The Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) has a new leader at the helm.
Dr. Warner K. Huh
Warner K. Huh, MD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, has been named president of the SGO. Dr. Huh began his 1-year term at the end of SGO’s Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer, which took place in March 2019.
Dr. Huh said he plans to focus his presidency on the changing practice of gynecologic oncology, including surgery and novel therapies, clinical trial mentorship, subspecialty awareness, alternative payment models, and the role of gynecologic oncologists in benign gynecologic surgery.
Another newly installed president is Elaine R. Mardis, PhD, of Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Mardis was named president of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) for 2019-2020.
She has conducted extensive research on the genomic characterization of various cancers. She was inaugurated as AACR president during the AACR’s annual meeting, which took place March 29-April 3, 2019.
Also at the AACR annual meeting, Antoni Ribas, MD, PhD, of the University of California, Los Angeles, was inducted as president-elect of AACR. Dr. Ribas will assume the presidency in April 2020. He has conducted research focused on malignant melanoma and is said to have been “instrumental” in the development of several drugs used to treat the disease.
Courtesy of NCCN
Dr. Ronald Walters and Dr. Ruth O'Regan
In other news, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) named Ronald Walters, MD, chair of its board of directors, and Ruth O’Regan, MD, was named vice chair.
Dr. Walters, of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, conducts research focused on health care reform and cost accounting in health care.
Dr. O’Regan, of the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center in Madison, conducts research focused on identifying mechanisms of treatment resistance and developing new therapies for breast cancer.
Dr. Giulio F. Draetta
Finally, Giulio F. Draetta, MD, PhD, was named chief scientific officer at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. This is a new position that “champions innovation, develops strong partnerships, and provides focused leadership on the science and clinical translation of research programs,” according to MD Anderson.
Dr. Draetta conducted “fundamental” research on the eukaryotic cell division cycle and DNA damage-induced checkpoints. He has cofounded and led biotechnology companies and headed drug discovery and development programs that led to two drug approvals, according to MD Anderson.
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