Moffitt’s Chief Information Security Officer Named to Federal Advisory Committee

July 16, 2020

TAMPA, Fla. – Dave Summitt, chief information security officer at Moffitt Cancer Center, has been selected for the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) newly formed federal advisory committee, the Hospital Robocall Protection Group. Summitt will also serve as chairperson for the committee.

The Hospital Robocall Protection Group will assist the FCC in issuing best practices for federal and state governments, voice service providers and hospitals regarding unlawful robocalls and how to combat them. The committee is a result of the Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act that was passed late last year. The legislation requires telecom carriers to provide a number-authentication system to help consumers identify who’s calling and at no extra charge. It also increases penalties for robocallers who disregard the law.

“Dave Summitt has led the charge to protect Moffitt and its patients from predatory robocalls, but his work has not stopped there. He has lent his expertise to lawmakers and other health care organizations to help change policies and protect others from these types of calls,” said Elizabeth Lindsay-Wood, Moffitt chief information officer. “Dave will be a great addition and leader of the Hospital Robocall Protection Group.

Summitt is well known in the cyber security community. In April 2019, he testified before a congressional committee about the high number of robocalls health care organizations were receiving and how those calls could put institutions and their patients at risk. At Moffitt, he reported seeing more than 6,600 calls during a 90-day period that were made to Moffitt patients and employees that appeared to be coming from the cancer center but were spoofed calls. His testimony and subsequent meetings with congressional leaders led to the creation of the TRACED act.

Additionally, Summitt was named 2019 CISO of the Year by the International Council of e-Commerce Consultants and one of 2019’s top hospital and health care system CISOs to know by Becker’s Hospital Review. He also serves on the Forbes Technology Council.

About Moffitt Cancer Center
Moffitt is dedicated to one lifesaving mission: to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. The Tampa-based facility is one of only 51 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitt’s scientific excellence, multidisciplinary research, and robust training and education. Moffitt is a Top 10 cancer hospital and has been nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report since 1999. Moffitt’s expert nursing staff is recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center with Magnet^® status, its highest distinction. With more than 6,500 team members, Moffitt has an economic impact in the state of $2.4 billion. For more information, call 1-888-MOFFITT (1-888-663-3488), visit MOFFITT.org, and follow the momentum on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.