Ari VanderWalde, MD, MPH, MBioeth

Ari VanderWalde, MD, MPH, MBioeth, has been the Director of Clinical Research at West Cancer Center since 2014, as well as the Associate Vice Chancellor of Clinical Research at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Dr. VanderWalde’s vision is to take novel promising therapies and translate them systematically and efficiently into agents that achieve tangible benefits for people with cancer.

Titles and Roles

• Director of Clinical Research, West Cancer Center
• Associate Vice Chancellor of Research, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center
• Assistant Professor, Division of Hematology/Oncology, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center
• Chair, Research Subcommittee, Executive Cancer Council

Areas of Expertise

• Clinical Trials
• Drug Development
• Immune Therapy
• Molecular Targeted Therapy
• Melanoma
• Biomedical Ethics
• Medical Oncology
• Outcomes Research
• Healthcare Management

Biography

Ari VanderWalde, MD, is Director of Clinical Research at West Cancer Center and Associate Vice Chancellor of Clinical Research at University of Tennessee Health Science Center. He is a board-certified medical oncologist and assistant professor in the Division of Hematology/Oncology. With expertise in clinical research, immunotherapy, molecular-targeted therapy, and melanoma, Dr. VanderWalde chairs the Research Subcommittee of the Executive Cancer Council and the Multidisciplinary Cutaneous Cancer Conference, and co-chairs the Molecular Oncology Tumor Board. He is responsible for managing the portfolio for all clinical research studies occurring at West Cancer Center, and serves as Primary Investigator or Subinvestigator on all externally sponsored trials. Prior to joining West Cancer Center, Dr. VanderWalde served as U.S. Medical Lead and Medical Director at Amgen, directing U.S. global development of novel immunotherapeutics in melanoma. As an expert in melanoma, Dr. VanderWalde has collaborated with many of the nation’s top thought leaders. Dr. VanderWalde obtained his undergraduate degree and Masters of Public Health from Harvard University and his Medical Degree and Masters of Bioethics from University of Pennsylvania. He trained at UCLA and City of Hope Cancer Center. He has authored many peer-reviewed journal articles and has presented numerous abstracts at major international conferences.

Education and Training

• 2005, M.D., University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
• 2005, M.P.H., Harvard School for Public Health, Boston, MA
• 2005, M. Bioethics, University of Pennsylvania
• 2000, Bachelor of Arts, Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

Awards

• Conquer Cancer Foundation of ASCO, Oncology Trainee Travel Award, 2011
• ASCO/AACR Vail Workship in “Methods in Clinical Cancer Research”, 2009
• U. of Pennsylvania School of Medicine History of Medicine Award, 2005
• U. of Pennsylvania School of Medicine Russell J. Stumacher Award, 2005
• Pforzheimer Foundation Public Service Fellowship, 2003-2004
• Philadelphia College of Physicians Edward Krumbhaar Award, 2004

Research

Dr. VanderWalde’s current research projects span four areas of oncology:

• Melanoma and lung cancer, with a focus on immune therapy
• Therapeutic clinical trials in cancer
• Molecular testing and targeted therapies
• Health care delivery and outcomes

Publications

Dr. Vanderwalde has multiple published peer reviewed articles in elite journals including Lancet Oncology and Journal of Clinical Oncology. His publications focus on therapeutic clinical trials and biomedical ethics. To view Dr. VanderWalde’s recent publications, click here.