Duke Cancer Institute has been nationally recognized by several leading organizations for excellence in cancer research, diagnosis, and patient care. Below are just a few of the organizations that recognize Duke Cancer Institute as one of the leading cancer care centers in the nation.

National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center

Duke Cancer Institute is one of only 40 cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in the United States. Established in 1972, the DCCC has developed into one of the largest and most active cancer research enterprises in the world.

NCI-designated cancer centers like Duke Cancer Institute are a major source of discovery of the nature of cancer and of the development of more effective approaches to cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. These centers are characterized by cancer-focused science, experienced scientific and administrative leadership, and state-of-the-art cancer research and patient care.

For more information, visit the NCI Comprehensive Cancer Centers Web site.

Magnet Recognition Program

Duke University Hospital is designated a “Magnet Hospital” by the American Nurses Association, a distinction held by less than six percent of the nation’s hospitals. The Magnet status recognizes hospitals that provide the highest level of nursing care.  

The Magnet designation was awarded after a three-year application and evaluation process which included interviews with more than 500 Duke nurses, physicians, and staff. The evaluation also included an examination of 3,000 pages of documentation indicating key factors such as the number of nurses certified in specialty areas like oncology.

At Duke, 100 percent of nurses in radiation oncology and 80 percent of nurses in the treatment room are certified. Certified nurses are those registered nurses who have demonstrated exceptional knowledge of cancer patient care by passing a challenging examination.

Recognizing quality patient care, nursing excellence, and innovations in professional nursing practice, the Magnet Recognition Program provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark to measure the quality of care that they can expect to receive. When U.S.News & World Report publishes its annual showcase of "America's Best Hospitals," being a Nurse Magnet facility contributes to the total score for quality of inpatient care.

For more information, visit the Nurse Magnet Recognition Program site.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), a not-for-profit alliance of 21 of the world’s leading cancer centers, is dedicated to improving the quality and effectiveness of care provided to patients with cancer.

Through the leadership and expertise of clinical professionals at NCCN member institutions, NCCN promotes the importance of continuous quality improvement and recognizes the significance of creating clinical practice guidelines appropriate for use by patients, clinicians, and other health care decision-makers. The primary goal of all NCCN initiatives is to improve the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of oncology practice so patients can live better lives.

Thomas D’Amico, MD, medical director of oncology clinical services at Duke, serves as chairperson of the NCCN.

For more information, visit the National Comprehensive Cancer Network site.