María Teresa Bourlon, MD, MS, is a medical oncologist, national researcher, and Head of the Urologic Oncology Clinic at the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán in Mexico City. She also serves as Associate Professor at Universidad Panamericana and Director of the Genitourinary Cancers Program for Medical Oncologists at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM).
Dr. Bourlon’s career has been guided by a lifelong dedication to patient-centered care and academic excellence. Growing up in a family of physicians, she developed an early admiration for medicine through her father’s example. During her internal medicine residency, she discovered her passion for oncology, recognizing the urgent need for innovation, clinical trials, and hope for cancer patients. Motivated by this realization, she chose to specialize in medical oncology, focusing on improving outcomes for men with urologic malignancies—an area she identified as underrepresented in Latin America.
Her determination led her to pursue international mentorship opportunities, including the International Development and Education Award (IDEA) from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), which allowed her to train under Dr. Michael Glodé at the University of Colorado Cancer Center. This transformative experience inspired her to return to Mexico and establish the country’s first dedicated Urologic Oncology Clinic capable of conducting clinical trials. Under her leadership, the clinic has become a leading center for kidney and bladder cancer research and treatment, providing patients access to cutting-edge therapies that were previously unavailable and ensuring they receive care beyond palliative options.
Dr. Bourlon’s investigator-initiated research and active participation in international clinical trials have contributed to practice-changing advances in systemic therapies for renal cell carcinoma and other genitourinary cancers. She has been a high enroller in multiple pivotal studies and a strong advocate for building local and regional research capacity in Latin America.
Her academic and professional contributions extend globally. She serves as Ambassador of the Oncofertility Consortium and has been on the faculty of ESMO LATAM, ESO Latin America, the ASCO Annual Meeting, and the ASCO Genitourinary Symposium. She has also served on the ASCO Global Oncology Taskforce and as a JCO Global Oncology Editorial Fellowship Mentor.
Recognized for her mentorship and leadership, Dr. Bourlon received the ASCO Foundation International Women Who Conquer Cancer Mentorship Award in 2023. She continues to advocate for equitable access to cancer research and treatment in Latin America and for greater racial representation in clinical trials worldwide.
Dr. Bourlon’s vision is to expand collaborative research networks across the region and strengthen academic pathways for young oncologists, embodying her belief that mentorship can truly change lives. Her career stands as an inspiring testament to resilience, purpose, and the transformative power of compassionate oncology.
She is a Member of the Editorial Board of OncoDaily.