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MD Anderson president announces resignation
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Ronald DePinho, MD, announced his intention to resign as president of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center after almost 6 years of service.
“I believe it is time for a change in leadership at MD Anderson,” DePinho said in a video posted on the institution’s website. “As a result of months of self-reflection and deep engagement with [Chancellor William H. McRaven] and our Board of Visitors, it became clear to me that this great and noble institution needs a new president who will inspire greater unity and a sharp operational focus on navigating the tectonic changes in healthcare delivery and economics.”
DePinho sent a letter to the chancellor of the University of Texas System and the board of regents of his desire to resign “effective as soon as possible.”
A brief statement posted on MD Anderson’s website indicated McRaven asked DePinho to remain in the position until the end of the state’s legislative sessions. Discussions between McRaven and DePinho to “coordinate the details and timing of his transition” are underway, according to the statement.
“I am committed to a smooth transition. I will do anything the institution asks of me,” DePinho said in the video. “Being president of MD Anderson is an honor I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”
DePinho was appointed MD Anderson’s fourth president on Sept. 1, 2011.
However, the institution’s day-to-day operations recently were transferred to Stephen Hahn, chief operating officer, deputy to the president and director of the department of radiation oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
DePinho said his resignation will offer him the opportunity to divert his passion to finding a cure for cancer.
“For myself, I need to return to my passion of conducting translational science and helping others doing great science — to drive ideas to clinical impact that matter for patients,” he said. “I need to focus on the cancer moonshot, I need to be a father and husband of my still young family, and at this time in our nation’s history, I need to be more intensely engaged with the national cancer and health policy landscape, including funding for research in my role as co-chair for Act for NIH. I truly believe that this decision will allow me to better serve cancer patients here, at MD Anderson, and nationally.”