David Gorski, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S., associate professor of surgery and chief of the Breast Surgery Section for the Wayne State University School of Medicine, has been appointed the new program co-director of the Michigan Breast Oncology Quality Initiative.

Dr. Gorski, the medical director of the Alexander J. Walt Comprehensive Breast Center at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center, brings vast knowledge and experience about breast cancer care to the MiBOQI project. In his new role, he will work with the Samuel Silver, M.D., Ph.D., the MiBOQI program director, as well as assistant dean for Research and professor of internal medicine/hematology-oncology at the University of Michigan Medical School.

Dr. Gorski will be involved in many aspects of the quality initiative. His duties include conducting collaborative-wide MiBOQI meetings and other committee meetings, as well as giving presentations at grand rounds at participating sites; working with the Breast Cancer Advisory Committees and program directors at participating hospitals to identify and implement best practices and fast-track quality improvement efforts; leading and facilitating the design and implementation of collaborative-wide quality improvement studies evaluating treatments and improving patient care; providing for publications in peer-reviewed journals; and helping sites disseminate information on best practices to the quality collaborative.

"I am honored to have been chosen for this position and look forward to working with the MiBOQI collaborative to develop data- and evidence-driven approaches designed to improve the quality of breast cancer care for every woman and man in the state of Michigan," Dr. Gorski said. "What the MiBOQI collaborative is doing under Dr. Silver's leadership has been highly innovative and I look forward to contributing to that high standard of work."

The MiBOQI was launched in 2006 with financial support from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network. In an effort to improve the quality and safety of breast cancer treatment and outcomes, MiBOQI is the first statewide effort to examine practice patterns in surgical, radiation and medical oncology.

The initiative is helping hospitals and associated medical practices compare treatment methods with National Comprehensive Cancer Network treatment guidelines.

There are 25 Michigan-based hospitals participating in the initiative. MiBOQI will continue to expand, recruiting new sites each year.