Apply to be a Center of Excellence 

Guided by an NPF Centers of Excellence Task Force, which includes physicians, surgeons, and patient advocates, the program has included two changes. First, the program will be two-tiered. Institutions can now apply to be a Clinical Center of Excellence or a Clinical Center and an Academic Center of Excellence. 

“Five years ago, when the program was created, we wanted to guide our patients to the best pancreas disease institutions,” said Dr. Chris Forsmark, chair of the program. “We have done this and are taking it one step further to distinguish our centers depending on patient needs.” A second change is that now hospitals can apply to be a Pediatric Pancreatitis NPF Center of Excellence as treatments for pancreatitis in adults and children are different.

Clinical Center of Excellence Types

Pancreatitis Clinical Center (Download Application Form)

Pediatric Pancreatitis Clinical Center (Download Application Form)

Pancreatic Cancer (Download Application Form)

Academic Center of Excellence Types

To be considered an Academic Center, the Clinical Center application MUST also be submitted. 

Adult Pancreatitis Academic Center (Download Application Form)

Pediatric Pancreatitis Academic Center (Download Application Form)

Pancreatic Cancer (Download Application Form)

FAQ’s on Applying to Be an NPF Center of Excellence

The application cycle will be on a rolling monthly basis. Applications are to be received by the 20th of every month.

New Centers will be announced the first week of the following month.

Institutions can now apply to be a Clinical Center of Excellence or a Clinical Center and an Academic Center of Excellence. Hospitals can now apply to be a pediatric pancreatitis NPF Center of Excellence as treatments for pancreatitis in adults and children are different.

Academic Centers will be institutions that have a focus on research, clinical trials, training opportunities for young physicians, and advanced clinical care.

Applications will be renewed every three years. An NPF staff member will contact your facility about the renewal and provide current Centers 60 days to return the applications back after initial contact. Centers that are not up for renewal will be considered Clinical Centers of Excellence. Centers that are not up for renewal but want to be considered an Academic Center of Excellence will need to re-apply again using the new application.

There is no cost to become a Center of Excellence. Building the COE program is another resource for our patients with pancreas disease. As a Center of Excellence, we will mail brochures, our pancreas disease cookbook, pocket guide, information on our Animated Pancreas Patient, and other resources for our Centers to provide to their patients.