Born at Providence Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas, Roy Jensen has returned to Kansas to help KU develop an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. In these 10 questions, we learn more about Dr. Jensen, his influences, and his vision for the future of the KU Cancer Center.

1. You were an extremely successful pathologist at Vanderbilt University. What brought you back to Kansas?
The opportunity to build a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in my hometown was appealing to me. But even if this weren’t home, the number of unique regional assets that we can leverage – the Stowers Institute, the KU School of Pharmacy, and the outstanding people at the university – make Kansas a very exciting place to be. We have the potential to really make a difference in the health of the men and women in this region. What more could I ask for?

2. What attracted you to cancer research and care?
The most important influence was my chemistry teacher in junior college, Norma Steinman. Because of her medical technology background, a lot of the labs were oriented around clinical chemistry and clinical pathology. She helped me understand there are many different career paths in medicine, and she sparked my interest in research and being in the laboratory. By the end of my third year of medical school, I decided I really liked research and pathology. You pretty much get to see every interesting case, and that is one reason I really like it.

3. What impact has cancer had on your hometown?
My wife, Linda, and our three sons, Andrew, Derek, and Brett, all live in Gardner. The recent Relay for Life honored those who are surviving cancer and those who had lost their battle with luminaries that went all the way around the track and up into the stands at the high school. To line a whole football stadium with those candles brought the devastation of cancer to light.

4. KU is seeking NCI designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center. What is the benefit of this designation?
One benefit is public health. In Kansas and western Missouri, more than 10,000 people will die from and 24,000 will be diagnosed with cancer. If we do nothing, that means that more than 100,000 people will die of cancer in the next ten years. That’s unacceptable. The other benefit is economic development. We anticipate that in the year 2016, with NCI designation, an additional 9,400 jobs will be created as a result, bringing $1.3 billion annually to the region. That’s in the tenth year alone. The economic cost of cancer is staggering – more than $4.4 million each day. But curing cancer can be a real economic driver as well.

5. Specifically, what is the benefit for patients?
NCI designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center represents the ultimate “Good Housekeeping seal of approval.” It allows access to cutting-edge clinical trials only offered at NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center facilities. One of our main interests will be new drug development. Working with our School of Pharmacy in Lawrence, our Cancer Center will be responsible for developing new therapeutic approaches that our patients will have access to as soon as they’re available. With this prestigious designation, patients can receive the best and latest therapies here at home. Being able to sleep in your own bed at night can be a huge factor in fighting an aggressive illness.

6. Tell us about your most recent recruits.
I’m thrilled to have lured Scott Weir, PharmD, PhD, from the private sector to lead our drug development at the KU Cancer Center. His hire is being met with tremendous enthusiasm both at the Medical Center and in the community. He’s going to be a paradigm-changing force. Bringing Karen Kelly, MD, on board to direct the clinical program provides the vision for all of our oncology clinical efforts. She and Scott will really strengthen our competitive position to achieve NCI designation. But these new recruits join a very impressive team of physicians and scientists already here at KU. The pool of talent just keeps growing.

7. If the plan is to achieve NCI designation within 10 years, what’s been done and what is left to do?
We’re quickly building the infrastructure needed. We have some great new talent on board and we are establishing a network of oncologists across the state and region. But we still have a long way to go. We have wonderful regional assets, but we have to effectively leverage those assets. The Stowers Institute is on board and is a critical partner. But what about the physician in Hutchinson? We need her to be on board as well. We will be educating people all over Kansas and western Missouri about the benefits of having an NCI-designated center. If we do a good job of communicating the vision, then the commitment and resources required to make this happen will flow appropriately. It’s certainly doable, and we are on track to submit our application for Cancer Center status to NCI in 2009.

8. What do you enjoy most about being back home?
I really enjoy being able to follow Jayhawk basketball again and having much better access to my extended family. And I like going back to my old haunts like the Plaza and Chiefs games. Two of my three sons are going to the same schools I went to as a kid, which is special.

9. What do you do for fun on the weekend?
We like to go backpacking and camping and canoeing with our boys. We have 10 acres in southwest Johnson County, which always needs mowing, weed-trimming, and chainsawing. Add to that caring for two golden retrievers, two cats, one goat, two pygmy goats, and a turkey, and your weekend is pretty busy.

10. What is your fondest memory of growing up in Kansas?
Going on dates with my future wife, of course. We met in first grade and started dating the summer before our senior year. Talk about love at first sight. I also had fun playing basketball and going to Ted Owens’ KU camp. +