Yoshie Umemura, MD, was recently appointed as Chief Medical Officer of the Ivy Brain Tumor Center and Chief of Neuro-Oncology and the William and Joan Shapiro Chair of Neuro-Oncology at Barrow Neurological Institute. Dr. Umemura plans to build on the Ivy Center’s clinical trials program and translate those findings directly into patient care.
Yoshie Umemura, MD
“I’m looking forward to combining clinical care and research care and making that bridge more seamless, because that is what’s going to expedite clinical research that translates to improving the standard of care for brain tumor patients,” she said.
As a leading neuro-oncologist with research interests in experimental therapies for patients with brain cancer, Dr. Umemura is uniquely suited for the Ivy Center’s clinical trials program. In addition to her research endeavors, she is dedicated to personalized, precision medicine that advances the care of patients with brain tumors.
“Dr. Umemura is an expert in phase 0 clinical trials,” said Nader Sanai, MD, Director of the Ivy Brain Tumor Center and Director of Neurosurgical Oncology at Barrow Neurological Institute. “She comes to us as one of the few neuro-oncologists with prior experience undertaking the full scope of these protocols, and she is part of a new generation of neuro-oncologists focused on drug development using the operating room as an accelerator.”
Focus on Glioblastoma and Brain Cancer
Nader Sanai, MD
Michael T. Lawton, MD
In the clinic, Dr. Umemura sees patients with brain tumors, cancers of the central nervous system, and neurologic complications of cancer. Dr. Umemura comes to the Ivy Center from Michigan Medicine, where she served as Director of Neuro-Oncology.
“I am delighted to welcome a luminary in the field to our team,” said Michael T. Lawton, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Barrow Neurological Institute. “We have been eagerly anticipating Dr. Umemura’s arrival because we think she will be an important part of finding that elusive cure for glioblastoma and brain cancer. She will bring energy, smarts, and tremendous care to our clinicians and patients alike.”
Dr. Umemura completed her clinical fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and a residency at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. She earned her medical degree from St. George’s University, a master’s degree in clinical research design and statistical analysis from the University of Michigan, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Riverside.
