State Council on Cancer Control

History

The Maryland State Council on Cancer Control (Council) is a 25 member body appointed by the Governor with members selected from State agencies and administrations involved in cancer screening, prevention and treatment services, as well as members representing the general public, the business community, and the health and scientific disciplines concerned with cancer control. The Maryland Department of Health provides the Council with the necessary staff and resources. In addition to leaders from the major academic medical institutions in Maryland cancer community and national organizations, the Council has 15 members representing the general public; the business community, and health and scientific disciplines concerned with cancer control. At least one member of the Council is a known cancer survivor; one is a member of the Maryland State Senate and another is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates. The Council was established by an Executive Order on June 26, 1991. The mission of The Council was reaffirmed with updated Executive Orders in 1997, 2002, and 2016.

Council

Council Mission

Educate and advise government officials, public and private organizations, and the general public to reduce and control cancer incidence, mortality, and morbidity among Marylanders.

Current Council Chair

The Maryland State Council on Cancer Control is chaired by Dr. Kevin Cullen, Director of the University of Maryland, Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Cullen, who specializes in head and neck cancer, is also a Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and is head of its program in Oncology. He joined the University of Maryland in January 2004.

A graduate of Dartmouth College and Harvard Medical School, Dr. Cullen completed his internship and residency at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston and received additional training at the NCI. He served as the Interim Director of the Lombardi Cancer Center at Georgetown University from October 2000 to September 2002 and was Professor of Medicine, Oncology and Otolaryngology at Georgetown University School of Medicine. Dr. Cullen’s research interests include cellular factors that promote the growth of cancer and molecular mechanisms that make some cancers resistant to treatment with chemotherapy. He is the author of numerous journal publications and has served on review panels for the National Cancer Institute, the Veterans Administration Research Program, and other organizations. His honors include a special achievement award from the NCI. Outside of the University of Maryland, Dr. Cullen serves on the external advisory boards of several NCI designated cancer centers. He has chaired two working groups for the NCI and is a member of the national board of directors of the American Cancer Society and will be the chair of the board in 2018. In 2011 Dr. Cullen was appointed by President Barack Obama to the National Cancer Advisory Board. In 2018, Dr. Cullen was appointed by Governor Larry Hogan as the Chair of the Maryland State Council on Cancer Control.