Alan Ho Appointed Chief of the Head and Neck Oncology Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Alan Ho, MD, PhD, has been named the Chief of the Head and Neck Oncology Service within the Division of Solid Tumor Oncology in the Department of Medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). Dr. Ho currently serves as a Head and Neck Medical Oncologist and a Cellular Therapist. He is the Program Director for the Rare Salivary Gland Cancer Program and the Co-Program Director for the Rare Thyroid Cancer Program. He received his MD and PhD from Washington University, completed an internal medicine residency at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, and conducted his fellowship training at MSK. Since his appointment to the Head and Neck Oncology service, he has built an international reputation as a translational clinical researcher focused on developing personalized therapeutics for patients with head and neck malignancies. He has successfully obtained NIH funding for his work and is widely published.

"Throughout his 15 years at MSK, Dr. Ho has consistently delivered compassionate patient care and led collaborative research which has brought cutting-edge treatments to patients and furthered our understandings of head and neck tumor biology," said explained Luis Diaz, MD, Head of the Division of Solid Tumor Oncology. "We look forward to watching the service continue to provide world-renowned care for each patient who comes to us with a head and neck cancer diagnosis. I am confident that Dr. Ho's expertise, leadership, and passion for MSK's mission will continue our tradition of excellence."

"MSK is in a class of its own when it comes to its Head and Neck Oncology Service. We have a true translational program focused on bench-to-bedside approaches that uniquely positions us to develop innovative, new therapies," explained Dr. Ho. "Over the past decade, MSK has conducted dozens of clinical trials that have led to changes in the standard of care for patients with head and neck cancers, including those with rare, orphan diseases. It is a privilege to lead this team of highly specialized experts, and I look forward to continuing this vital work."

Dr. Ho follows in the footsteps of David Pfister, MD, the inaugural Head and Neck Oncology Service Chief who served in the role for 20 years. Under his leadership, the Head and Neck Oncology Service underwent dramatic growth. Dr. Pfister now serves as Associate Deputy Physician-In-Chief for Strategic Partnerships for MSK.

"We are grateful to Dr. Pfister for over two decades of his leadership and vision," said Deb Schrag, MD, MPH, Chair of the Department of Medicine. "As the first ever Chief of the Head and Neck Oncology Service at MSK, he has created an internationally recognized service and helped develop the careers of scores of physicians, surgeons, radiation oncologists, and scientists who helped propel head and neck oncology at MSK and beyond. I look forward to working with Dr. Ho as he steps into his new role and makes his mark on this exceptional service."

MSK's Head and Neck Service brings a depth and breadth of expertise to the treatment of people with head and neck diseases. A multidisciplinary team comprised of more than 80 experts meets weekly to discuss personalized care and develop individualized treatment plans for patients. This team combines physicians from many areas of expertise including surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, endocrinology, neuroradiology, head and neck pathology, dentistry and prosthodontics, plastic surgery, neurosurgery, and speech and swallowing rehabilitation. These experts focus exclusively on the treatment of head and neck cancers, including cancers so rare that few doctors have experience treating them.

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