Cancer Center Leadership: Our People

The MCW Cancer Center is comprised of a team of scientists, researchers, and administrators who provide strategic and operational oversight to shape the strategy, programming, and initiatives that will achieve our vision of eradicating cancer.
Gustavo Leone, PhD


Gustavo Leone, PhD

Director

Dr. Leone joined the MCW Cancer Center in  2020. As a leader and scientist in the cancer community, Dr. Leone has nearly 30 years of research experience and more than 10 years of leadership experience, including former appointments as the Director of the NCI-designated Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina as well as Director, Solid Tumor Biology Program, at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center.

In addition to leading the MCW Cancer Center, Dr. Leone is MCW’s senior associate dean of cancer research and professor with tenure in the department of biochemistry. He holds the Dr. Glenn R. and Nancy A. Linnerson Endowed Chair for Cancer Research and oversees clinical operations at the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Network.

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Mary Horowitz, MD, MS


Mary M. Horowitz, MD, MS

Deputy Director

Dr. Horowitz assumed the role of MCW Cancer Center Deputy Director in 2021. She holds the Robert A. Uihlein Professorship for Hematologic Research at MCW and serves as chief scientific director emeritus of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research.

Dr. Horowitz’s clinical and research activities focus on the care and outcome of persons receiving blood and marrow transplants and in evaluating the role of transplantation in malignant and non-malignant diseases. She is particularly interested in understanding, treating and preventing long term complications of transplantation such as chronic GVHD (graft versus host disease).

View Mary Horowitz, MD, MS Bio


Our Teams

The following teams help to direct the science of the MCW Cancer Center. This structure effectively promotes collaborative scientific interactions within the institution, external partners, advisory boards, and members of the community.

Associate Directors

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Razelle Kurzrock, MD, FACP

Associate Director, Clinical Research (CCSG)

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Marilyn Larson, MBA

Associate Director, Administration (CCSG)

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Francesca Marassi, PhD

Associate Director, Shared Resources (CCSG)

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Janet Rader, MD, FACOG

Associate Director, Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CCSG)

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James Rizzo, MD

Associate Director, Oncology Operations

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Lisa Sanchez-Johnsen, PhD, MS

Associate Director, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (CCSG)

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Melinda Stolley, PhD

Associate Director, Population Sciences Research (CCSG)

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Staci Young, PhD

Associate Director, Community Outreach and Engagement (CCSG)

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Xue-Zhong Yu, MD

Associate Director, Basic Research (CCSG)

Research Program Directors

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William R. Drobyski, MD

Mariette C. and Philip W. Orth/Tom Anderson Chair of Oncology; Professor, Medicine (Hematology/Oncology), Pediatrics, Microbiology & Immunology

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Wei Liu, PhD

Joseph F. Heil, Jr. Endowed Chair of Molecular Oncogenesis Associate Professor

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Todd Miller, PhD

Professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology and Pathology

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Joan Neuner, MD, MPH

Professor of Medicine, George Carroll Professor of Women's Health, School of Medicine

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Melinda Stolley, PhD

Professor; Associate Director of Population Sciences Research, Cancer Center

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Carol L. Williams, PhD

Joan K. Van Deuren Professor in Breast Cancer Research; Professor, Pharmacology & Toxicology

Chairs: Integrated Disease-Oriented Teams

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Deepak Kilari, MD

Chair, Adult Early Phase

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Mehdi Hamadani, MD

Chair, Bone Marrow Transplant/Cell Therapy

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Tina Yen, MD, MS, FACS, FSSO

Chair, Breast

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Jennifer Connelly, MD

Chair, Central Nervous System

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William Hall, MD

Chair, Gastrointestinal

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Peter Langenstroer, MD, MS

Chair, Genitourinary

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Denise Uyar, MD

Chair, Gynecology

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Stuart Wong, MD

Chair, Head and Neck

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Guru Subramanian Guru Murthy, MD, MS

Chair, Leukemia

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Timothy Fenske, MD, MS

Chair, Lymphoma

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Michael James Burke, MD

Chair, Pediatrics

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Anita D'Souza, MD

Chair, Plasma Cell Disorders

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Jennifer Knight, MD, MS, FACLP

Chair, Population Sciences and Behavioral Health

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Meena Bedi, MD, MS

Chair, Sarcoma

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Callisia Clarke, MD, MS, FACS, FSSO

Chair, Skin

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Lindsay Puckett, MD

Chair, Thoracic

Cancer Center Administration

Business Operations
Brenda Brito, BA, BS
Director, Business Operations

Communications
Nikita Hartnett, MBA
Director, Communications

Research Development Office
Roger Johnson, PhD
Director, Programmatic Grants and Strategic Partner Development