Director

Penn State College of Medicine (PSCOM) and Penn State Health (PSH) are seeking an inspirational and people-centered academic physician leader to serve as Director of the Penn State Cancer Institute (PSCI). An accomplished researcher, outstanding clinician, and dedicated educator, the Director will lead PSCI into its next era of growth and national prominence, advancing an integrated vision for cancer research, clinical care, education, community engagement, and philanthropy across Penn State.

The Director will join PSCI at a pivotal time. Leaders across Penn State, the College of Medicine, and Penn State Health share a commitment to strengthening cancer research and more closely integrating it within the clinical enterprise. With the scientific breadth of a major research university, the clinical reach of an expanding academic health system, and established strengths across the cancer continuum, Penn State is well positioned to build a more integrated and nationally distinctive cancer enterprise.

A central priority will be advancing PSCI toward securing National Cancer Institute designation. With commensurate authority and institutional support, the Director will build on areas of scientific and clinical strength, recruit and develop exceptional faculty, expand interdisciplinary and translational research, grow investigator-initiated and NCI-funded clinical trials, and strengthen the infrastructure and collaborative culture needed to elevate PSCI’s national profile. This will include leadership of clinical research strategy and trial prioritization, staffing and recruitment, resource allocation, trial activation and accrual. The Director will also serve as a compelling advocate for cancer care across Penn State and externally, cultivating philanthropic and strategic partnerships that expand investment and support future growth.

Penn State’s land-grant mission and regional reach also provide a distinctive platform for reimagining how an academic cancer center serves its communities. The Director will help expand access to advanced cancer care, clinical trials, prevention and screening, and emerging models of care across central Pennsylvania, while developing approaches with relevance well beyond the region.

The successful candidate will bring a bold and unifying vision for the future of cancer at Penn State. Working across disciplinary, organizational, and geographic boundaries, the Director will harness the collective strengths of PSCI, Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Health, and the broader University to accelerate discovery, translate innovation into better outcomes for patients, and build programs of national distinction. The role offers the chance to shape the future of a growing academic cancer enterprise and significantly expand its impact regionally, nationally, and internationally.

APPLICATIONS, INQUIRIES, AND NOMINATIONS

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent below.

Patricia Hastie and Tiffany Weber are leading this search with Samuel Ruth and Sarah Sweeney.