Upstate University Hospital received the 2015 Outstanding Achievement Award by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. Upstate was one of a select group of only 20 U.S. health care facilities with accredited cancer programs to receive the national honor for surveys performed between Jan. 1 and June 30.

One of three

Upstate is one of 10 institutions nationwide to have received the award for four consecutive surveys (pictured above).

The award acknowledges cancer programs that achieve excellence in providing quality care to cancer patients.

“We‘re grateful to our entire cancer team, because their dedication to the treatment of our patients and care of their families is what earns us accolades like this one,” says Leslie J Kohman, MD, medical director of the Upstate Cancer Center.

National honor

This magazine received a national award from The Association for Women in Communications. The inaugural issue of Cancer Care from fall 2014 was selected among startup magazines as the “best overall external magazine” and received the association‘s coveted Clarion Award (pictured at left). Other Clarion award-winning magazines this year included The Oprah Magazine, Mother Jones, Glamour, Redbook and More magazine.

Cancer Care magazine is provided without charge. Call 315-464-4836 to subscribe, or send an email to [email protected] with “Cancer Care” in the subject line and a mailing address in the body of the email. The publication is designed with practical, easy-to-understand stories of interest to anyone touched by cancer. Patient stories are a large part of the mix, along with articles that draw on the expertise of health care providers at the Upstate Cancer Center. Various aspects of medical care, cancer research and advice about living with the disease round out the content.

Do you have a story to share?

The pages of Upstate's Cancer Care magazine are meant to be a safe place to share stories of interest to anyone touched by cancer. Some patients and family members are willing to talk about their experiences because doing so may help people facing similar circumstances. Some appreciate the chance to help educate readers about a particular disease or treatment. Others believes that telling their story helps put their lives into perspective.

Managing Editor Amber Smith would like to hear from you -- by phone: 315-464-4822 or by email: [email protected]

This article appears in the winter 2016 issue of Cancer Care magazine.