Andrew L. Kung, MD, PhD
Andrew L. Kung, MD, PhD, has been named the new Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). Dr. Kung most recently served as the Chief of the Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation at NewYork–Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC). Dr. Kung formally assumes his new role as Richard J. O’Reilly, MD, steps down as Chairman after more than 30 years.
Dr. Kung is an internationally recognized physician-scientist with a special interest in identifying new targets and developing new treatments for childhood cancer. His translational oncology research has been powered by diverse experimental approaches, including genomics, molecular biology, cell biology, drug development, and experimental therapeutics. As Chairman, Dr. Kung will maintain a clinical practice within the Stem Cell Transplantation Program in addition to leading expansion of the clinical program and heading a program of laboratory-based research. His laboratories will use whole-genome sequencing and integrative analysis to identify genetically encoded and non-oncogene vulnerabilities in pediatric cancers. He will also continue to search for epigenetic vulnerabilities in a variety of cancer types.
Career Path
Dr. Kung received his medical degree and PhD in cancer biology from Stanford University School of Medicine. He completed an internship and a residency at Boston Children’s Hospital and a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute before joining the faculty at Dana-Farber and Harvard Medical School. In July 2012, he assumed leadership of the Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation at CUMC.
Dr. Kung succeeds Dr. O’Reilly, who in September 2015 announced his intention to step down after serving as Chairman for more than 30 years. An immunologist and physician, Dr. O’Reilly pioneered the development and clinical application of bone marrow transplants for patients with cancers of the blood and marrow and both genetic and acquired disorders of the immune system, which led to vast improvements in outcomes for these patients.
“I am honored to be taking the reins from Dr. O’Reilly,” said Dr. Kung. “The overarching goal of my leadership will be to instill a culture of collaboration and discovery into the clinical, research, and training programs, leading pediatric oncology into the future. I am eager to work with my colleagues to advance the frontiers of pediatric cancer, always with the care and outcome of patients in the clinic as our primary focus and motivation.” ■
