ESMO appoints chief medical officer

Jean-Yves Douillard, MD, PhD, has been named the European Society for Medical Oncology’s first chief medical officer.

Douillard who will serve a 2-year term will lead the development of ESMO’s scientific strategy and activities. He also will play a key role in expanding the society’s educational programs. He will report to the society’s CEO.

Jean-Yves Douillard

The society, which has more than 13,000 members worldwide, conducted a 6-month selection process open to all ESMO members. Candidates were required to have held senior leadership positions within the society.

Douillard is recognized as an expert in lung cancer and gastrointestinal oncology. He has served as professor in medical oncology at University of Nantes, and as head of the medical oncology department and director of clinical and translational research at the Integrated Centers of Oncology Rene Gauducheau. He also has worked at the NCI and the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

“Jean-Yves Douillard’s distinguished career and impressive track record, combined with his passion for education and commitment to ESMO, make him the ideal choice as our first chief medical officer,” ESMO President Fortunato Ciardiello, MD, PhD, said in a press release.

“As we expand our horizons beyond Europe to continue meeting the needs of our members and cancer patients across the world, we must also expand our scientific and educational initiatives, while maintaining the highest possible standards,” Ciardiello said. “The chief medical officer has a critical role to play by incorporating the latest advances in medical oncology and best practice methodologies into all of our scientific activities from clinical practice guidelines to the development of scientific congress programs.”