Dr. Hagop Kantarjian is Professor of Medicine and former Chair of the Department of Leukemia at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he held the role for nearly four decades. He also holds the Samsung Distinguished Leukemia Chair in Cancer Medicine and serves as a non-resident fellow in health policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute.
Widely regarded as a pioneer in leukemia research, Dr. Kantarjian led transformative clinical and translational work that contributed to the FDA approval of over 20 leukemia therapies. His efforts revolutionized treatment paradigms in chronic myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia, resulting in dramatic improvements in survival outcomes.
He has authored over 2,000 peer-reviewed publications and has been recognized with the ASCO David A. Karnofsky Memorial Award (2023) and the Castle Connolly National Physician of the Year Award for Lifetime Achievement. In 2024, he stepped down as Chair of the Department of Leukemia, concluding one of the most impactful leadership tenures in academic oncology.