Cancer Center endowment honors clinical science delivered with empathy
Dr. Rachna Shroff celebrates with her spouse, Dr. Puneet Shroff, during the pre-ceremony reception at her investiture.
Mitchell Masilun/U of A Health Sciences BioCommunications
A generous $1 million gift from John and Valli Duval will provide enduring support for cancer research and clinical innovation at the University of Arizona Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The gift established an endowed fund and the John F. and Valli S. Duval Endowed Professorship for Gastrointestinal Oncology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson. Dr. Rachna Shroff, associate director of clinical research at the Cancer Center, will be the inaugural holder of the professorship.
The endowed professorship honors Shroff's career as a prolific physician-scientist, mentor and national leader in oncology. A ceremony on March 12 recognized Shroff and her new professorship.
The gift will also support sustained investment in clinical trials and compassionate patient care at the Cancer Center, the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center headquartered in Arizona.
Dr. Robert Wolff, professor of medicine in the Department of GI Medical Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center, served as Dr. Shroff's extoller during the investiture ceremony. Dr. Shroff credits her development as a physician scientist to Dr. Wolff's mentorship during her fellowship and subsequent service as faculty at MD Anderson.
Mitchell Masilun/U of A Health Sciences BioCommunications
"I'm honored to have been chosen for this inaugural endowed professorship and extremely grateful to the Duvals for their generosity," said Shroff. "This gift will allow the Cancer Center to continue to invest in clinical trials, which are the only way to move the needle forward in cancer care. Every single cure that we now have for cancer started with a clinical trial."
John Duval has long been dedicated to excellence in health care administration and education. He served as chief operating officer at the former University Medical Center (now Banner – University Medical Center) and retired as CEO of Virginia Commonwealth University Hospitals and Clinics. Valli Duval has been active in volunteer leadership supporting academic medical centers and community health initiatives. The Duvals' gift will help accelerate clinical research and expand access to innovative treatments for patients.
"The Duvals have spent a lifetime supporting academic medicine, and I thank them for this gift that will allow the Cancer Center and Dr. Shroff to continue to search for treatments and therapies that will benefit patients," said Dr. Dan Theodorescu, director of the Cancer Center and the Nancy C. and Craig M. Berge Endowed Chair. "Dr. Shroff's impact is evident not only in the scientific discoveries she has contributed to the field, but also in her leadership and steadfast determination to advance clinical trials that can lead to better outcomes for Arizonans."
Shroff, who is also chief of the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the College of Medicine – Tucson and medical director of the oncology service line at Banner – University Medical Center Tucson, has dedicated her career to advancing immunological therapies and novel drug treatments while never losing sight of the human side of medicine. At the U of A, she has built a high-performing gastrointestinal oncology program and works to ensure patients have access to the latest scientific advances.
"Dr. Shroff's research has helped usher in an era of personalized medicine, where doctors can target cancers based on each patient’s unique biology," said Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, senior vice president for research and partnerships. "The Duvals' gift will allow the University of Arizona to investigate a broad spectrum of new diagnostic, prevention and treatment strategies through leading-edge clinical trials that have the potential to expand treatment options for patients worldwide."
Shroff is internationally recognized for her work in bile duct cancer, or cholangiocarcinoma. She started focusing on the rare and historically difficult-to-treat disease when few treatment options existed and no Food and Drug Administration-approved therapies were available. Today, the field has changed dramatically, due in part to the landmark clinical trials Shroff has led as a principal investigator.
"Philanthropy plays a critical role in attracting and retaining physician-scientists like Dr. Shroff, whose work touches the lives of patients and their families every day," said John-Paul Roczniak, president and CEO of the University of Arizona Foundation. "I am grateful to the Duvals for establishing such a meaningful legacy at the Cancer Center."
The Duvals' gift is part of the $3 billion Fuel Wonder campaign, which seeks to advance the university's strategic imperatives of success for every student, research that shapes the future and engagement with communities to create opportunity.