Chapter 08: Department Names Reflect Shifts in an Institution and in Cancer

In this chapter, Dr. Mill\u27s discusses the organization of departments and connects the naming of departments to shifts in cancer medicine. He begins by explaining that Dr. Robert Bast recruited him to MD Anderson by asking the question, Would you like to build the preeminent ovarian cancer center in the world? Permission was secured from the Regents in 1994/1995 to create the Department of Molecular Oncology: Dr. Mills explains why this name was selected then talks about why the name was changed to Molecular Therapeutics after Dr. Mien Chie Hung [oral history interview] was recruited. Next, Dr. Mills explains why so many department names include the word molecular and discusses why the molecular focus was tied to a great convergence of technological advances and exploration of DNA and RNA. Next he reflects on how departments strive to achieve flexibility in a context where academic institutions have rigid boundaries. He notes that, because MD Anderson does not have undergraduate programs, there are great opportunities for faculty flexibility.https://openworks.mdanderson.org/mchv_interviewchapters/1066/thumbnail.jp