Dean Stan Gerson has appointed Alex Y. Huang, MD, PhD, an accomplished researcher, educator and clinician, as the director of the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) starting July 3. Dr. Huang joined the School of Medicine faculty in 2006 as a professor of pediatrics and pathology and is a graduate of the MSTP at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Dr. Huang and Heather Broihier, PhD will continue as Co-Multi-PIs of the MSTP T32 training grant. To support the program, Dr. Huang will continue to utilize the counsel of the Vice Dean for Graduate Education, Marvin Nieman, PhD and Vice Dean for Medical Education, Lia Logio, MD, and their extensive support staff of educators and researchers. Tony Wynshaw Boris, MD, PhD (also a graduate of our program) will continue as chair of the MSTP Advisory Committee.
I am indebted to Dr. Harding's leadership and dedication in leaving a strong foundation for the future growth of MSTP. At CWRU, we have exceptional students, outstanding and dedicated mentors and advisors, and supportive institutional leadership, making our MSTP an exceptional program. I am humbled and honored to shepherd the development of future physician-scientist leaders who will impact biomedical discovery and healthcare delivery during this exciting time in the history of medicine. —Alex Y. Huang, MD, PhD
Dr. Huang is a noted translational investigator as a pediatric oncologist who trained in tumor immunology with Drew Pardoll, Elizabeth Jaffee and Hyam Levitsky at John Hopkins, then with Ron Germain at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). He arrived at the School of Medicine to pursue his independent career in adolescent and childhood malignancies and the development of novel immune therapeutics. As the holder of the Theresia G. and Stuart F. Kline Family Foundation Chair in Pediatric Oncology, he has published more than 100 peer reviewed manuscripts, developed first-in-human clinical protocols, and has been exceptionally sought after as a mentor and trainer across multiple SOM research training programs.
He has served as director of the Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Program at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital since 2007 and is the co-leader of the Immune Oncology Program for the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. He served on the immunotherapy section of the Biden Cancer Moonshot Advisory Group in 2016–17, as well as numerous NIH, international and childhood cancer foundation study sections. In recognition of his dedication to teaching and mentoring, he has received the 2011 Clinical Fellows' Teaching Award 2010–11, the prestigious 2017 John S. Diekhoff Award for Distinguished Graduate Teaching and Mentoring, Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies; and the 2018 PREP Mentor of the Year Award. He also received the 2016 Inaugural School of Medicine Faculty Diversity Award.
Dr. Huang will build upon the program's strong foundation as the first MD-PhD program in the country, which includes two Nobel Laureates, a U.S. Surgeon General and many other notable leaders.