Cancer Society promotes East Brunswick resident
Nealy named
chief operating officer
of Eastern Division
James Nealy
EAST BRUNSWICK — Township resident James Nealy, 52, has been named chief operating officer of the American Cancer Society, Eastern Division.
The Eastern Division serves New York and New Jersey and is responsible for raising more than $72 million a year.
"I am very excited about the opportunity to make a major impact not only on the number or people affected by cancer, but also on the quality of life of those individuals battling the disease," said Nealy.
"We have some very aggressive goals that require the collaboration of the public, private and nonprofit sectors, and I am pleased to be at the forefront of this movement," he said.
Nealy began his career with the American Cancer Society in 1973 as a field representative in Union County.
Since then he has served in a number of positions including a 15-year stint as deputy executive vice president of the society’s former New Jersey Division, before being appointed executive vice president of the Eastern Division in March 1998.
Nealy officially started his job as chief operating officer Monday.
His primary responsibilities will involve overseeing the day-to-day implementation and execution of the society’s primary programs and goals.
For example, by the year 2015, the American Cancer Society hopes to reduce the total number of cancer cases (on an age-by-age basis) by 25 percent, reduce the cancer mortality rate by 50 percent, and measurably improve the quality of life for cancer patients from the time of diagnosis.
In 1999, Nealy was appointed by Gov. Christie Whitman to the New Jersey Working Group to Improve Clinical Outcomes in Cancer Patients.
This group, composed of insurance and pharmaceutical industry representatives, is asked to form a consensus on reimbursement for clinical trials so that more New Jersey residents will participate.
Last summer, the group scored a major victory when participating health insurance providers in New Jersey agreed to cover all phases of clinical trials for cancer patients.
"Jim brings a wealth of experience to this position," said Robert Kugler, president of the American Cancer Society Eastern Division board of directors.
"The volunteer leaders of this organization are extremely confident in his ability to direct the execution of programs in the field that will ensure the achievement of the [society’s year] 2015 goals," said Kugler.
Nealy is a graduate of St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., where he remains active in the internship program.