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Chapel Hill, NC – Donald L. Rosenstein, MD, joins the University of North Carolina’s Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center as Director of the new UNC Comprehensive Cancer Support Program.

Rosenstein, who will be a professor in the UNC School of Medicine department of psychiatry, comes to UNC from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) where he directed the clinical program as well as serving as chief of the National Institutes of Health psychiatry consultation-liaison service. NIMH is a component of the NIH.

Richard Goldberg, MD, physician in chief of North Carolina Cancer Hospital and associate director of UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, said, “The leadership of Dr. Rosenstein is critical to UNC as we enhance and expand programs to address the range of issues that our patients and their families face with a diagnosis of cancer. His expertise at the national level of building effective psychiatric health programs will provide UNC with the direction needed to develop outstanding services, research initiatives, and training and collaborative services.”

In describing the new UNC Comprehensive Cancer Support Program, Rosenstein explained that it will include several educational, clinical and research services. “Each of these components will address different needs of cancer patients, their families and the clinicians who care for them. The program is being designed to minimize the many challenges cancer patients face.”

“Our outreach efforts will be critical to fulfilling our mission to serve North Carolina and will foster collaborations between UNC and North Carolina community-based oncologists.” Rosenstein said.

Shelton Earp, MD, director of UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, said, “We were able to attract Don Rosenstein with the support from the University Cancer Research Fund and the Fund’s vision to expand and enhance clinical care for the citizens of North Carolina. Dr. Rosenstein will create a research program to evaluate the best practices for comprehensive patient support.”

Rosenstein has been at NIH for 17 years. He earned his undergraduate degree in psychology from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, his medical degree from Northwestern University School of Medicine, and completed his residency training in psychiatry at Yale University. Some of his recent awards include the NIH Director’s Award and the NIMH Director’s Career Award for Significant Scientific Achievement.

Dr. Rosenstein talks about his work with cancer patients – Watch video