The President of The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, John Mendelsohn, Receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy In Recognition of Consultation Services Provided in the Areas of Education, Research, and Treatment, as well as for the Construction of Yonsei’s New Cancer Center Dr. Waun Ki Hong of M.D. Anderson Attends to Give a Commemorative Lecture Yonsei University conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy upon John Mendelsohn, President of The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, at the Eun-Myung Auditorium of Severance Hospital on November 27th at 4:30 pm. Yonsei University Health System has been consulting with M.D. Anderson Cancer Center regarding education, research, and treatment in order to construct a globally competitive Cancer Center. During this process, there has been much effort put into building an organic collaboration between the two institutions such as the signing of a Sister Institution Agreement in May of this year. Therefore, Yonsei decided to confer upon President John Mendelsohn an honorary doctorate, as well as present Dr. Waun Ki Hong with a plaque of appreciation for their efforts. Leader of a top Cancer Center in the World and Expert on Cancer Research President John Mendelsohn has been an effective leader who helped turn M.D. Anderson into the premier cancer institution in the U.S. He is also an expert on cancer tumors, having pioneered the development of targeted and adapted cancer therapies. Previously, President Mendelsohn served as the Director of Internal Medicine at New York’s Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in 1985, and became the head of M.D. Anderson in 1996. He is a globally recognized figure and it is anticipated by the academic world that he will be a future candidate for the Nobel Prize. President Mendelsohn's most recognized research involves the explanation of how cancerous tumors proliferate by epidermal growth factor (EGF) and tumor growth factor (TGF-α) proteins binding with EGF receptors on the cell membrane. In January 2004, targeted cancer treatment was applied clinically with the approval of Erbitux (a monoclonal antibody that targets the EGF receptor by binding to it, thus interfering with the growth of cancer cells) by the FDA as a drug for colon cancer. President Mendelsohn said, “From now on, Yonsei is a part of me. I am proud to belong to Yonsei and will make an effort to strengthen the relationship between Yonsei and M.D. Anderson.” Prior to the conferment of his honorary degree, President Mendelsohn gave a commemorative speech on the advances in cancer treatment targeting EGF receptors, and Dr. Waun Ki Hong gave a lecture on translational research as it applies to research-driven multidisciplinary care.