Valley Children’s now ranks in the top 4% of the country for enrolling pediatric cancer patients into therapeutic programs through the Children’s Oncology Group. COG is the world’s largest organization devoted exclusively to childhood and adolescent cancer research. This high enrollment makes Valley Children’s a valuable contributor to ensure advanced treatment protocols for children throughout the country. The ranking comes from COG’s most recent “report card,” which reviews the more than 200 institutions in its membership.
“Valley Children’s provides the absolute best care in the country for pediatric cancer patients,” says Dr. Vinod Balasa, medical director, hematology/oncology. “As the sole provider of pediatric cancer services in all of Central California, it is our duty to continue to maintain the high standards for clinical excellence and ensure our care teams follow the most advanced protocols for treating any type of cancer our young patients battle.”
Valley Children’s pediatric research program comprises more than 160 national clinical trials and research studies. More than 90 active studies are related to pediatric cancer.
“Our ongoing commitment to quality research continues to put us on the national map as one of the premiere institutions in Children’s Oncology Group,” adds Cathy Key, manager, research. “The work we do here at Valley Children’s leads to improved treatments for cancer patients in the Valley and beyond."
The Cancer and Blood Diseases Center at Valley Children’s sees more than 120 new children diagnosed with cancer each year. It is the only provider of in-depth, inpatient and outpatient pediatric cancer and blood disease services in the entire Central California region. Valley Children’s also provides the only Childhood Cancer Survivorship Program in Central California, which helps prepare survivors for adulthood and maintain excellent health for years to come.