
Promise Spring 2018
Promise is published four times a year by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and is dedicated to our friends who have joined us in Making Cancer History®.

As the Official Cancer Center of the PGA TOUR®, MD Anderson has a national platform to advance its mission to end cancer, help spectators understand and manage cancer risk, and raise funds for critical cancer research and programs.
Philip Jones, Ph.D., worked in drug discovery for 15 years at Merck Research Laboratories at several sites across the globe before joining MD Anderson in 2012. He received a doctorate in organic chemistry from the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom, and completed post-doctoral research at Philipps-Universitat Marburg, Germany. As Vice President for Therapeutics Discovery and head of drug discovery at the Institute for Applied Cancer Science (IACS), Jones leads a team of drug discovery and development scientists who aim to identify the next generation of cancer medicines, move them into clinical trials and get them into clinical practice.
Juanita Morris splits her time between Houston and San Diego. Although she knew of MD Anderson as a world-renowned hospital, she never expected to become a patient. On Feb. 23, 2017, Juanita began experiencing severe pain in her right pelvic area, frequent urination and bloating. Doctors in San Diego found a softball-size tumor and recommended immediate surgery. She flew to Houston for an appointment with Charles Levenback, M.D., professor, Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine. Levenback diagnosed stage III ovarian cancer and scheduled surgery. Once Juanita had recovered from the successful surgery, Levenback put her on a course of chemotherapy for 18 weeks. A year later, Juanita feels like her old self again. Here, she reflects on the strength that carried her through treatment.
In November 2017, Brenda Stewart and her son, Todd, of Houston, donated $3,600 to MD Anderson in loving memory of husband and father Tommy “Steve” Stewart. Their annual donation will supply the coffee bar on the G16 inpatient leukemia unit, where Steve was a patient on and off for three years.
Susan Tancer was diagnosed with brain cancer in June 2004. An online search for clinical trials led her to MD Anderson Cancer Center, where she met Raymond Sawaya, M.D., professor, Neurosurgery.
A member of the MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors (BOV) for 10 years, Pat Bodin is a passionate supporter of MD Anderson’s cancer prevention and control platform, a key component of the Moon Shots Program™, including its EndTobacco™ initiative and the first Texas Tobacco Summit in June 2014.
MD Anderson's donated transportation helps ease burden on cancer patients
Energy Transfer Partners and Sunoco LP toured Pediatrics at MD Anderson during a visit to present a check for $1 million
Jewelry designer Kendra Scott has supported MD Anderson since 2014. To date, Kendra Scott has raised more than $170,000 for childhood cancer research and patient care programs at MD Anderson.
Pappas restaurants in Texas held a two-week End Cancer campaign in January to raise money to support cancer research at MD Anderson. Since 2015, Pappas has raised more than $480,000 for MD Anderson through customer donations and the restaurant’s matching funds.
10-year-old runs half marathon in honor of father
Annual Bunny Hops and Photo Ops event benefits MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital
MD Anderson’s Isaiah Fidler, D.V.M., Ph.D., professor of Cancer Biology and a pioneer in metastasis research, received the 2018 Margaret Foti Award for Leadership and Extraordinary Achievements in Cancer Research in April at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Jim Allison, Ph.D.., chair of Immunology, has received the Jessie Stevenson Kovalenko Medal of the National Academy of Sciences in honor of his pioneering research in cancer immunotherapy.
MD Anderson BOV members rally to effect positive change through advocacy organization, ACT for NIH
Mark your calendars and join the fight against cancer with MD Anderson.
Previous Issues
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Promise Fall 2021
Walmart's support of Boot Walk benefits medical students

Summer 2021
Patient Mosaic: New pathway to precision medicine

Spring 2021
Bridge funding supports researchers amid COVID-19

Winter 2021
Companies support Blood Bank during COVID-19

Fall 2020
12-year-old osteosarcoma patient supports cancer research, spreads hope

Summer 2020
Saluting the heroes of COVID-19

Spring 2020
Rogers Award honors MD Anderson nursing assistant

Fall 2019
Fun for all at Camp H-Town

Summer 2019
MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital holds Prom Party Palooza

Spring 2019
Sarah Jessica Parker shoe sale benefits prostate cancer research

Winter 2019
MD Anderson, Houston Dynamo team up to end cancer

Fall 2018
Newsmakers: Jim Allison wins Nobel Prize

Summer 2018
MD Anderson's happy campers

Winter 2018
MD Anderson's Moon Shots Program turns 5

Fall 2017
Planned Giving

Summer 2017
MD Anderson Cancer Center names 2017 Sabin Family Fellows

Spring 2017
Cancer prevention efforts in full swing

Winter 2017
e-Philanthropy program raises support for patients with just a few clicks

Fall 2016
MD Anderson Cancer Center’s 75th Anniversary Celebration

Summer 2016
A win-win-win situation

Spring 2016
Until 20

Winter 2016
Global ambassadors with a collective goal

Fall 2015
25 Years of Cheer

Summer 2015
PUTTing an end to cancer

Spring 2015
A good day in cancer land

Winter 2015
Stripes aligns with MD Anderson

Fall 2014
EndTobacco

Summer 2014
Fueled by philanthropy

Spring 2014
The power of giving

Winter 2014
Washington, D.C. event honors James A. Baker, III

Fall 2013
Pedaling for a cure

Summer 2013
Lyda Hill commits $50 million to Moon Shots Program

Spring 2013
A bright future for philanthropy

Fall 2012
The time is now

Summer 2012
A leap into the future with telemedicine

Spring 2012
An infinite desire to help

Fall 2011
Data Deluge

Summer 2011
Taking a bite out of cancer: Crave Cupcakes partners with Arts in Medicine program

Spring 2011
A Global Force Against Cancer: MD Anderson Once Again Ranked No. 1

Fall 2010
Measuring Value

Summer 2010
Among Friends: Lanie Rose

Spring 2010
Making Cancer History®:

Fall 2009
Practicing the Art of the Possible

Summer 2009
Polo on the Prairie Brings World-Class Polo to West Texas

Spring 2009
The BATTLE Toward Personalized Lung Cancer Therapy