Walter M. Stadler, MD, an authority on prostate, kidney, bladder, and testicular cancers, has been named Chief of the Section of Hematology/Oncology at the University of Chicago Medicine. This position became effective August 15, 2013.
Dr. Stadler, the Fred C. Buffet Professor of Medicine and Associate Dean for Clinical Research, was selected for his clinical, research, and administrative achievements. He joined the University of Chicago faculty more than 20 years ago and has served as interim Section Chief since January 2013. He succeeds Richard L. Schilsky, MD, who left in January to become the inaugural Chief Medical Officer for ASCO.
“Walt Stadler has demonstrated exceptional leadership and thoughtful academic vision for the section,” said Everett Vokes, MD, Chairman of the Department of Medicine at the University of Chicago. “I am grateful for the excellent work that he has done and excited that he has accepted this important role. I look forward to working closely with him to improve the section’s clinical impact while continuing to enhance educational and research activities.”
Many Innovations
Dr. Stadler studies innovative treatments for urologic cancers as well as clinical trial design. His work has led to better understanding of the role of several anticancer agents, including sorafenib (Nexavar), sunitinib (Sutent), pazopanib (Votrient), and axitinib (Inlyta). He also researches ways to predict which patients will respond to targeted therapies and has helped design trials to evaluate those therapies.
Among many innovations, Dr. Stadler collaborated with colleagues Mark Ratain, MD, and Marsha Rosner, PhD, to help develop the “randomized discontinuation trial,” a novel approach that is increasingly used to evaluate promising new drugs. He also helped develop new ways to monitor the effects of antiangiogenic therapy, including the use of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI.
“I’m humbled and honored to be selected for this position,” Dr. Stadler said. ■
