At the forefront: University of Cincinnati Cancer Center
An emphasis on collaboration is helping make Cincinnati a leader in cancer research, according to two local experts. We sat down with those doctors – Dr. William (“Bill”) Barrett and Dr. Andrew Frankart – to learn about the current state and future of cancer research here, and how changes in funding might impact that future.
Barrett is a radiation oncologist at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center; professor and chair of the radiation oncology department at the UC College of Medicine; and medical director of the Barrett Cancer Building (named after his father, who had the idea for such a center). After starting as an orderly at the hospital 46 years ago, he has now been on the faculty for 33 years. About half to two-thirds of Barrett’s time is spent seeing patients; the rest of his work involves “administratively trying to have the atmosphere where everybody working here can thrive and perform at their best.”
Frankart is an assistant professor in Barrett’s department. Born and raised in Cincinnati, he did his undergraduate, medical school and residency through the university, where he’s now on faculty. He divides his time evenly between pediatric radiation oncology at Cincinnati Children’s and his cancer research efforts.
What made you want to go into medicine in general and cancer research more specifically? …