Paula M. Fracasso, MD, PhD, FACP
Michael Roussos, MHA
Paula M. Fracasso, MD, PhD, FACP, has joined Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Massey Cancer Center and VCU Health as Deputy Director of the cancer center and Senior Vice President of the cancer service line at VCU Health. The cancer service line is a collaborative model designed to fulfill strategic initiatives for Massey while maintaining close alignment with the health system.Dr. Fracasso will work with leadership at Massey, VCU Health, and VCU School of Medicine to supervise service line planning and support clinicians and staff to deliver cancer care to Massey’s patients while fostering and expanding clinical research.
“Dr. Fracasso’s deep expertise across the spectrum of patient care and clinical and translation research in National Institutes of Health–designated cancer centers will greatly contribute to our continued efforts to enhance patient care by streamlining operations under a centralized cancer service line,” said Michael Roussos, MHA, President of VCU Medical Center.
Academia and Industry
A medical oncologist, academic leader, and pharmaceutical executive with expertise in novel therapies, Dr. Fracasso has led teams at Washington University in St. Louis, University of Virginia, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Adaptimmune. At Washington University, she built the Siteman Cancer Center’s Development Therapeutics Program for phase I and II clinical trials.
As the Lawrence W. Penniston, MD, Family Professor in Women’s Oncology Research at the University of Virginia, Dr. Fracasso held positions including Deputy Director of the cancer center and Section Chief of Medical Oncology. She then moved into the pharmaceutical industry, serving as Executive Director in Early Oncology Development at Bristol Myers Squibb and Vice President and Head of Clinical Development at Adaptimmune before becoming Chief Medical Officer of Translational Drug Development and a consultant for several biotech companies.
