The American Radium Society (ARS) presented its 2026 Gold Medal Award to Scripps Cancer Center Medical Director Thomas Buchholz, MD, at its Annual Meeting in Newport Beach, California. The Gold Medal Award is the organization’s highest honor for a member who has made significant contributions to the field of oncology in the areas of clinical practice, science, and education, as well as for outstanding service to the ARS.
Clinical Leadership
Since 2018 Dr. Buchholz has been responsible for directing, planning, and coordinating all patient care activities at Scripps Cancer Center in San Diego, where he also maintains a part-time clinical practice as a Scripps Clinic physician. Additionally, he serves as Chief Scientific Officer of Scripps Health, overseeing clinical trials and research studies for cancer and other diseases.
Thomas Buchholz, MD
Dr. Buchholz has more than 30 years of experience in radiation oncology, spanning patient care, research, teaching, and administrative leadership. Before joining Scripps, he spent 20 years at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where his roles included Physician-in-Chief, Executive Vice President, Provost, and Department Chair of Radiation Oncology.
He initiated early techniques that are now standard for monitoring tumor response to chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. He also cofounded an inflammatory breast cancer clinic in Houston, and later introduced the first such clinic in San Diego. Dr. Buchholz began his career with the U.S. Air Force, where he developed brachytherapy and stereotactic radiation programs for the Department of Defense.
Dr. Buchholz was also co-chair of the Breast Cancer Steering Committee of the National Cancer Institute’s National Clinical Trial Network. His research in breast cancer has been published in approximately 400 peer-reviewed journal articles, along with nearly 100 editorials and 40 book chapters. Dr. Buchholz has contributed significantly to professional education. For decades he has mentored clinical residents, fellows, and researchers. He also held teaching positions at the University of Washington School of Medicine and the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.
Service to ARS
Dr. Buchholz has a long history of service to the ARS, most notably serving as the Society’s President in 2013. He is a Fellow of the ARS, ASTRO, and the American College of Radiology. Dr. Buchholz earned his medical degree from Tufts University. He completed his residency and fellowship training at the University of Washington Medical Center.
Founded in 1916, the ARS is the nation’s oldest medical society devoted to the study and treatment of cancer. As a multidisciplinary organization, its members include leaders in radiation oncology, surgical oncology, medical oncology, and related fields.
