NCI Reorganizes Cancer Communications

National Cancer Institute
Tuesday, 2 May 2000

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) today announced the restructuring and expansion of its communications activities with the creation of an Office of Communications. Involving the former Office of Cancer Communications, Office of Cancer Information, Communication and Education, and Office of Liaison Activities, this new configuration will enhance the integration and coordination of all of NCI's communications efforts. Five separate groups within the Office of Communications will focus on activities in the areas of Cancer Information Products and Systems, Outreach and Partnerships, Media and Public Communications, Technologies and Services, and Communications Coordination.

"This reorganization reflects an expanding commitment to communications about cancer and cancer research," said NCI Director Richard D. Klausner, M.D. "We are strengthening our communications to our constituencies, reconfiguring the management structure to maximize the talent and energy of NCI staff, incorporating new and emerging technologies, and consolidating similar functions. I believe this reorganization will improve our ability to communicate accurately and effectively."

"We are now in an era of dramatic scientific discoveries and medical advances, making it ever more important to communicate effectively with our many constituencies. With this new communications structure, we will develop an integrated approach to information management and comprehensive channels for cancer communications internally and with audiences outside the Institute," said Susan Sieber, Ph.D. Sieber recently was selected by Klausner as his deputy director for communications and will lead the new Office of Communications.

Acting associate directors have been named for four of the five offices within the Office of Communications:

Anne Thurn is acting associate director for Cancer Information Products and Systems. This program will incorporate the existing International Cancer Information Center which Thurn currently heads. NCI's major databases such as CANCERLIT® and PDQ®, and the CancerNet™ Web site, will be located and managed within this unit.

Nelvis Castro is acting associate director for outreach and partnerships, which will include the current Office of Liaison Activities, headed by Elaine Lee, and the Health Promotion Branch, led by Castro. This program will be responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating national communications programs, and fostering partnerships with professional and advocacy organizations and other government agencies.

James Mathews is acting associate director for media and public communications, a group which will incorporate NCI's public inquiries unit, the Mass Media Branch, headed by Patricia Newman, and the Cancer Information Service Branch, headed by Christy Thomsen. This program serves as NCI's public information office.

Sieber is acting associate director for technologies and services. This program will include the Information Resources Branch, headed by Nancy Brun, and new units for Web Services and Emerging Technologies. Also included will be a new focus on professional development for NCI's communications specialists and media training for scientists.

The Communications Coordination program, a new entity, will include a Division Liaison group and a Topic Management group. The division liaisons will provide a direct link between the Office of Communications and NCI's scientific divisions. The Topic Management group will ensure that NCI is able to deal proactively with emerging scientific issues and will coordinate the Institute's responses so that they are clear, understandable, and culturally appropriate. The acting associate director position for this program is currently vacant.

Formal recruitment for Office of Communications senior staff, the five associate director positions, will begin within the month, with the expectation that the positions will be filled by September or October.

For more information, or to contact National Cancer Institute, see their website at: www.cancer.gov