News Release

October 21, 2005

Contact: Maureen McGuire, 860-679-4523
e-mail: mmcguire@nso.uchc.edu

Dr. Lori L. Wilson Joins UConn Health Center

Surgical Oncologist with Interests in Cancer Research

FARMINGTON, CONN. – Lori Wilson, M.D., a surgical oncologist with a strong background in some of today’s most exciting cancer research, has joined the University of Connecticut Health Center from the prestigious John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, California.

Dr. Wilson sees patients at the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center and has special interests in melanoma, breast cancer and gastrointestinal cancers.

At UConn, Dr. Wilson will continue to pursue her research interest in proteomics – an advanced and promising approach to identify protein markers in blood, urine and other fluids that may signal the earliest cellular changes leading to cancer or a recurrence of cancer.

“Proteomics is one of the most exciting areas of cancer research with tremendous potential for helping us identify the earliest possible diagnoses and the most appropriate treatments for patients,” said Dr. Wilson, who has studied proteomics for several years, during both her fellowship at the John Wayne Cancer Institute and an earlier research fellowship at Eastern Virginia Medical School.

Dr. Wilson said she was attracted to the UConn Health Center because of its state-of-the-art research facilities. In recent years, UConn has acquired two key pieces of equipment, a mass spectrometer and a laser capture micro-dissection microscope instrument, to study tissue changes. Both purchases were made possible by donations to the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center by the annual Cancer Research Golf Tournament, led by local volunteers.

“I am thrilled to be part of a university hospital where I can continue my research interests and also see patients,” she added.

During her training, Dr. Wilson was also involved in several research initiatives in immunology, lymph node staging and more.

She is a graduate of Georgetown University School of Medicine and completed an internship and residency in surgery at Howard University Hospital. During this time, she was honored with the university’s Chairman’s Award, the Resident’s Choice Award from the Department of Surgery, and was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha, Gamma Chapter, Medical Honor Society, along with other honors.

In addition, she completed a research fellowship at the University of Cincinnati with advanced coursework in cellular biology, molecular genetics and bioethics. At the John Wayne Cancer Institute, she was honored as Chief Administrative Surgical Oncology Fellow, along with many other academic accolades.

The University of Connecticut Health Center includes the schools of medicine and dental medicine, John Dempsey Hospital, the UConn Medical Group and University Dentists. Founded in 1961, the Health Center pursues a mission of providing outstanding health care education in an environment of exemplary patient care, research and public service. To learn more about the UConn Health Center, visit our website at www.uchc.edu.

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