Director’s Corner: Communing with the community: Our approach to building bridges

Samir N. Khleif, MD
Director, GRU Cancer Center

“A community is like a ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm.” — Henrik Ibsen

The GRU Cancer Center’s place in the community is, as it should be, primarily as a place of science, care and healing. It is, after all, our primary purpose. That said, it’s important to remember that life is lived outside the walls of those clinics and laboratories and, for much of the community, the things we do here are more of an abstract idea than a concrete reality.

Which is why to become part of the community, we must go out into the community.

In September we enjoyed having a presence at the Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival where we were able to actively engage with community members. This past weekend participated as community partners in the Color Run and Westobou Festival, celebrating cancer awareness and survivorship. We see this as not only a means of educating the public on issues of cancer prevention, research and treatment, but also as a way of communicating that we consider the community home. We want to engage. We will engage. It’s how relationships are built, and an institution like the Cancer Center depends on strong community ties.

So I encourage you to go to these events. Volunteer at our booths if you are able. If not, be part of the process of connecting. Help us ensure that, when people speak of the CSRA, the GRU Cancer Center is part of the conversation.