RICHARD PAZDUR, MD, A NOTED ONCOLOGIST at the Food and Drug Administration, was recognized last month by the world’s largest cancer professional society. The American Society of Clinical Oncology presented Dr. Pazdur with its Special Recognition Award for his achievements in cancer drug development and his “outstanding service to the oncology community.” Dr. Pazdur joined the FDA in 1999, and was named director of the Office of Oncology Drug Products when that office was established in 2005. As part of his duties, Dr. Pazdur coordinates oncology activities across all FDA product centers and ensures collaboration among the FDA, the National Cancer Institute, and both public and private cancer organizations. Clinical trial design and drug development of anti-cancer agents in advanced colorectal cancer are Dr. Pazdur’s main research interests. He has performed numerous phase 1, 2, and 3 and adjuvant therapy trials in his work to treat the disease.

The Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs are united in a common mission to facilitate health care coordination, streamline benefits application processes, eliminate duplicative requirements, and correct other business practices that complicate the transition of Service members from active duty to veteran status. Emphasis on these programs has increased as Service members returning from Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) are being provided care for the physical and psychological injuries they have sustained. DoD and VA are committed to continually provide high quality continuum of care for each individual as their transition from combat to the next phases of their lives occurs. This article will explain three DoD-VA programs to inform our warriors about care and benefits from federal and state agencies and to assist them in accessing what they so richly deserve.