Ari VanderWalde, MD, MPH, MBioeth

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. 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.