Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) today announced the following awards and appointments:
Omar Abdel-Wahab Elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM)
Omar Abdel-Wahab, MD, Chair of the Molecular Pharmacology Program at Sloan Kettering Institute (SKI), Evnin Family Chair in Molecular Pharmacology, and Attending Physician on MSK’s Leukemia Service, has been
elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) — one of the most prestigious honors in the fields of health and medicine. He was also one of the three recipients of the
2025 Paul Marks Prize. The prize, named in honor of former MSK president Paul Marks, MD, recognizes a new generation of leaders who are making significant contributions to the understanding of cancer or are improving the treatment of the disease.
Christian Figueroa-Espada Named a 2025 STAT Wunderkind
Christian Figueroa-Espada, PhD, Research Scholar, has been
recognized with the prestigious Wunderkind award by STAT
. The Wunderkind award honors the next generation of scientific superstars. This year, 29 young scientists were selected from hundreds of nominations across North America. Dr. Figueroa-Espada is a member of the
Dan Heller Lab.
Andrea Cercek and Luis Díaz Jr. Named on the Fierce 50 of 2025
Andrea Cercek, MD, and
Luis Díaz Jr, MD, were
honored in the Innovation category on the Fierce 50 of 2025
by
Fierce Pharma for their groundbreaking phase 2
study, where immunotherapy alone allowed people with MMRd cancers to avoid surgery and preserve their quality of life. The second phase is an extension of a study in which all rectal cancer patients treated with the immunotherapy dostarlimab experienced a complete clinical response.
Chrysothemis Brown Named a 2025 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Freeman Hrabowski Scholar
Chrysothemis Brown, MD, PhD was
selected for the 2025 class of Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Freeman Hrabowski Scholars. The prestigious honor supports outstanding basic researchers, including physician-scientists with strong potential to become leaders in their fields and who have fostered a lab environment where everyone can thrive.
Hedvig Hricak Recognized by The American College of Radiology
Hedvig Hricak, MD, Emeritus Member of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) and a leading figure in the field of radiology, will be one of the two Gold Medalists
recognized by The American College of Radiology (ACR) during ACR 2026 for her extraordinary contributions to the field of radiology and outstanding service to ACR. Eight medical associations awarded her the Gold Medal, and she has received 23 Fellowships and Honorary Memberships.
Esther Redin Resano Awarded $300,000 from LUNGevity Foundation for her project “Identification of Epigenetic Drivers of Drug Tolerance in EGFR mutant LUAD”
Esther Redin Resano, MD, an assistant member and co-director of The Charles Rudin Lab, has been
awarded $300,000 by the LUNGevity Foundation, the leading nonprofit organization in the United States focused on lung cancer. Her project, “Identification of Epigenetic Drivers of Drug Tolerance in EGFR Mutant LUAD,” aims to uncover the mechanisms of resistance, develop strategies to overcome drug tolerance, and lay the groundwork for clinical trials that target drug resistance in EGFR-positive lung cancer. The LUNGevity Foundation has granted 43 Career Development Awards to support emerging scientists as they begin their careers in lung cancer research.
Sucre del Rio Recognized by St. John’s University’s Radiologic Sciences Program as Clinical Preceptor of the Year
Sucre del Rio, Lead Radiologic Technologist, has been
named Clinical Preceptor of the Year by St. John’s University’s Radiologic Sciences Program. Across 35 years at MSK, del Rio has guided and inspired countless students who have gone on to become skilled, confident technologists. This honor recognizes his outstanding leadership, dedication, and lasting impact on the next generation of Radiologic Technologists.
Adam Kesner Received the John Mallard Award
Adam Kesner, PhD,
Attending Physicist in the Department of Medical Physics, was
honored with the John Mallard Award from the International Organization for Medical Physics (IOMP). The John Mallard Award is given to a medical physicist who has developed an innovation of high scientific quality and who has successfully applied this innovation to clinical practice (e.g., equipment, software, methodology), or who has led a medical physics innovation team.
Yesne Alici Awarded by the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry
Yesne Alici, MD, was
awarded a special recognition by the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry 2025 Annual Awards. This prestigious award honors individuals who exemplify excellence in clinical care, research, education, and service to the field.
MSK Named one of the Best in the Nation for Pediatric Cancer by ‘U.S. News & World Report’
MSK Kids, the pediatric oncology program at MSK, was ranked 11th on U.S. News & World Report’s annual “Best Children’s Hospitals” list, which highlights the top 50 hospitals in the United States across a range of pediatric specialties, including cancer. U.S. News introduced the “Best Children’s Hospitals” rankings in 2007 to help families of children with severe medical conditions find the best care available. The rankings offer families an exclusive look at quality-related information at the individual hospital level.
MSK Named to Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Oncology Programs list for 2025 by ‘Becker’s Hospital Review’
MSK was named to Becker’s Hospital Review Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Oncology Programs list for 2025. This list honors hospitals and health systems that have earned national recognition for advancing cancer care through groundbreaking research, innovative treatments, transformative clinical trials, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in cancer treatment and research.
