July 9, 2014, New York, NY—Former dean of the Stanford University School of Medicine and pediatric cancer care pioneer, Philip A. Pizzo, MD, joins the Board of Directors of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research. Pizzo is a prominent member of the cancer research community with more than 40 years of experience championing programs and policies to advance the future of science, education and pediatric oncology internationally.
“Dr. Pizzo brings a wealth of talent and experience, and a distinct perspective, to Ludwig Cancer Research, which complements and will enrich our already well-rounded Board of Directors,” said Ed McDermott, Ludwig trustee and president and CEO of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research. “He has a keen and deep understanding of science and medicine and a firm grasp of the challenges that face organizations such as Ludwig in their drive to alter the course of cancer. We look forward to Dr. Pizzo’s future participation and involvement.”
Pizzo joins the nine current members of the Board of Directors, who oversee both the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and the Ludwig Fund. In addition to cancer researchers, the Board is balanced with prominent members of the law and business communities. Nominees for the Board are selected by the trustees of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Charitable Trust, which holds 49 of the 50 outstanding capital shares of Ludwig.
Pizzo is currently the David and Susan Heckerman Professor of Pediatrics and of Microbiology and Immunology at the Stanford University School of Medicine. He is also the founding director of the Stanford Distinguished Careers Institute, a yearlong program that prepares established leaders for roles in social impact on the local, national and global levels.
He served as dean for the Stanford School of Medicine from April 2001 to December 2012. Much of his research throughout his distinguished career has been dedicated to the diagnosis, management, prevention and treatment of childhood cancers as well as leadership in pediatric AIDS. Prior to joining Stanford, Pizzo served at the National Cancer Institute for over two decades as the chief of pediatric oncology and head of infectious diseases. He also served as the physician-in-chief of the Boston Children’s Hospital and chair of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. In January 2012, he received the John Howland Medal – the highest award in pediatric medicine, given by the American Pediatric Society – honoring his four-decade commitment to research and care for children with cancer. He is also a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences.
“Joining this Board – and the Ludwig community – is an exceptional honor for me,” said Pizzo. “This position falls at a unique intersection of my interests in cancer research, business and leadership in health and science. I have seen medical breakthroughs throughout my career that improve the quality of life of those suffering from cancer, many of which have been contributed by Ludwig scientists. I am thrilled to be joining an organization with such a longstanding tradition of groundbreaking research and global impact.”
About Ludwig Cancer Research
Ludwig Cancer Research is an international collaborative network of acclaimed scientists with a 40-year legacy of pioneering cancer discoveries. Ludwig combines basic research with the ability to translate its discoveries and conduct clinical trials to accelerate the development of new cancer diagnostics and therapies. Since 1971, Ludwig has invested more than $2.5 billion in life-changing cancer research through the not-for-profit Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and the six U.S.-based Ludwig Centers.