Dean F. Bajorin, MD

In addition to treating patients, I have researched new drugs (and combinations of drugs) for people who have developed advanced bladder cancer and other genitourinary malignancies. My research has been directed toward improving treatment with chemotherapy, targeted drugs, and novel immunotherapy drugs; evaluating biological characteristics of tumors to predict treatment response; and understanding the genetic basis for both treatment response and development of urothelial cancers.  I have served as the principal investigator on research grants from the National Cancer Institute for translational research in urothelial cancer as well as currently serving as a principal investigator for the MSK P50 SPORE in Bladder Cancer. I am a reviewer for several major journals on testicular and bladder cancer and have authored or coauthored more than 350 medical manuscripts.

I have had a life-long commitment to medical education.  As director of the Medical Oncology/Hematology Fellowship Training Program since 1994, I help oversee the training of generations of leaders in cancer treatment and research. I serve as the principal investigator of the Department of Medicine’s NIH T32 grant that trains medical oncology and hematology fellows for a career in translational cancer research. I have directed the Clinical Research Methodology Curriculum for training clinical investigators in human subject research since 1999 and currently serve as the co-principal investigator for the Educational Core of the Weill Cornell Medical Center’s Clinical and Translational Science Award funded by the National Institute of Health. I am also past Chair for the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Fellowship Training and Professional Development Committees focused on life-long learning for physicians who treat cancer.

I am proud to have received a number of honors and awards for my work, including the MSK’s Willet Whitmore Award for Excellence in Patient Care and the ASCO Statesmen Award, which recognizes certain members for more than 20 years of extraordinary volunteer service, dedication, and commitment. Among other contributions, I also helped ASCO shape a new strategic plan to address the looming shortage of oncologists in the United States by 2020 — including the development of innovative practice arrangements.