M.D. Anderson Doctor Named National Cancer Institute Director by President Bush

Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach, a nationally recognized urologic surgeon at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, was appointed by President George W. Bush on Dec. 6 to head the National Cancer Institute. The institute is one of the 27 separate Institutes and Centers that comprise the National Institutes of Health, located in Bethesda, Md. The NCI, established under the National Cancer Act of 1937, is the federal government’s principal agency for cancer research and training.

Commenting on Dr. von Eschenbach’s appointment, Tommy Thompson, director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the agency under whose jurisdiction the NIH falls, said "Dr. von Eschenbach is one of the nation’s leaders in the battle against cancer. I am extremely pleased to welcome his leadership at the NCI.

I am confident that he will guide NCI to successes in the pursuit of discoveries in the biology, treatment, and prevention of cancer as well as continued progress in reducing the burden of this disease."

White House press secretary Ari Fleischer, who announced the appointment, called Dr. von Eschenbach "one of the premiere lights" in the fight against cancer.

Dr. von Eschenbach is expected to assume directorship of the institute early next year. Currently, he is director of M.D. Anderson’s Genitourinary Cancer Center Prostate Cancer Research Program. He also serves as special assistant for external affairs to M.D. Anderson’s president and holds the Roy M. and Phyllis Gough Huffington Clinical Research Distinguished Chair in Urologic Oncology. As a member of the faculty since 1977, he provided leadership for the institution’s multidisciplinary research aimed at improving early detection, treatment and prevention of prostate cancer.

At the national level, Dr. von Eschenbach serves as president-elect of the American Cancer Society national volunteer board of directors, a role he will have to now relinquish.

In a publicized statement, John R. Seffrin, national CEO of the American Cancer Society, said "although we will greatly miss Dr. von Eschenbach’s leadership, the nation will no doubt benefit from his service and expertise."

Dr. von Eschenbach is a founding member of the National Dialogue on Cancer, and served three years as the first chairman of the Prostate Cancer Research Program’s Integration Panel for the Department of Defense.

M.D. Anderson President Dr. John Mendelsohn says Dr. von Eschenbach is "a passionate and visionary leader in the research-driven care of patients with prostate and other genitourinary cancers."

Dr. von Eschenbach has in the past stated his belief that accelerating basic research and applying laboratory findings more rapidly must be "high priorities" to reduce the mortality and morbidity rates of all cancers.

A native of Philadelphia, Dr. von Eschenbach received his medical degree from Georgetown University Medical School in 1967. He completed residencies in general surgery and urology at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, then was an instructor in urology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He served as a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps.

Dr. von Eschenbach came to M.D. Anderson for a fellowship in urologic oncology in 1976 and was invited to join the faculty the following year. From 1983 to 1996, he was chairman of the Department of Urology and, since 1985, he also has been a consulting professor in the Department of Cancer Biology.

In 1996, Dr. von Eschenbach was named the founding director of M.D. Anderson’s Prostate Cancer Research Program, which has 60 scientists and clinicians collaborating on integrated translational research in the biology, treatment, epidemiology and prevention of the disease. From 1997 to 1999, he also served as vice president for academic affairs and then executive vice president and chief academic officer, leading a faculty of almost 1,000 cancer researchers and clinicians. Since 1999, he has directed the Genitourinary Cancer Center.

Dr. von Eschenbach’s decision to dedicate his career to changing the outlook for prostate cancer was partly influenced by his father’s diagnosis of the disease in the 1970s. In addition, Dr. von Eschenbach himself was successfully treated for two types of cancer, melanoma in 1989 and prostate cancer two years ago.

Dr. von Eschenbach has contributed more than 200 articles, books and chapters to the scientific literature. He is an editorial board member of four leading journals and serves on the board for the National Coalition for Cancer Research. He has been cited in many lists of "best doctors" in the country.

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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