Tanya Wahl, MD, the Cancer Liaison Physician (CLP) in the Cancer Center at Overlake Hospital Medical Center, recently received an Outstanding Performance Award for going above and beyond the scope of the normal duties of serving as a liaison between the cancer program and the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC).

As a Cancer Liaison, Wahl is serving a three-year appointment and is among a national network of over 1,600 volunteer physicians who are responsible for providing leadership and direction to establish, maintain, and support their facility’s cancer program. Cancer Liaison Physicians are an integral part of cancer programs accredited by the CoC.

Nationally, 36 Cancer Liaison Physician Outstanding Performance Awards were recently given to recognize liaison physicians’ work in developing and/or implementing an idea(s) that improved the quality of care delivered at their facility – directly contributing to the accreditation status of the cancer program; exceeding the expectations set forth for CLPs to strengthen the cancer program; demonstrating leadership and support for cancer control activities in the community and with the ACS; or serving as a role model for other staff and exhibiting characteristics that make them a physician champion for the cancer program.

The awardees were recognized at the Cancer Liaison Program breakfast, held during the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress in October 2009.

For more information about the Commission on Cancer, visit our Web site at www.facs.org/cancer/index.html