Dr. Cheryl Willman is the Stephen and Barbara Slaggie Executive Director, Mayo Clinic Cancer Programs, and Director, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center. She is an internationally renowned physician scientist and a pioneer in the field of cancer individualized medicine with a track record of innovation and successful translation of discoveries to clinical trials. She has co-led several key National Cancer Institute (NCI) initiatives that are improving the lives of patients with cancer.
Dr. Willman has served in many leadership roles including NCI's Board of Scientific Advisors and the Scientific Advisory Board of the NCI Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research. Dr. Willman also has held and currently holds national leadership positions in American Association of Cancer Research, American Society of Hematology, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
She was a founder of the field of molecular diagnostic pathology, president of the Association of Molecular Pathologists, and an elected fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. Prior to joining Mayo Clinic, Dr. Willman served as the director and CEO of the University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Dr. Willman received her medical degree from Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, and completed her residency and postdoctoral training in pathology and cancer research at Mayo Clinic, University of New Mexico, and University of Washington.