Kimryn Rathmell Steps Down as NCI Director, Concluding a Pivotal Leadership Era

In a recent announcement, W. Kimryn Rathmell shared that she will be stepping down as Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), with departure taking effect on Monday, January 20.

Kimryn Rathmell’s leadership has been pivotal in advancing cancer research, and her decision marks the conclusion of a significant chapter for both NCI and the broader scientific community.

Dr. Kimryn Rathmell is a distinguished physician-scientist and leader in cancer research, most recently serving as the Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) from December 2023 until January 2025.

During her tenure, she brought significant leadership and vision to the NCI, driving advancements in cancer research and treatment.

Prior to her role at the NCI, Dr. Rathmell had an impactful career at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where she served as Chair of the Department of Medicine and Physician-in-Chief from January 2020 to December 2023.

In this capacity, she led the department in advancing both clinical care and groundbreaking research. From 2015 to 2020, she also served as the Director of the Division of Hematology and Oncology at Vanderbilt, where she helped shape the institution’s cancer programs.

Dr. Rathmell began her academic career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she served as an Associate Professor from 2003 to 2015. She received her MD and PhD in Medicine and Biophysics from Stanford University, where she developed a deep understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer.

Dr. Rathmell also holds a Master’s in Management in Health Care from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management, which further enhanced her leadership skills.

She is board-certified in Medical Oncology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Rathmell’s career has been marked by her dedication to advancing cancer research, improving patient outcomes, and fostering innovation in oncology care.

During her tenure, Dr. Rathmell remained steadfast in her commitment to addressing the growing incidence of early-onset cancers, particularly among women.

She spearheaded the Early-Onset Cancer Initiative to explore the biological, social, and environmental factors driving this troubling trend. This initiative will enhance focus and coordination across the cancer research community, ensuring sustained efforts to understand and combat early-onset cancers.

Dr. Rathmell also made significant progress in reducing disparities in cancer care. She tasked an NCI advisory group with formulating actionable recommendations to build community capacity for cancer research and improve access to high-quality care in underserved and rural areas.

The group’s final report called for addressing cancer outcome disparities and outlined a clear path to achieving greater equity in care.

Under her leadership, significant advancements were made toward the ambitious goals outlined in the National Cancer Plan, with a strong, personal commitment to supporting the next generation of researchers.

A highlight of her tenure was the launch of PROSPECT-Lung, the first clinical trial under NCI’s Clinical Trials Innovation Unit (CTIU). This groundbreaking initiative is revolutionizing the design and execution of clinical trials, driving forward innovative science while maintaining operational efficiency for high-priority research.

Dr. Rathmell’s collaborative approach extended beyond cancer research, playing a crucial role in shaping NIH-wide health equity initiatives. She contributed key insights to my signature initiative, the Communities Advancing Research Equity for Health initiative™, which seeks to integrate clinical research with community-based primary care.