Walter Stadler, MD, named section chief of hematology/oncology at the University of Chicago Medicine

Walter Stadler, MD, named section chief of hematology/oncology at the University of Chicago Medicine

August 14, 2013

Walter M. Stadler, MD, an internationally recognized authority on prostate, kidney, bladder and testicular cancers, has been named Chief of the Section of Hematology/Oncology at the University of Chicago Medicine, effective Aug. 15, 2013.

Stadler, the Fred C. Buffet Professor of Medicine and associate dean for clinical research, was selected for his clinical, research and administrative achievements. He joined the faculty more than 20 years ago and has served as interim section chief since January 2013. He succeeds Richard Schilsky, MD, who left in January to become the inaugural Chief Medical Officer for the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

"Walt Stadler has demonstrated exceptional leadership and thoughtful academic vision for the section," said Everett Vokes, MD, Chairman of the Department of Medicine at the University of Chicago. "I am grateful for the excellent work that he has done and excited that he has accepted this important role. I look forward to working closely with him to improve the section's clinical impact while continuing to enhance educational and research activities."

Stadler studies innovative treatments for urological cancers as well as clinical trial design. His work has led to better understanding of the role of several anti-cancer agents, including sorafenib, sunitinib, pazopanib and axitinib. He also researches ways to predict which patients will respond to targeted therapies and has helped design trials to evaluate those therapies.

Among many innovations, Stadler collaborated with colleagues Mark Ratain, MD, and Marsha Rosner, PhD, to help develop the "randomized discontinuation trial," a novel approach that is increasingly used to evaluate promising new drugs. He also helped develop new ways to monitor the effects of antiangiogenic therapy, including the use of dynamic contrast enhanced MRI.

"I'm humbled and honored to be selected for this position," Stadler said. "This gives me the opportunity to work even more closely with some of the smartest people I know, trying to solve some of the most important problems in health care, while educating the next generation of leaders, and caring for patients who allow us into the most intimate corners of their lives at a time when they are most vulnerable."

A graduate of Yale School of Medicine, Stadler did his residency in internal medicine at the former Michael Reese Hospital followed by a fellowship in oncology at the University of Chicago. He has written or co-authored more than 170 publications. He is the recipient of multiple awards and is consistently named to various "top doctors" lists.

He serves on the medical advisory boards for the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network and the Kidney Cancer Association, and was Scientific Program Committee Chair for ASCO's "Markers in Cancer" meeting. He is a member of the National Cancer Institute's Board of Scientific Counselors (Clinical Sciences and Epidemiology) and its Investigational Drug Steering Committee.

In addition to ASCO, he is an active member of a number of cancer and urology-related societies including the American Urological Association, the American Association for Cancer Research, and the Society of Urologic Oncology. He is also co-leader for the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center's Pharmacogenomics and Experimental Therapeutics Program.

The Section of Hematology/Oncology has long been known for the quality and dedication of its faculty, trainees and staff. It includes 46 full-time faculty with expertise in all major types of malignancies, blood disorders, and experimental therapies. The section has gained substantial funding for laboratory and translational investigations and a very active clinical research agenda.