by Tom Wilemon
Jordan Berlin, MD, has been appointed interim leader of the Division of Hematology and Oncology in the Department of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
The appointment is effective June 1. The division’s existing director, Ben Ho Park, MD, PhD, Cornelius Abernathy Craig Professor of Medicine, will become director of Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) on July 1.
“The Division of Hematology and Oncology is, of course, a very special one to me, being an oncologist, and an important unit for the department and the institution,” said Kimryn Rathmell, MD, PhD, Hugh Jackson Morgan Professor and chair of the Department of Medicine. “Dr. Berlin has been a mentor to a great number of our faculty and an advocate for the faculty and fellows on numerous causes.
“He will be fully equipped to lead the division as it continues its remarkable period of growth, and I am very excited to work with him in continuing to develop this exceptional group of individuals,” Rathmell said.
Berlin, who joined Vanderbilt in 1999, is Ingram Professor of Cancer Research, professor of Medicine, and associate director for Clinical Research at VICC.
He completed medical school at the University of Illinois College of Medicine followed by a residency in internal medicine at the University of Cincinnati Hospital and fellowship training in hematology and oncology at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics and the University of Cincinnati Hospital.
He is co-director of the administrative core for the Gastrointestinal SPORE (Specialized Program of Research Excellence) grant from the National Cancer Institute.
“I have had the pleasure of working in the Division of Hematology and Oncology for almost 23 years and am deeply honored and humbled by the chance to help out as interim division chief,” Berlin said.
“There is a long tradition of great leaders in this division starting with David Johnson and most recently Dr. Rathmell, then Dr. Ben Ho Park. I hope to be able to continue the exceptional work they have done in leading this division.”
Park said he is confident that the division will do well with Berlin’s leadership.
“Dr. Jordan Berlin represents the very best of what we do in the Division of Hematology and Oncology and VICC. He is an exemplary physician, researcher, mentor and trusted friend. I know the division is in great hands under his exceptional leadership and look forward to working with him to advance the missions of both the division and VICC that will ultimately benefit all patients with cancer and hematologic disease,” Park said.