Chapel Hill, NC -Betty Ray McCain of Wilson, NC and Gordon Grubb of Raleigh, NC have been elected chair and vice-chair of the Board of Visitors of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. The Center is part of the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

McCain replaces Edwina Woodbury of Chapel Hill as Chair. McCain lost her husband, John, to cancer. She served as Secretary of the NC Department of Cultural Resources from 1993-2001. She is a former member of the UNC Board of Governors, past-chair of the UNC General Alumni Association, and served as chairman of the NC Democratic Party from 1976-1979.

Gordon Grubb was elected Vice Chair, succeeding McCain. A native of Lexington, NC, Grubb lost both of his parents to cancer. He earned his MBA from UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School in 1991. He is currently president of Grubb Ventures, one of the Triangle’s premier real estate developers, noted for innovative land-use approaches.

They will lead the 117-member volunteer group which plays a critical role in increasing public awareness, promoting the interests, and advancing the priorities of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and the NC Cancer Hospital as we strive to bring the best in cancer research and care to the people of North Carolina.

“We are extremely pleased to have such strong, North Carolina-centered leadership in this landmark year for UNC and its Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. We are opening the NC Cancer Hospital and will continue to make groundbreaking research discoveries,” said Shelton Earp, MD, UNC Lineberger Director.

UNC Lineberger is one of only 40 cancer centers nationwide designated by the National Cancer Institute as a comprehensive cancer center.

A comprehensive cancer center has demonstrated depth and breadth of research activities in each of three major areas: laboratory, clinical, and population-based research, and in research that bridges these three disciplines. An NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center must also demonstrate professional and public education and dissemination of clinical and public health advances into the community it serves.