As director of the LSU Health New Orleans/LCMC Health Cancer Center since June 2021, Shreveport native Dr. John H. Stewart is focused on helping New Orleans become a beacon for immunotherapy research, cancer clinical trials and research, and policy in cancer care for underserved populations.
“I’m working to set the strategy across the system to make sure that patients don’t have to leave to go to MD Anderson or the University of Alabama in Birmingham for cancer care because we have care here that is as good or better than what they’d receive elsewhere,” he said. “Plus, they’d get to be close to home to receive it. As a native of Louisiana, this is my highest personal and professional honor.”
Stewart recognizes the challenge he faces fighting the disease so close to the area notoriously known as “cancer alley,” which lies between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
“Having higher incidence of cancer and overall clinical outcomes is multifactorial,” Stewart said. “There are a number of issues that come into play when thinking about access to cancer care, socio-economic determinants and outcomes. When we think about access to cancer care, people have said anybody can access care, but not everyone can access good care. We have to make sure that we have good care available for the citizens of Louisiana and reduce inequities in cancer care for the people we serve throughout the state.”
