Marshall Hicks was named interim president of MD Anderson Cancer Center.
The appointment, announced by the UT System Chancellor William McRaven, will become effective March 21, “following Dr. Ronald A. DePinho’s retirement as president on March 20.”
Earlier this month, when DePinho announced his resignation, he said that he had been asked to remain in his job through the end of the Texas legislative session, which is scheduled to end on May 29 (The Cancer Letter, March 10).
According to the announcement that was distributed to MD Anderson faculty and staff March 8, “discussions between Dr. DePinho and Chancellor McRaven are ongoing to coordinate the details and timing of his transition.”
According to an MD Anderson spokesperson, DePinho had communicated to MD Anderson’s faculty and staff March 13 that McRaven accepted his request that March 20 be his final day as president. He will transition to past president and become a member of the faculty.
Hicks, 59, has served as Division Head of Diagnostic Imaging at MD Anderson since 2010. According to the cancer center, he has “played a leading role in the development of the institution’s Shared Governance Committee.”
“Dr. Hicks is a widely respected leader within the MD Anderson family, with nearly 20 years of service on the faculty,” McRaven said in a statement. “When we discussed potential candidates for the interim presidency, Dr. Hicks’ name came up time and time again. His colleagues throughout the institution have great trust and confidence in him.”
Dr. Hicks specializes in interventional radiology and served nationally as former president of the Society of Interventional Radiology. He has been a collaborator in many clinical research studies of a wide range of different types of cancers, including, among other sites, those involving the lung, liver, colon, head and neck.
“I am honored to be asked to serve MD Anderson as its interim president,” Hicks said. “This extraordinary institution holds a special place in the hearts of its patients and their families, our outstanding faculty and trainees, our dedicated staff, the Houston community and people across the world.”
Recently-appointed Chief Operating Officer Stephen Hahn, said Hicks is “one of our most seasoned leaders on campus and he has been a great partner with me in our efforts to position MD Anderson for the challenges and opportunities ahead. He has a calming and reassuring style that will help us through the leadership transition.”
While serving as interim president, Hicks will appoint an interim head of the Division of Diagnostic Imaging to serve until he returns to that position, MD Anderson officials said.
A national search for a permanent president would launched soon and will include the appointment of a search advisory committee, MD Anderson offocoals said. The committee will aim to recommend top candidates to the UT System Board of Regents by the end of 2017.
“Given the national prominence of MD Anderson, we expect significant interest in this position from the most renowned cancer experts in the country,” UT System Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs Raymond Greenberg, said in a statement.
Greenberg said the search advisory committee “would look for an established leader with proven skills in managing a large and complex health care organization, ideally with both clinical and research expertise.”
