Yale New Haven Hospital names Lori Pickens to lead Smilow Cancer Hospital

New Haven, CT (May 9, 2018) – Today, Yale New Haven Hospital announced the appointment of Lori Pickens to the position of senior vice president and executive director of Smilow Cancer Hospital, effective August 6.

Pickens will be assuming the Smilow and Yale Cancer Center leadership responsibilities currently held by Abe Lopman, who will be retiring on October 1. Pickens is a nationally recognized cancer leader with over 18 years of leadership experience in the field. She currently serves as the associate vice president for Oncology Services at Duke University Health System, associate dean and administrator of the Duke Cancer Institute at Duke University School of Medicine and the service line executive of the Cancer Care Collaboration with Wake Medical Health System. Prior to joining Duke University Health System in 2007, she held leadership positions at the American Lung Association of Missouri and BJC Health System.

“We are thrilled that Lori has agreed to join the Yale New Haven Hospital family,” said Richard D’Aquila, president Yale New Haven Hospital. “Her wealth of experience will help us to expand our ability to provide the best cancer care for our patients throughout New England.”

Pickens received a bachelor of science in Business Administration from Clark University and a master of Healthcare Administration from Washington University School of Medicine She completed an administrative fellowship at the Henry Ford Health System and will oversee the Smilow Cancer Hospital locations at all Health System locations as well as the satellite offices.

Pickens serves as an Officer of the Board of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). She and her husband have two children and they will be relocating to the New Haven area over the summer.

Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH), part of Yale New Haven Health, is a nationally recognized, 1,541-bed, not-for-profit hospital serving as the primary teaching hospital for the Yale School of Medicine (YSM). Founded as the fourth voluntary hospital in the U.S. in 1826, today, YNHH has two New Haven-based campuses, and also includes Yale New Haven Children's Hospital, Yale New Haven Psychiatric Hospital and Smilow Cancer Hospital. YNHH has received Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the nation’s highest honor of nursing excellence. YNHH has a combined medical staff of about 4,500 university and community physicians practicing in more than 100 specialties. www.ynhh.org

Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven is part of the nationally recognized Yale New Haven Hospital, and is affiliated with Yale Cancer Center (YCC), one of only 51 National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the nation and the only such center in Connecticut. Smilow Cancer Hospital, the most comprehensive cancer facility in New England, includes private inpatient rooms, multidisciplinary outpatient treatment centers, 12 operating rooms, infusion suites, diagnostic imaging services, and specialized women's and children’s services. Smilow Cancer Hospital also operates a dozen outpatient care centers across Connecticut. YCC and Smilow Cancer Hospital are members of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), an alliance of 28 cancer centers in the U.S., whose mission is to improve the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of oncology care. www.ynhh.org/smilow.

Yale Cancer Center (YCC) is one of only 49 National Cancer Institute (NCI-designated comprehensive cancer) centers in the nation and the only such center in southern New England. Comprehensive cancer centers play a vital role in the advancement of the NCI’s goal of reducing morbidity and mortality from cancer through scientific research, cancer prevention, and innovative cancer treatment. yalecancercenter.org