Medical oncologist Douglas Yee, M.D., a nationally recognized breast cancer researcher at the University, has been named director of the University’s Cancer Center following a national search.
A professor in the Medical School Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, Yee holds the Tickle Family Land-Grant Chair in Breast Cancer Research and leads the Cancer Center’s Breast Cancer Research Program. His laboratory research on the growth regulation of tumors provided the foundation for the development of new anti-cancer drugs focused on growth factor receptors.
Yee, who joined the University eight years ago, also cares for patients with breast cancer and regularly speaks about breast cancer detection and treatment to women’s and community groups.
“As a physician and researcher, Dr. Yee has been at the forefront in discovering and delivering new treatments for breast cancer patients,” says Frank Cerra, M.D., senior vice president for health sciences.
“I know that as director, he will provide the same kind of vision and leadership that will permit our Cancer Center to continue to grow and advance its mission in all areas of cancer.”
Yee assumed his new duties in March, succeeding John Kersey, M.D., who helped found the Cancer Center in 1991. Kersey will continue his research on childhood leukemia as holder of the Children’s Cancer Research Fund Land-Grant Chair in Pediatric Oncology.
