Cancer Center Administration

ABSTRACT - ADMINISTRATION
The O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center (O’Neal) Administration functions as the central hub for all O’Neal
activities and initiatives within the matrix academic medical center environment of the University of Alabama at
Birmingham (UAB). The focus of Administration is the effective facilitation and operational delivery on the mission
and vision of the Center to benefit O’Neal members’ research endeavors, our patients through access to novel
interventions delivered by interdisciplinary specialists, training of the next generation of cancer research
professionals, and implementation of our knowledge for the betterment of the citizens of Alabama, the O’Neal
catchment area. Administration is central to the functioning of O’Neal and is engaged in all aspects of strategic
planning with Senior Leadership as well as implementation of daily operations of one of the original NCI
designated cancer centers with a history dating back to 1971. Administration is included in all decision making
as well as resource allocation activities of O’Neal providing support for evidenced based decisions and planning.
The Administration is organized to provide coordinated and efficient services that are not otherwise available to
O’Neal members at UAB with an overarching goal to underpin the success of the O’Neal strategic plan. The
Administration consists of 115 dedicated and experienced staff focused on delivering the strategic mission of the
O’Neal. In the current funding period, the Administration has provided stability and operational integrity during
two O’Neal Director leadership transitions and led the effort that culminated in a transformative naming gift of
$30M from the O’Neal family and O’Neal Industries. Administration facilitated the recruitment of 54 new O’Neal
members to UAB. The recruitment effort represents a total of $13.2M in O’Neal resources invested in new
members of our research community. Administration managed 33 CCSG supplement applications with 17
successful administrative supplements to the CCSG totaling $5.4M in direct cost support to our mission and
supported the submission and acquisition of two NCI P01s, one in cancer prevention and another in cancer
survivorship. Administration acquired and implemented the EVAL center management software system,
providing better Center analytics driving data-informed decisions. In collaboration with the Director and Senior
Leaders, Administration guided the O’Neal through the evaluation and consolidation from six research programs
down to four by providing CCSG guideline expertise, program relevant data, modeling programmatic changes
and additional decision support analytics. In summary, the Administration functions as an integral component of
the O’Neal to deliver our vision, Life without cancer.

Grant Number: 5P30CA013148-53
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: MICHAEL BERTRAM