Breast cancer specialist named director of Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
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Ben Ho Park, MD, PhD, has been appointed director of Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.
Park, who joined Vanderbilt in 2018 from Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, has served as the cancer center’s deputy director since 2021. He also serves as director of the division of hematology and oncology and director of precision oncology.
Park will begin his new role July 1.
He will succeed Jennifer Pietenpol, PhD, who served as cancer center director for 15 years. As Healio reported earlier this month, Pietenpol will take over as chief scientific and strategy officer for Vanderbilt University Medical Center this summer.
“I am thrilled Dr. Park accepted the director position. He will lead the next phase of Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center’s trajectory, and there is no doubt the future is bright,” Pietenpol said in a press release. “Since his recruitment from Johns Hopkins in 2018, Ben has brought us new and innovative approaches to cancer care, including molecular tumor boards that are providing precision oncology for our patients both within and beyond our ever-expanding catchment area. He is a highly respected physician scientist who is deeply committed to his patients, internationally known for his research, and a leader who catalyzes collaboration and excellence.”
Park is known for his expertise in breast cancer. His research team identified a high frequency of PIK3CA mutations in breast cancer. This discovery led to the development of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3 kinase) inhibitors. He also helped pioneer the use of cell-free DNA liquid biopsies to guide therapy.
“I want to welcome Dr. Park into this important role on our senior leadership team. His decades of experience and distinguished accomplishments as a clinical and academic leader, including in the rapidly growing arena of precision oncology, make him the ideal person to lead our Cancer Center into the future,” Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, president and CEO of Vanderbilt University Medical Center and dean of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, said in the release.
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