Ashwani Rajput, MD
Ashwani Rajput, MD, a surgical oncologist and researcher, has been appointed Director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins for the Washington, DC, region. Dr. Rajput assumed his new role in November 1 and is based at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, DC. Dr. Rajput specializes in the surgical treatment of colorectal, pancreatic, and liver cancers and has focused his scientific research on key signal transduction regulators of cancer metastases.
Prior Work in New Mexico
Before joining Johns Hopkins, Dr. Rajput was Division Chief of Surgical Oncology and Chief of Surgical Services at the University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center in Albuquerque. He also served as Professor of Surgical Oncology at the University of New Mexico and was Program Director for the surgical oncology fellowship program. In addition, Dr. Rajput served as Vice Chairman of Academic Affairs and Faculty Development for the Department of Surgery.
While at the University of New Mexico, Dr. Rajput collaborated with colleagues to examine racial and other disparities in cancer incidence and treatment outcomes.
Looking Ahead
At the Kimmel Cancer Center, Dr. Rajput will oversee cancer services at Johns Hopkins Medicine’s Sibley Memorial Hospital and Suburban Hospital, as well as Johns Hopkins’ collaborative programs with Howard University and Unity Health, which are designed to improve access for patients living in wards 7 and 8 in Washington, DC.
He also will be responsible for the expansion of cancer clinical trials offered in the Washington, DC, region and the development of a laboratory research enterprise, in connection with the National Cancer Institute. In that capacity, he will focus on bringing new treatments to patients.
“[Dr. Rajput] is an exceptional physician-scientist whose vision and leadership will build on our strong presence in the region and further enhance the care we provide patients,” commented William Nelson, MD, PhD, who heads the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. ■
