The Harvard Joint Center for Radiation Therapy, 1968-1999: A unique concept and its relationship to the prevailing times in academic medicine

Purpose: Institutional structure, function, and philosophy reflect the orga nizational needs, and tend to mirror societal values of the times. For many gears, the field of radiation oncology had among its major academic center s, an organization that served as a model for collaboration among health ca re institutions in an effort to serve the common good of its patients, hosp itals, professional colleagues, and community. For over three decades, the Joint Center for Radiation Therapy (JCRT) was a leader in developing new or ganizational approaches for academic and clinical radiation oncology throug h the philosophy of collaboration in patient care, education, and research. Methods and Results: In tracing the development and changes in organization al philosophy and structure of the JCRT, one can see the impact on academic oncology and cancer care through the emergence of both radiation and medic al oncology as independent subspecialties, the importance of the National C ancer Act of 1971 accompanied by the growth of the NIH research and trainin g programs and, more recently, the effect of the changing attitudes and app roaches of hospitals, academicians, practitioners, and policy makers to hea lth care delivery, structures, and cooperation. Conclusion: Lessons learned from the 31-year history of the JCRT may help p rovide organizational insight useful in guiding academic oncology and acade mic medical centers through periods of change, (C) 2000 Elsevier Science In c.