NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens has been named a 2025 Center of Excellence (COE) in Lung Cancer Screening by GO2 for Lung Cancer, a national organization renowned for early detection, education, and policy work. This award distinguishes the Queens hospital as one of a select few across the U.S. that meet leading standards for lung cancer screening and patient follow-up.
In a borough and among patients who have long contended with elevated cancer mortality and earlier disease onset, this recognition stands for more than distinction — it signals a deepened focus on prevention, fairness, and delivering essential care within the community.
Commitment to Early Detection and Health Equity
The Center of Excellence title reassures that the hospital provides a comprehensive lung cancer screening program, featuring advanced low-dose CT imaging, organized diagnostic protocols, smoking cessation initiatives, and a patient-centered approach. The initiative is specifically directed at narrowing gaps in outcomes for historically underserved communities.
“Celebrating 90 years of service, earning this Center of Excellence designation reinforces our core value of broadening preventive care and early cancer screening right in our local area,” said Neil Moore, MBA, MPA, MPH, FACHE, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens. “Many in our community bear a heavier illness burden and face more barriers to care; by offering leading screening and educational resources in Queens—and making sure care stays nearby at Queens Cancer Center—we strive to avoid late diagnoses and allow people to pursue treatment and healing close to home.”
Lung cancer remains the primary cause of cancer mortality in the country, mostly due to late detection. Screening initiatives, including Queens Hospital’s program, are designed to catch disease at its earliest stage, when intervention is most successful and survival odds are better.
Applying National Experience to Local Care
As a new recipient of Center of Excellence distinction, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens can now utilize GO2 for Lung Cancer’s Global Knowledge Center—a broad online resource library available to COE partners. The intention: to bridge information gaps that hinder timely diagnoses and worsen outcomes.
According to Dr. Daniel Contractor, Chief of Radiology, these resources will strengthen both care quality and outreach efforts in the community.
“With the Global Knowledge Center’s evidence-based materials, clinician references, and patient education assets, we’ll enhance awareness, shared decision making, and consistent follow-up care,” Contractor explained. “These resources are crucial to achieving earlier detection and better survival rates for our at-risk patients.”
Consistency with evidence-backed tools also streamlines patient navigation, ensuring a clearer, more cohesive screening and diagnostic experience across the provider team.
Transforming Lung Cancer Outcomes in Southeast Queens
Hospital leaders point to the COE designation as an affirmation of their public health approach.
“By emphasizing screening and prevention, we are determined to shift lung cancer’s impact in our region,” said Dr. Dave Holson, Chief Medical Officer. “A blend of multidisciplinary care, patient education, and outreach is the key to reducing the long-standing disparities here in Southeast Queens.”
Such disparities are particularly evident in neighborhoods with higher tobacco use, less access to preventive medicine, and lower screening awareness — all contributing to a greater number of advanced cases and worse outcomes.
Comprehensive Cancer Care in the Heart of Queens
The Queens Cancer Center delivers the entire continuum of oncology care—prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship—so patients can access specialized services close to home, eliminating the challenge of traveling outside the borough, which can cause delays or dropout from care.
This COE title confirms Queens Hospital fulfills strict national criteria reflecting best practices endorsed by groups like the American College of Radiology and National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Quality assurance, timely follow-up, patient-centered communication, and robust smoking cessation support are all elements of these benchmarks.
Impact Beyond the Hospital Setting
Outside of direct care, Center of Excellence designation lets the hospital further expand health education. NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens will receive GO2’s library of patient education, downloadable pamphlets, and materials suited for diverse public health campaigns.
These tools will enhance outreach alongside community agencies, across social media, and at public events, reaching those who may be unaware of their lung cancer risk or screening options.
With Queens’ rich diversity, this status affirms the necessity of providing trusted knowledge, services everyone can access, and early detection care that saves lives locally.
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