Dr. Heilbron, Jr. will be an integral part of cancer research and programs among a national network of more than 1,600 volunteer physicians.
Mauricio Heilbron, Jr., MD, a trauma surgeon at St. Mary Medical Center, recently received a three-year appointment as a cancer liaison physician from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. As a cancer liaison physician, Heilbron, Jr. will be an integral part of cancer research and programs among a national network of more than 1,600 volunteer physicians. They are responsible for providing leadership and direction to establish, maintain, and support their facilities’ cancer programs. Heilbron, Jr., who has a significant interest in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with malignant diseases, is also a member of the multidisciplinary cancer committee at St. Mary.
Cancer liaison physicians are responsible for: spearheading the Commission’s initiatives within their cancer program; collaborating with local agencies, such as the American Cancer Society (ACS); and facilitating quality improvement initiatives utilizing data submitted to the Commission’s National Cancer Database. The
Commission collects data from accredited cancer programs and provides tools back to these facilities to analyze patterns of diagnosis, treatment and quality of care.
Cancer liaison physicians at the Cancer Commission’s accredited programs also participate in the Facility Information Profile System (FIPS). Heilbron, Jr. will help provide information to FIPS in order to enhance public information about cancer resources, service and annual cancer cases diagnosed at accredited facilities.
Heilbron, Jr. is also the trauma physician whose heartrending letter “A Heart that Can’t Be Mended” was published in newspapers and appeared on news stations throughout the Southland after trying to save an 11-year-old young boy who came in through St. Mary’s emergency room. The boy was a victim in an apparent gang-related drive-by shooting in March 2008.
