About

The Big Cure

The Big Cure Endowment supports solutions to improve cancer care in rural and underserved communities, including resources, specialists and the latest treatment options. Together with key partners, we’re paving the way for the future of quality cancer care closer to home.

THE WORK AND THE TEAM

Together, we will reduce cancer incidence and mortality.

The Big Cure Endowment supports Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center’s efforts to decrease the incidence rates and increase the survivability of people in rural and underserved areas impacted by cancer.

One of the first Big Cure initiatives focuses on recruiting surgical oncologists. TTUHSC is partnering with the John Wayne Cancer Foundation to establish a surgical oncology fellowship, bringing key cancer specialists to the region.

Surgical oncologists play a crucial role in the fight against cancer. They provide advanced surgical care to remove tumors and help diagnose and prevent the spread of the disease. Their expertise is vital in tailoring treatment plans that improve patient outcomes, offering hope and healing to those battling cancer.

The fellowship is part of TTUHSC's larger vision of becoming a comprehensive, academic cancer center serving as a ‘Destination Center’ for cancer care. A key component is partnering with UMC Health System to advance innovative research in treatment and therapies at its new cancer center.

This cancer center is critical to TTUHSC’s efforts to earn designation as a National Cancer Institute (NCI) cancer center. This prestigious designation allows access to exclusive federal cancer funds for research and treatment. NCI cancer centers are also the “go-to” for the FDA in conducting clinical trials for new cancer therapies.

Ultimately, the Big Cure Endowment is about bringing quality cancer care home to the people of rural and underserved communities.

Improve access to cancer care and shape the future of health for rural and underserved communities!

Million

$10M

Join the effort

Meet the Clinical Specialists

Karla Daniele, M.D.

Breast Surgical Oncology

Thomas E. Hutson, D.O., Pharm.D.

Urologic Cancers

John Kidwell, M.D.

Colorectal Surgery

Salvatore J. LoCoco, M.D., MBA

Gynecologic Oncology and Robotic Surgery

Tyler Mouw, M.D.

Surgical Oncology

Edwin Onkendi, MB., ChB.

Minimally Invasive Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery

Ariel Santos, M.D., MPH

Trauma, Acute Care Surgery and Surgical Critical Care

Mohamad Sidani, M.D.

Endocrine Surgery

Partners

Frequently Asked Questions

Surgical oncology specialists acquire additional knowledge and expertise to treat specific cancers. The Big Cure Endowment provides a strategic focus on recruiting these specialists to West Texas in areas of cancer care that are not currently available, including:

Endocrine (cancers of the thyroid, parathyroid, pancreas and adrenal glands)
Melanoma (common skin cancer in our sun-exposed farm, ranch and oilfield workers)
Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for abdominal cancer
Plastic surgeons to provide the latest microsurgical options for breast reconstruction after mastectomy, which are unavailable outside Dallas and Houston.

National Cancer Institutes (NCI) are known for meeting rigorous standards for transdisciplinary, state-of-the-art research focused on developing new and better approaches to preventing, diagnosing and treating cancer. The Big Cure Endowment will support the recruitment of physician-scientists who specialize in cancer care to collaborate with our researchers in innovative, investigative studies. Being an NCI-designated facility would ensure West Texans have access to the highest standards of cancer care available anywhere.