David Spriggs Named Head of the Division of Solid Tumor Oncology

Newswise — Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) is pleased to announce the appointment of David Spriggs, MD, as Head of the Division of Solid Tumor Oncology in the Department of Medicine.

Dr. Spriggs joined MSKCC in 1993 as Chief of Developmental Chemotherapy and was named to the Winthrop Rockefeller Chair in Medical Oncology in 2001. He is an internationally-known solid-tumor oncologist whose research centers on the genetic regulation of drug resistance and new chemotherapy regimens for gynecologic cancers. Dr. Spriggs is a physician-investigator who has a keen interest in translational research " linking clinical and laboratory observations together to better understand cancer and improve cancer treatment.

"The appointment of Dr. Spriggs comes at an exciting time for MSKCC and for cancer research in general," said George Bosl, MD, Chairman of the Department of Medicine. "As MSKCC's commitment to translational research grows, his leadership, academic achievements, and clinical skills will serve our patients and the institution well."

"This appointment gives me the opportunity to provide infrastructure, training, and a supportive environment for our physicians to improve the treatment of cancer patients with a variety of solid tumors," said Dr. Spriggs. "It is also an opportunity to enhance interactions with the translational research scientists at the Sloan-Kettering Institute across the street. I view my job as building half of the bridge while my Sloan-Kettering Institute colleagues are working to build their half. MSKCC has made a major commitment to translational research " however the details of how each of us will define translational research will vary. I believe this will make for a healthy dynamic between clinicians and researchers."

Dr. Spriggs received his MD degree from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and is board certified in both internal medicine and medical oncology. He completed residencies at Presbyterian Hospital (New York) and The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center. In addition, he completed fellowships at Harvard Medical School, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center is the world's oldest and largest institution devoted to prevention, patient care, research and education in cancer. Our scientists and clinicians generate innovative approaches to better understand, diagnose and treat cancer. Our specialists are leaders in biomedical research and in translating the latest research to advance the standard of cancer care worldwide. For more information, go to http://www.mskcc.org