Move over, Big Apple! While Cleveland might not have Times Square, it isn't lacking in the welcome department. Electronic billboards at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport greeted Gary Schwartz, MD, even before his official first day as Case CCC director.
Schwartz, who hails from New York and most recently made his home in Manhattan, is enjoying a quieter abode here with his wife, Constance Young, MD, an OB-GYN with an interest in organic agriculture, and Holly, their black lab who loves swimming in the reflecting pool near the Cleveland Museum of Art when she's not chasing squirrels. They live just minutes from the medical and academic campuses on which he practices and directs.
"First, I am delighted to be here and look forward to collaborating with all members of our CWRU community. My move comes after over 30 years of clinical care and translational research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and more recently at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center in NY—and I cannot thank the Case CCC community enough for such a warm welcome," says Schwartz. "This is a very exciting time. It represents a new step in my own journey to bring highly innovative translational medicine to the cancer community in Case CCC's catchment area. My hope is that the highly compelling science discoveries made here will be rapidly translated into impactful clinical trials to provide innovative and relevant patient-centric cancer care that directly addresses the specific needs of our cancer community, including the underserved and most vulnerable populations."
Schwartz added that his plans include emphasizing collaborative, transdisciplinary, and translational research across the science and medical spectrum to ensure that it has the greatest impact on cancer care, both regionally and globally.