In 1998, the institution received a prestigious designation as a World Health Organization Collaborating Center in Supportive Cancer Care. M. D. Anderson is one of only six centers in the world with a designated focus on symptom management and supportive care, working in collaboration with the World Health Organization.

For M. D. Anderson, certification is voluntary and was undertaken as part of a proactive integration of its environmental management into the framework that meets the state and federal regulations and the center's commitment to the environment. Having in place mechanisms to respond to and prepare responsibly for environmental issues is vital to a successful business organization as well as a health care provider's responsibility to contribute to a healthy environment. M. D. Anderson is setting the environmental standard for other health care institutions in the nation. The ISO certification covers chemical storage, hazardous waste, recycling, indoor air quality and energy management.

M. D. Anderson's environmental program is one of the first hospitals and universities in the U.S. to be certified to the ISO 14001 standard. Certification activities are expected to expand to other M. D. Anderson and University of Texas locations.

In addition to the ISO 14001 certification, M. D. Anderson has been accepted as the Leader Level of the CLEAN TEXAS program, a voluntary environmental leadership program protecting Texas' air, water and land. The Leader Level is reserved for members willing to "go that extra mile."

For more information on The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, visit their web site @ www.mdanderson.org.