New Rutgers President William Tate IV was able to watch the ribbon-cutting for the Jack and Sheryl Morris Cancer Center last week from his home in Louisiana.
He said it brought a tear to his eye.
Tate, who has spent much of his presidency at Louisiana State University working to help the LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center earn the coveted NCI-designated cancer center title by the National Cancer Institute, appreciates the fact that The Morris Center is the only facility in New Jersey to earn the distinguish.
“I’ve been working on NCI designation in my current job for almost four years,” he said.
Tate, who worked in conjunction with an NCI-designated facility when he was at Wash U in St. Louis, said he was stunned to learn about the amount of health care research taking place at Rutgers and in New Brunswick.
“There’s more in New Jersey on the health care side than Missouri,” he said.
Tate, who toured the facility Monday afternoon said he hopes it spurs more innovation.
“You are really looking at something that could be quite special, because you need a catalyst for it all,” he said.
Tate said he’s impressed by what the RWJBarnabas Health facility has accomplished, saying he knows it will save lives, he said.
It’s the type of achievement he wants all Rutgers-connected initiatives to strive for. The options for excellence are endless, Tate said.
“Pick the next area and the next area and the next area,” he said.
