Director’s Corner: Reflections on Success: It’s all in how you look at it.

Samir N. Khleif, MD
Director, GRU Cancer Center

“The successful person and the unsuccessful person are looking at the same world. The difference between them is what they see.”– Dr. Steve Maraboli

There are many sides to a success story. How we gauge success is often a matter perception, a matter of point of view.

Such is the case with the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) grant recently awarded to the GRU Cancer Center. It’s a success story that reflects differently on the Cancer Center and the work we do here, depending on how you look at it.

On one hand, this is a welcome tool. It increases our ability to not only address those issues of disparity that we have made a priority here, but grants us the privilege of partnering with like-minded scientists and clinicians across the state.

It’s also a validation. Competition for these grants was fierce and to receive one means more than just an acknowledgment of good intentions. It’s sends the message that the work we are doing here, both in terms of minority and underserved populations and generally, meets that standard of excellence we all strive for. We work hard, people notice and we are rewarded. We are rewarded with grants, such as NCORP, but also with the knowledge that the work we do her can, and will, make a difference.

That’s a win, no matter what your perspective.