We are pleased to announce the appointment of Erik Sulman, MD, PhD, as the new chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Duke University School of Medicine effective August 1, 2025.
Dr. Sulman joins us from NYU Langone Health, where he has made significant contributions to the field of radiation oncology. He has held several key leadership positions, including vice chair for research with NYU Grossman School of Medicine's Department of Radiation Oncology and co-director of the Brain and Spine Tumor Center at NYU Langone's Perlmutter Cancer Center. He has also served as the assistant dean of physician scientist education and director of the MD/PhD Program at NYU. Dr. Sulman earned his medical and graduate degrees from Temple University School of Medicine, completed his clinical internship at Albert Einstein Medical Center and finished his residency at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. His extensive experience and dedication to advancing cancer treatment make him an exceptional addition to our team.
Dr. Sulman is a distinguished clinician and researcher with a robust background in the treatment of brain tumors and the development of novel therapeutic strategies. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of radiation resistance in glioblastoma and the development of targeted therapies to overcome these challenges. Additionally, he is involved in identifying molecular predictors of treatment response and improving the effectiveness of radiation therapy.
We would like to again extend our gratitude to Christopher Willett, MD, for his dedicated service as chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology for over two decades. He will continue to serve as the Mark W. Dewhirst Distinguished Professor of Radiation Oncology. We would also like to thank the search committee for their diligent efforts in identifying and recruiting such an outstanding candidate, including search committee chair Gerald A. Grant, MD, the Allan H. Friedman Distinguished Professor of Neurosurgery and chair of the Department of Neurosurgery.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Sulman to Duke. Under Dr. Sulman's leadership, we are confident that the Department of Radiation Oncology will continue to thrive and innovate.