The Central Pennsylvania Oncology Group (CPOG) is an association of about 200 medical professionals at community hospitals and a single university center serving cancer patients in a 34-county central region of Pennsylvania. Members and associate members include practicing oncologists, hematologists, radiation therapists, pathologists, oncology nurses, hospital chaplains and social workers. The population base in the 34 county area served by the Central Pennsylvania Oncology Group is approximately 3.89 million. This is about 32% of the total population of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. According to the American Cancer Society statistics, approximately 23,000 of these people will be newly diagnosed as having cancer in 2005.

Affiliated with Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and the Penn State Cancer Institute, our central office of CPOG is located at Penn State Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, PA.

CPOG identifies as its primary mission, the delivery of the best cancer care in the hospitals within Central Pennsylvania.

• To improve quality of care rendered to patients with cancer in central Pennsylvania
• To conduct studies on the effectiveness of various cancer treatment regimens with protocols developed and evaluated by the Group and those protocols provided by pharmaceutical grants
• To improve communication and coordination of cancer treatment in central Pennsylvania
• Educate professionals on current and new advances in treatment therapies and pain management through multi-hospital conferences, multi-disciplinary case review conferences or other educational activities.
• Continue efforts to provide area businesses, civic, social and church groups and organizations with educational programs on cancer awareness and early detection.

CPOG provides several different types of educational activities:

• Physician Education
• Professional Education
• Community Outreach
• Publications

Additionally, CPOG members can attend business meetings twice a year to be updated on new clinical trial developments, discuss case studies and learn about new treatment strategies. There is also an annual symposium to present information on the most innovative treatment therapies.

CPOG is funded by a non-preferred appropriation from the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, renewable each year by means of the state budget process.

CPOG works in collaboration with the Penn State Cancer Institute.