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Cancer Center of Iowa

Medical Oncology and Hematology Associates (MOHA) was formed in May of 1981 by the merger of the solo practices of Drs. Thomas Buroker and Robert Shreck. Each individual began practice in Des Moines in 1979 in the area of Medical Oncology and Hematology, and both had strong Iowa roots.

Since 1981, MOHA has grown from two to thirteen physicians. Diversity of geography, educational training, and gender has been incorporated into MOHA from its inception. Almost all of the physicians have been trained at National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, which include the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Cancer Center, the National Cancer Institute,the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, the University of Kentucky, and the University of Virginia.
MOHA Physicians have been strong supporters of their community. All of them participate in the education of medical students from Des Moines University, University of Iowa College of Medicine, residents in Family Practice at Iowa Lutheran Hospital, Broadlawns Hospital, and Internal Medicine residents at Iowa Methodist Medical Center-University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Members serve on the board of the Blood Bank of Central Iowa and are medical directors at the three hospice programs in central Iowa.

Recognizing the need to continually improve the quality of care and treatment for our patients, MOHA physicians have participated in clinical research with the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center’s North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) and three other national cooperative oncology research groups: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG), Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG), and National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP). It is through research that more effective therapies are discovered, and MOHA physicians have made ongoing contributions to effective adjuvant therapies for colon and rectal cancers for the past twenty years.

In the past twenty years significant progress has been made in treating cancer and blood diseases, however, there is more work yet to be done. MOHA is committed to excellence and compassion in patient care and furthering the research to solve cancer and blood diseases.