Women & Infants, was appointed co-chair of the NCBC's 2010 National Interdisciplinary Breast Center Conference, its 20th anniversary meeting. The NCBC's 2010 National Interdisciplinary Breast Center Conference was described by Dr. Dizon as "a major success," with over 750 attendees. Conference highlights included a symposium on breast cancer survivorship and other themes including memory difficulties, sexuality and intimacy, exercise interventions and follow-up.

Women & Infants has been designated as a Breast Center of Excellence from the American College of Radiography; a Center for In Vitro Maturation Excellence by SAGE In Vitro Fertilization; and a Neonatal Resource Services Center of Excellence. It is one of the largest and most prestigious research facilities in high risk and normal obstetrics, gynecology and newborn pediatrics in the nation, and is a member of the National Cancer Institute's Gynecologic Oncology Group. The hospital was named Rhode Island's Best Place to Work by Providence Business News and a National Center of Excellence in Women's Health by the federal government. For information about Women & Infants, go to www.womenandinfants.org.

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