Rosenberg called ‘national treasure’ for immunotherapy work

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Rosenberg called ‘national treasure’ for immunotherapy work

Dr. Steven Rosenberg believed in the viability of immunotherapy as an effective treatment for cancer when few others would.

Michael O'Connell@moconnellWFED

July 3, 2015 2:59 pm

2 min read

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In the 1970s most people in the medical community didn’t believe it was possible to use a patient’s own body to attack cancer cells and slow tumor growth.

Steven Rosenberg did and he spent the next four decades proving it to be true.

Over his 40 years as chief of surgery at the National Cancer Institute, Rosenberg developed the first immunology treatment, interleukin 2 (IL-2), which has reduced the size of tumors and improved the lives of millions of people.

“He is a national treasure,” said Dr. Michael Atkins, deputy director of the Georgetown-Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center in Washington, D.C. “He is fundamental to the success of immunotherapy. Without him, this program would not have happened.”

Dr. Harold Varmus, who up until recently led the NCI, said Rosenberg was a leader in immunotherapy, adding that he blazed trails in the field in the 1970s, when few acknowledged its viability.

“What really deserves credit here is his willingness to stick with a difficult kind of therapy and keep people aware that he had occasional successes, and that with new approaches there could be even more successes,” Varmus said.

For his long effort in leading the development of immunology treatment and thereby saving and improving the lives of millions, the Partnership for Public Service recently name Rosenberg as a finalist for the 2015 Career Achievement Medal. The award recognizes a federal employee who has made significant contributions over a lifetime in public service.

Getting to know Dr. Steven Rosenberg

Federal News Radio asked each of the Sammies finalists questions about themselves. Here are Kavlock’s responses:

What’s the best piece of advice (or words of wisdom) you’ve ever received and who gave it to you?

Make today count

What’s the last thing you read and what’s next on your reading list?

“Founder’s Son: A Life of Abraham Lincoln” by Richard Brookhiser
“Einstein’s Dice and Schrodinger’s Cat” by Paul Halpern

The Career Achievement Medal is just one of the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals (Sammies) presented annually by the Partnership for Public Service. View a photo gallery of all the Sammies nominees.