 | | Seema Khan, MD |  | | Steven T. Rosen, MD, FACP |  | | Dr. Khan with Dean Jameson |
In conjunction with a reception for the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Symposium, on October 23, the Chicago History Museum hosted the investiture of Seema Khan, MD, as the Bluhm Family Professor of Cancer Research. Drawing a wide audience of researchers, supporters, family, and friends, the evening celebrated Dr. Khan’s achievements and advances made in the field of breast cancer research. After welcoming attendees to the event, J. Larry Jameson, vice president for medical affairs and Lewis Landsberg Dean of the Feinberg School of Medicine, introduced Azra Raza, MD, professor of medicine at St. Vincent’s Comprehensive Cancer Center in New York, and a close friend of Dr. Khan’s. In describing her four decades-long relationship with Dr. Khan, Dr. Raza recalled their meeting in Karachi in 1972 and the “heady days” of their young friendship. Thirty-six years later, she shared her own tribute to Dr. Khan: “Seema serves her patients with exceptional devotion, thoughtfulness, deference, and especially, an understanding for the unspeakable tragedies that they and their families face when a diagnosis of cancer is given. I cannot imagine a more deserving scientist and scholar for this honor than Seema.” Dean Jameson then invited Steven T. Rosen, MD, FACP, to the podium to formally extol Dr. Khan. Dr. Rosen, Genevieve E. Teuton Professor of Medicine and director of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, began describing Dr. Khan and benefactor of the professorship, Neil Bluhm. “It is Seema’s clinical skills, her talents as an educator, and her substantial academic accomplishments that we celebrate with her investiture as the Bluhm Family Professor of Cancer Research. This acknowledgement has singular importance because of the heartfelt generosity and friendship of Neil Bluhm, a self-made man and devoted civic leader possessing great compassion and a sincere commitment to advancing healthcare for the welfare of our community.” When Dr. Khan took the stage, she humbly thanked all those who had played a part in her achievements to date. She also recognized the incredible contributions of the Bluhm family for their broad support of cancer research as well as their gifts to establish this important professorship. Dr. Khan described the challenges she faces every day leading the Breast Cancer Program at the Lurie Cancer Center, and how she and her colleagues respond with multidisciplinary programs, new approaches, and, most of all, hope. The celebration in her honor came to a close with Dr. Khan sharing her own ambition and optimism: “We are hopeful that this will be the start of a new era in breast cancer prevention and treatment.”
Photo credit: Nathan Mandell
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