Message from the Director

September 7, 2023

Welcome to Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, a cancer center designated by the National Cancer Institute. We’re so glad you’re here on this website and joining us in this conversation about cancer in our Bronx community and the nation as a whole. There’s really so much to talk about.

Our hope is that this digital space can serve as a vibrant home for sharing how we care for people and families with cancer, and how we’re looking for solutions to this disease through innovative research in our research laboratories, clinical care facilities, and classrooms. 

Cancer screenings. Clinical trials. Support groups. Treatment options. Research breakthroughs. Educational opportunities. Community events. Drug discoveries.

It’s all here.

Yet, we also recognize that our 51-year-old Cancer Center, which the NCI-designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center in September 2023, has a lot of listening and learning to do. We have much work ahead to better understand what people in our community want and need from us to stay healthy, informed, and cancer-free.

You, in turn, can help by adding to our knowledge base and provide insight into potential new cancer treatments and prevention measures by participating in clinical trials—when doing so makes sense for you. We hope we’ve explained this treatment option well. 

We here in the Cancer Center believe that clear and open communication is a form of kindness and care—a way for all people to secure vital access to the most up-to-date and accurate information about cancer.

Along these lines—given that as many as 55% of our Bronx residents are Hispanic, we’re now offering a simple website click to translate all our information to Spanish. In fact, Spanish is the most common language spoken in our Bronx community. It’s just a start. Nearly 1 in 3 people in the Bronx were born in another country, so adding translations for the many non-English speaking among us is on our priority list. As a reflection of the tremendous diversity in our community, there are at least 27 different languages spoken in the Bronx. 

We and others around the country and the world are steadily making progress in our fight against cancer, but it’s still a tough diagnosis to get and discuss. By providing you with the necessary information of your particular cancer, we hope you can at least feel more confident about the best next steps for you or a loved one with this illness.

At Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center – one of only 56 cancer centers awarded this highest level of designation by the NCI – you will get care at a place that has been recognized by cancer specialists around the country for its exceptional science integrated with extraordinary multidisciplinary clinical care. I invite you to learn more about our cancer center.

Best regards,
Ed

Edward Chu, MD, MMS
Director, Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center
Vice-President of Cancer Medicine, Montefiore Medicine