New director could be a boon to Nevada Cancer Institute

By Steve Green (contact)

Monday, Feb. 2, 2009 | 7:15 p.m.

Dr. John C. Ruckdeschel

A few months after its chief executive officer quietly resigned, the Nevada Cancer Institute has hired a prominent Michigan researcher as director and chief executive officer.

Calling him one of the nation's preeminent clinical, research and administrative leaders in oncology, the Nevada Cancer Institute said it hopes Dr. John C. Ruckdeschel will help it obtain a prestigious status as a National Cancer Institute designated center. This is something Ruckdeschel has done before with fledgling cancer centers.

Lisa Stark, vice president of communications for the center, said Dr. Sandra Murdock, the center's last president and chief executive officer, resigned last fall.

"It was for personal reasons. That's all the information we were given," Stark said.

Attempts to reach Murdock for comment Monday were unsuccessful. One of her last acts at Nevada Cancer Institute was to assist in implementing layoffs of about 50 employees. The layoffs resulted from a decline in donations due to the slow economy, the cancer institute said.

Ruckdeschel also succeeds Nevada Cancer Institute director Dr. Nicholas Vogelzang, who is staying on with the program.

With Ruckdeschel's hiring, Vogelzang assumes the title of associate center director for clinical research and head of the Genitourinary Cancer Program.

This role allows Vogelzang to focus exclusively on advancing the research and treatment options for genitourinary cancer patients at Nevada Cancer Institute. Vogelzang will continue to play a leadership role and serve on the Nevada Cancer Institute executive committee.

The Nevada Cancer Institute said that in his most recent position as president and CEO at Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit for the past six years, Ruckdeschel strengthened and reorganized Karmanos' clinical and research programs as well as its administrative structure. In 2004, it earned the best site visit score in its 26-year history as a National Cancer Institute-designated center and resulted in a five-year renewal of the prestigious comprehensive designation as well as a four-fold increase in yearly National Cancer Institute funding.

"To hire a leader the caliber of Dr. Ruckdeschel is truly a monumental achievement for Nevada Cancer Institute and the state of Nevada," cofounder and chairwoman of the board Heather Murren said in a statement. "Dr. Ruckdeschel will be instrumental in leading NVCI down the path to achieve its overarching goal of reaching NCI designation."

Ruckdeschel said his goal is to "ensure that the citizens of Nevada have a top tier cancer center available to them that can provide all of the clinical and research opportunities, and services they deserve."

"Nevada Cancer Institute will work, alongside our partners in the community, to provide the pinnacle of high-quality cancer care in the Southwest," Ruckdeschel said in a statement. "We will grow our research efforts so that we are nationally and internationally competitive, and so that we make a difference in people's lives through the quality of our research."

Steve Green can be reached at 990-7714 or steve.green@hbcpub.com.