This past week SWOG and Hope lost a dear member, donor, and friend – Dr. Noboru Oishi.
Having first become a group member in 1976, Oishi went on to act as the Principal Investigator for Hawaii’s main member site from 1982 to 1988. Through a continued and impressive 44 years of active group participation, he served on 8 committees, led or co-chaired 6 SWOG studies, completed 73 Quality Assurance audits, and helped author 26 manuscripts and 8 abstracts.
In 2011, the nursing committee workshop was renamed the “Jeri and Noboru Oishi Nurse Oncologist Symposium” and then changed in 2012 to the “Jeri and Noboru Oishi Symposium” upon the merger of the Clinical Research Associates and nursing committees. This hallmark event annually convenes nurses and clinical research associates from across the country to share learning and resources, hear the latest from top speakers in the oncology nursing field, and earn continuing nursing education credits. The symposium is an enduring demonstration of the support the Oishis provided for the activities and professional development of SWOG Clinical Research Associates and Nurse Oncologists throughout years of involvement with the research network.
Those of us at The Hope Foundation will fondly remember Dr. Oishi’s regular visits to our display table at SWOG meetings. We will miss his kindness and continue to honor his legacy through our support for the Oishi Symposium. For any who may wish to join in that support, gifts can be directed to the Foundation and designated in memory of Dr. Oishi.