On Tuesday, March 31, 2026, Robert A. Winn, MD, Director and Lipman Chair in Oncology at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center and Professor of Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine at VCU School of Medicine, gave the Paul Calabresi, MD, Memorial Lectureship entitled The Impact of a Community Focused Approach. The event was hosted by Roy Herbst, MD, PhD. A dinner was held in his honor, along with a ceremony in the Calabresi Conference Room at Yale Cancer Center. Yale Medical Oncology-Hematology Fellows also met and spoke with Dr. Winn after his talk, and he met with the winners of the Winn Award. The Robert A. Winn Excellence in Clinical Trials Award was established in 2020 by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation to encourage participation in clinical trials and improve health outcomes for all communities.
The Paul Calabresi, MD, Memorial Lectureship began in 2006 to honor Yale’s first chief of medical oncology who is often regarded as ‘the father of oncology.’ Dr. Calabresi was an internationally-recognized authority and pioneer on the clinical pharmacology of anti-cancer agents, and was an early supporter of combination chemotherapy as well as combined modality therapy, intertwining surgery and radiation therapy with chemotherapy in a safe and effective fashion.
Winn conducts research to discover new cancer therapies, provides education and training, and works with the community to make advancements in cancer treatment and prevention accessible to all. He is working to create a model of equity for cancer science and care, where the community helps guide and partner with Massey on research to address cancer and reduce disparities among people served by the cancer center. His efforts focus locally and aim for global impact.
During his introductions, Herbst said, "I am proud to welcome the Calabresi family with us in person today and am especially honored to have the opportunity to host Dr. Robert Winn, this year’s Calabresi lecturer. Dr. Winn has brought the importance of the concept of ZNA (one’s zip code or neighborhood of association) and its impact on DNA and biological outcomes to the forefront in basic and translational research. His findings in this area have driven several important studies and has truly advanced the science of health equity."
At end of his lecture, after sharing insights on the future of equity in cancer research and care, Winn commented, “We are at a crossroads, and now more than ever we need to think not about today, but about our future – science continues to march forward no matter. I’m issuing a call to action to restart the conversation about this next crossroads and how we can bring our communities together to set clear priorities and build a practical, shared plan for how to deliver better cancer care in the years ahead.”