Oncologist appointed as liaison physician to Commission on Cancer

INDIANAPOLIS – Thomas H. Fairchild, M.D., recently received a three-year appointment as Cancer Liaison Physician at St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers.

That designation is an integral part of cancer programs accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC). Fairchild joins a network of more than 1,600 volunteer physicians responsible for providing leadership and direction to establish, maintain and support their facilities’ cancer programs.

Fairchild, a member of Otolaryngology Associates, specializes in head and neck cancers and is a member of St. Francis’ Head & Neck Cancer multidisciplinary team. He earned his medical degree and completed a residency at the Indiana University School of Medicine and completed an internship at Methodist Hospital.

Cancer Liaison Physicians are responsible for leading CoC initiatives within their cancer programs, collaborating with local agencies such as the American Cancer Society and coordinating quality improvement measures using data submitted to the CoC’s National Cancer database.

Fairchild will serve in this leadership capacity alongside Peter Garrett, M.D., who is medical director for St. Francis Cancer Care Services and also serves as the St. Francis Cancer Committee Chair.

More information about the Cancer Care Services program at St. Francis is at http://stfrancishospitals.org/cancer.