We are delighted to announce that Steven Artandi, MD, PhD, the Jerome and Daisy Low Gilbert Professor of Medicine and Professor of Biochemistry, has been named the next Director of the Stanford Cancer Institute (SCI). A strategic thinker and collaborative physician-scientist, Dr. Artandi’s understanding of the opportunities to develop synergies between the elements of our tripartite mission — excellence in research, patient care, and education — make him uniquely qualified to further the SCI’s goal of translating Stanford discoveries into individualized cancer care.

Dr. Artandi is a renowned cancer biologist who has focused his research on the early stages of cancer development and the role of telomerase in stem cells and cancer cells. In 2000, he joined Stanford Medicine following fellowship training in medical oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital. In 2015, Dr. Artandi was among the inaugural cohort honored with a National Cancer Institute Outstanding Investigator Award for his Precision Health-focused research into reversing cellular immortality in cancer. This work is already producing new insights into the origins of cancer, revealing how aspiring cancers circumvent critical bottlenecks encountered during carcinogenesis, and leading to new therapies with the potential to treat many of the most refractory human cancers.

Dr. Artandi will lead the SCI’s efforts to develop programs to advance cancer detection and cancer therapies, increase clinical trial participation and diversity, prioritize the translation of Stanford discoveries, and continue building the SCI’s strong population science program. Dr. Artandi will also work with the leadership of the Cancer Service Line to drive the Service Line Planning and Performance initiative of the Integrated Strategic Plan (ISP) across all three entities of Stanford Medicine.

We are deeply indebted to outgoing Director Beverly Mitchell, MD, for her 13 years in this role. Among her many accomplishments, Dr. Mitchell guided the SCI in achieving full comprehensive status from the National Cancer Institute in 2016. Throughout her tenure, she has been an advocate for the careers of young physician-scientists, supporting recruitment and providing mentoring opportunities. We are delighted that she will continue as a Senior Advisor to the SCI and continue her transformative research and mentorship.

We would also like to thank the search committee — led by Surgery Chair Mary Hawn, MD, and Pathology Chair Thomas Montine, MD, PhD — for their tireless efforts that led to such a tremendous selection.

Dr. Artandi will begin his new post on October 1. Please join us in congratulating him on this new assignment.

Sincerely,

Lloyd B. Minor, MD
Carl and Elizabeth Naumann Dean
Stanford University School of Medicine

David Entwistle
President and CEO
Stanford Health Care

Denny Lund, MD
Interim CEO and Chief Medical Officer
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford