Tribute to Alfred E. Chang

It has been my distinct honor to co-edit this special issue of the Journal of Surgical Oncology about gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) with Dr. Alfred E. Chang. This issue is dedicated to him in recognition of longstanding contributions to surgical oncology and tumor immunology. Dr. Chang is the Hugh Cabot Professor of Surgery and Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology at the University of Michigan. He has previously served as the director for the multidisciplinary Breast Care Center and the director of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Program of the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Chang’s laboratory program has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for more than 20 years. He has had a long-standing interest in tumor immunobiology and immunotherapy, studying the host immune response to tumors and vaccines; the induction of T and B cell responses to tumor antigen; and tumor-induced immunosuppressive mechanisms. He has trained many fellows and graduate students in the laboratory and is the Program Director for an NIH T32 surgical oncology research training grant at the University of Michigan. His dedicated mentorship also extends to medical students, surgical residents, and junior faculty members. Dr. Chang has broad clinical expertise in the areas of breast cancer, melanoma, sarcoma, liver tumors, and gastrointestinal cancers. He has also been named as one of the ‘‘Best Doctors in America’’ consistently every year since 1998. He has authored or co-authored over 260 peer-reviewed manuscripts and has served as an editor of major surgery textbooks as well as on the editorial board of several clinical and basic science journals. Dr. Chang has several leadership roles in national organizations, including serving on the Executive Council of the Society of Surgical Oncology, the American College of Surgeons Governor-at-large for the state of Michigan, and as a member of the Membership Committee of the American Surgical Association. As a master senior surgeon, successful scientist, and dedicated mentor, Dr. Chang is truly a role model for academic surgical oncologists.