Governor Paterson Appoints Two to Board of Directors of Roswell Park

BUFFALO, NY - New York State Governor David Paterson has appointed Gail Y. Mitchell, Esq. and Thomas P. Stewart, PhD, to the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Corporation (Roswell ParkC) Board of Directors.

“We welcome these newest members to the Roswell Park Board,” said Michael Joseph, Chair of the Roswell ParkC Board of Directors. “Their leadership and vision will help guide the Institute as it continues its mission to understand, prevent and cure cancer.”

Dr. Stewart is the President and Chief Clinical Officer at Gaymar Industries, a global medical device company. He joined the company in 1981 to oversee its clinical research and subsequently served as Director of Medical Research, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Vice President of Operations and Vice President of New Product Development, before becoming President and CCO in 2000.

Dr. Stewart earned his doctoral degree from the University at Buffalo and completed a fellowship at Roswell Park. In 1987, Dr. Stewart founded the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel and in 2003, he was the recipient of the Panel's first “Dr. Thomas Stewart Award,” given biannually to individuals who demonstrate leadership in public policy as it relates to pressure ulcer care and patient advocacy. In June, 2008, Dr. Stewart was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Union of Wound Healing Societies.

Dr. Stewart's community service is exemplary. He is a member of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Life Science Industry Council of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership. Additionally, Dr. Stewart is a member of the Board of Trustees of Daemen College, Vice Chair of the Board of Insyte Consulting and a member of the Dean's Advisory Council for the UB School of Engineering.

Dr. Stewart replaces E. Philip Saunders whose term has expired. Roswell Park President & CEO, Donald L. Trump, MD, FACP offered his heartfelt thanks from the entire Institute to Mr. Saunders for his dedicated service and advocacy for Roswell Park.

Ms. Mitchell is an Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of New York and a former Assistant Attorney General for New York State. She earned her law degree from Columbia University School of Law in 1979. She is a member of the Erie County Bar Association and the Minority Bar Association of Western New York. Since 1999, she has participated in tutoring and mentoring through the Erie County Bar Association Lawyers for Learning program. Before that, she served as a tutor and mentor at Buffalo Public School 6 in 1994 and 1995, when the school was known as the Academic Challenge Center. From 1997-2007, she served on the board of Buffalo Prep, a program that places academically gifted minority students in local private and parochial high schools. She currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Elmwood Franklin School and is a member of the Brown University Alumni Schools Committee.

“Ms. Mitchell and Dr. Stewart will provide strong strategic counsel to the Roswell Park Board of Directors,” continued Dr. Trump. “Dr. Stewart's scientific background and strong community connections will bring new perspectives to the Roswell Park cancer mission. Ms. Mitchell's impeccable credentials and wealth of experience in law and business will bring new insights to the Institute.”

The mission of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is to understand, prevent and cure cancer. Roswell Park, founded in 1898, was one of the first cancer centers in the country to be named a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and remains the only facility with this designation in Upstate New York. The Institute is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation's leading cancer centers; maintains affiliate sites; and is a partner in national and international collaborative programs. For more information, visit Roswell Park's website at http://www.roswellpark.org, call 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) or email AskRoswell@Roswellpark.org.

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Media Contact

Annie Deck-Miller, Senior Media Relations Manager
716-845-8593; annie.deck-miller@roswellpark.org