Dr. Joann Sweasy Named Director of University of Arizona Cancer Center

I am pleased to announce that Joann Sweasy, PhD, has been named director of the University of Arizona Cancer Center, and the inaugural holder of the Nancy C. and Craig M. Berge Endowed Chair for the Director of the Cancer Center. For the past nine months, Dr. Sweasy has demonstrated exceptional leadership as the interim director for the center.

As director, Dr. Sweasy will set the vision, priorities and strategies for the center, as well as provide leadership in continuing to build its international, national, regional and local impact, visibility and reputation. In this key leadership role, Dr. Sweasy will serve as the chief advisor to the university in cancer-related matters and will be the principal investigator of the Cancer Center Support Grant from the National Cancer Institute, which designates the center as an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Dr. Sweasy also will continue to build an accomplished leadership team and community of engaged investigators who are working together in transdisciplinary, translational and collaborative research; advanced cancer care and novel clinical trials; cancer training and mentorship; and community outreach that fosters communication and engagement.

Dr. Sweasy, who is a tenured professor in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, and Radiation Oncology, joined the University of Arizona Health Sciences in 2019 from Yale University, where she served as the Ensign Professor of Therapeutic Radiology, associate director for basic sciences, and co-leader of the Radiobiology and Radiotherapy Program at the Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center.

I look forward to Dr. Sweasy’s leadership in training the next generation of researchers and clinicians, collaborating across disciplines, departments, colleges and clinical partners, and reducing health disparities across the state. I am confident that the UArizona Cancer Center will continue expanding its impact throughout Arizona and beyond for years to come.

Michael D. Dake, MD
Senior Vice President for University of Arizona Health Sciences