Legacy Award: Mark Myron, MD

Bob Page
If you go back in time and you look at cancer care here in Kansas City, there were two predominant players. On the inpatient side. It was the University of Kansas Cancer Center and the University of Kansas Health System. And on the outpatient side, it was Kansas City Cancer Centers. Mark was the leader of the Kansas City Cancer Center.

Mark Myron, MD
Our goal was to provide outpatient oncology services throughout the metropolitan area. We did that by founding 5 cancer centers around the community, each providing consultations, radiation, chemotherapy, pharmacy and lab services. We realized that we should have a hospital partner as well.

Tammy Peterman
Dr. Myron was always thinking about the future. He knew that being associated with KU Cancer Center would put his patients in the very best position.

Jeff Wright
The merger with The University of Kansas Cancer Center and Kansas City Cancer Center actually started with conversations about really bringing together two of the largest blood and marrow transplant programs in Kansas City. We had a fine clinical program. We had a fine academic program. These guys had a fine clinical program. But man that brought a lot more patients in. And what that does is it gives a lot more opportunity for phase one clinical trials. Our research and our reach into our community.

Daniel Peters
At the time, Kansas City Cancer Center probably had the most new cancer patients of any practice in the city. And that's one of the things that KU’s cancer program really needed if it were to make a solid presentation to the NCI, both for new cancer patients but also clinical trial accruals.

Marc Hoffman, MD
This is a classic example of a win-win situation. If we wanted to become a comprehensive cancer center as designated by the NCI, that you had to have enough patient volume in order to drive this.

Mark Myron, MD
And at the time, we were seeing over 5,000 new cancer patients per year. We talked with several large hospital systems, and at the end of the day, it was obvious that KU was by far the best option for us. We recognized that KU was on the verge of being an NCI center.

Speaker
Congratulations.

Mark Myron, MD
We really wanted to be a part of that.

Tammy Peterman
Having the Kansas City Cancer Center as part of The University of Kansas Cancer Center really sent a very big message in our community that these two organizations came together. We integrated. We take great care of patients. We're one team now.

Jeff Wright
I remember like it was yesterday. And they actually called it, it was a ribbon-tying ceremony. So bringing again two of the preeminent cancer programs in Kansas City together.

Bob Page
It took courage, it took wisdom. It took vision on his part to see beyond the initial competition that we had, and to see what the future could look like together. I will forever give credit to Mark Myron for having that vision and that courage to see into the future and see what we could do together.

Marc Hoffman, MD
Mark's input was really critical to making sure that this merger was going to be successful, and that the cancer center as a whole would continue to grow and prosper. And that's, of course, where we've ended up.

Jeff Wright
Look at our letter marrow transplant program, CAR T-cell therapy becoming not known, just nationally but internationally renowned. Now for these therapies and that may or may not have happened without this merger and bringing those programs together.

Speaker
There's so many different places where both Mark and I and others observed things could have gone off track and we could have walked away. But I know Mark had this in mind long, long ago. And so I think for him to be recognized is a really great thing.

Steven Stites, MD
Mark firmly believes that we can make a profound difference, and he's done that. That's what the Legacy Award is about, it’s about people who have made a profound difference.

Tammy Peterman
I love the fact that Mark Myron is recognized as a Legacy Award recipient in our Hall of Fame as someone who has had significant impact on our organization, someone who has gone above and beyond. And that's exactly what Mark Myron did.

Marc Hoffman, MD
He's a wonderful man, and I really appreciate all the legacy that he's left for the cancer center and the health system as a whole

Jeff Wright
And I will always respect him for bringing the programs together.

Bob Page
I think there's two kinds of leaders. I think that one kind of leader is the one that makes decisions for him or herself. I think the other kind of leader is one that makes decisions for the greater good. Mark Myron clearly put himself on the sidelines and said, what's the right thing to do? He was instrumental in bringing us together, and I think if he looks back on this, I think he should smile every day.

Steven Stites, MD
There is no way they could deserve a legacy award more than Mark Myron.

Mark Myron, MD
The partnership with KU forged by Dr. Stites, Mr. Page and myself, really, I feel like was the most important aspect of my career. Thank you all for honoring me with this great honor.