2009 – Professor Michael Baum

2009 – Professor Michael Baum

Prof Michael Baum is one of Britain’s most distinguished surgeons, who has made immense  contributions to the way that breast cancer is managed, both in the UK and internationally.

Before joining University College London (where he is now Professor Emeritus) in 1996, he was Professor of Surgery at Kings College London and  the Royal Marsden Hospital and Institute of Cancer Research, and Director of the Cancer Research Campaign Clinical Trials Centre. One of his best known innovative achievements was to lead the multi-centre collaborative trials which reported both the survival advantage of Tamoxifen and its potential preventive role, and then later demonstrated the efficacy of aromatase inhibitors. Currently, he leads research looking at delivery of radiotherapy at the time of surgery, which may have important advantages for cancer treatment in the developing world. In addition, he has pioneered counselling and psychosocial oncology services for cancer patients, has explored quality of life issues in these patients, was involved in the development of ethical models for clinical trials and is promoting collection of archival material for translational research, looking for predictive factors determining responses to treatment.

In recognition of these achievements, he has received many prizes and awards, most recently the St Gallen Biennial Prize for lifetime achievements in breast cancer research and treatment. Furthermore, as Visiting Professor of Medical Humanities, he takes a keen interest in the relationship between art, literature and medicine. He is also very well- known for his forthright views about the role of ‘alternative medicine’ in cancer treatment.

Prof Baum started his working life in Israel, has been active in the Jewish community throughout his career, and has played a major role in promoting links between Israel and the UK in the field of breast cancer research. Despite considerable opprobrium and personal abuse for his support of Israeli medicine, he continues to campaign consistently for positive medical collaborations as a key component in the pathway towards peace.

Prof Michael Baum is one of Britain’s most distinguished surgeons, who has made immense  contributions to the way that breast cancer is managed, both in the UK and internationally. Before joining University College London (where he is now Professor Emeritus) in 1996, he was Professor of Surgery at Kings College London and  the Royal Marsden Hospital and Institute of Cancer Research, and Director of the Cancer Research Campaign Clinical Trials Centre. One of his best known innovative achievements was to lead the multi-centre collaborative trials which reported both the survival advantage of Tamoxifen and its potential preventive role, and then later demonstrated the efficacy of aromatase inhibitors. Currently, he leads research looking at delivery of radiotherapy at the time of surgery, which may have important advantages for cancer treatment in the developing world. In addition, he has pioneered counselling and psychosocial oncology services for cancer patients, has explored quality of life issues in these patients, was involved in the development of ethical models for clinical trials and is promoting collection of archival material for translational research, looking for predictive factors determining responses to treatment. In recognition of these achievements, he has received many prizes and awards, most recently the St Gallen Biennial Prize for lifetime achievements in breast cancer research and treatment. Furthermore, as Visiting Professor of Medical Humanities, he takes a keen interest in the relationship between art, literature and medicine. He is also very well- known for his forthright views about the role of ‘alternative medicine’ in cancer treatment. Prof Baum started his working life in Israel, has been active in the Jewish community throughout his career, and has played a major role in promoting links between Israel and the UK in the field of breast cancer research. Despite considerable opprobrium and personal abuse for his support of Israeli medicine, he continues to campaign consistently for positive medical collaborations as a key component in the pathway towards peace.