The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center is one of the nation's original three comprehensive cancer centers established by the National Cancer Act of 1971. It is both a degree granting academic institution and a system of hospitals located in the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas.

M. D. Anderson was created by an act of the Texas Legislature in 1941, making it a component of The University of Texas System. Today, it is one of 39 Comprehensive Cancer Centers designated by the National Cancer Institute. The cancer center currently sees more than 79,000 patients per year and employs more than 16,000 people.

For four of the past six years, M. D. Anderson has ranked number one in cancer care in "America's Best Hospitals" survey published in U.S. News & World Report. A healthy rivalry exists between Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York and M. D. Anderson.

History
The cancer center is named after Monroe Dunaway Anderson, a banker and cotton trader from Jackson, Tennessee. He was a member of a business partnership with Will Clayton that, in the event of one of their deaths, would require a large amount of money lost to estate tax. In order to avoid this Anderson created the M. D. Anderson Foundation with an initial sum of $300,000. In 1939 after Anderson's death the foundation received $19 million.

In 1941 the Texas Legislature had appropriated $500,000 to build a cancer hospital and research center. The Anderson Foundation agreed to match funds with the state if the hospital were located in Houston in the Texas Medical Center (another project of the Anderson Foundation), and named after Anderson.

Using surplus World War II Army barracks, the hospital operated for 10 years from a converted residence and 46 beds leased in a Houston hospital before moving to its current location in 1954.

Mission
M. D. Anderson is focused on research on causes, treatments, and prevention of cancer, with the stated mission of "Making Cancer History." In 2006 more than 11,000 patients were part of clinical research projects, making it the largest program of its kind in the United States.

Status
Although a component of The University of Texas System, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center is managed under a nonprofit structure, however recent for-profit agreements have caused some to question the motives of the center (see the award winning article "M.D. Anderson private venture raises questions".

The cancer center enjoys university status by providing fellowship, internship and residency opportunities to Ph.D.s and medical professionals. Through its School of Health Sciences, the cancer center also offers undergraduate degrees in several allied health fields, including clinical laboratory science, cytogenetic technology, cytotechnology, diagnostic imaging, medical dosimetry, molecular genetic technology and radiation therapy.

Recognition
M. D. Anderson is currently ranked as the #1 cancer hospital in the United States by U.S. News & World Report. Additionally, the cancer center ranks first in the number of National Cancer Institute grants, and spent $410 million on research in 2006. The cancer center also received Magnet Nursing recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center even though some medical professionals feel this honor is undeserved.

Clinical leadership
M. D. Anderson has had only three full-time presidents in its history:
 * Dr. R. Lee Clark (1946-1978)
 * Dr. Charles A. LeMaistre (1978-1996)
 * Dr. John Mendelsohn (1996-Present).

The Executive Vice-president for Academic Affairs (Provost) is Dr. Raymond N. DuBois.

The Executive Vice-president for Clinical Affairs is Dr. Thomas W. Burke.

The Executive Vice-president for Finance is Mr. Leon J. Leach.

Growth
The cancer center continues to grow, increasing in size by 50% in the last 10 years. The complex now includes a 512-bed inpatient hospital, clinical research building, outpatient clinic buildings, a faculty office building and a patient-family hotel in addition to many off-site labs for clinical and research use, with many other buildings under construction.

International growth
In 2000 M. D. Anderson officials inaugurated M. D. Anderson International-España, its first international affiliation and Spain's first multidisciplinary full-service cancer center. Located in Madrid, patients will have access to many of the clinical trials offered at M. D. Anderson.

M. D. Anderson International - España is a venture between MDA Holding Company, a Spanish investment consortium, and the M. D. Anderson Outreach Corporation®, a health care organization created in 1989 to open and expand access to M. D. Anderson's internationally recognized standard of cancer care. Funding was provided by participants in Madrid.

In return for assisting with the development and operation of the Madrid facility, M. D. Anderson Outreach Corporation has a small equity and share in profits. Neither M. D. Anderson Cancer Center nor M. D. Anderson Outreach Corporation has invested any actual dollars in the project.

M. D. Anderson also has two seats on the 10-member board of directors of MDA Holding Company. The two board seats have significant "reserve powers," which mandate that both representatives approve certain decisions such as those related to quality assurance.

In addition to funding M. D. Anderson International - España, MDA Holding Spain, S.A. will develop and market an insurance product that will guarantee treatment at M. D. Anderson International - España and in Houston. The product will target approximately 6 million people in Spain who have private insurance through their employers.

M D Anderson Services Corporation
M. D. Anderson Services Corporation (formerly M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Outreach Corporation ) was established in 1989 as a not-for-profit corporation to enhance revenues of The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center by establishing joint ventures in selected markets, providing additional referrals to the institution, contracting for delivery of inpatient and out-patient management, utilizing existing U. T. M. D. Anderson Cancer Center reference laboratory services, and fostering additional philanthropy in distant areas. M. D. Anderson Services Corporation is managed by a Board of Directors. Three of the Directors, one of whom shall be a Regent and two of whom shall be administrative officers of The University of Texas System, may be appointed by the Board of Regents.

Facilities

 * Main Building
 * Clark Clinic
 * LeMaistre Clinic
 * Love Clinic
 * Alkek Hospital
 * Lutheran Hospital Pavilion
 * Bates-Freeman Building
 * Gimbel Building
 * Jones Research Building
 * McCombs Institute for the Early Detection and Treatment of Cancer
 * Cancer Metastasis Center
 * Center for Advanced Biomedical Imaging Research
 * Center for Cancer Immunology Research
 * Center for Targeted Therapies
 * Kleberg Center for Molecular Markers
 * Proton Therapy Center
 * Naomi Research Facility
 * Faculty Center
 * Houston Main Building
 * Mays Clinic
 * Cancer Prevention Building
 * Mitchell Basic Sciences Research Building
 * Rotary House International

MDACC physicians also provide services at Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital, part of the Harris County Hospital District.

Notable patients

 * Ann Richards (Died at her Austin home after treatment)
 * Marvin Zindler (Died at the hospital)