MedStar Health Taps Louis M. Weiner, MD, to Lead MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute

WASHINGTON -- MedStar Health, the largest not-for-profit healthcare system across Maryland and the Washington, D.C., region, has named Louis M. Weiner, MD, as director of its MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute.  Weiner will serve in this capacity while also remaining director of Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Washington’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and the research engine of the institute.

As director of the MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute, Weiner will lead the development and coordination of clinical care and research programs spanning prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, survivorship and end-of-life care across the MedStar Health system.

"I am honored to have the opportunity to lead this effort,” says Weiner. “This is an exciting time for the field of cancer therapy, as new treatments are transforming the outlook for patients with this dreaded set of diseases. The MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute links our nationally renowned cancer specialists across the Washington metropolitan region to offer the highest possible level of research-inspired cancer care, always maintaining the focus on the well-being of the patient. The Institute's alignment with the Georgetown Lombardi, one of the nation's National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, assures that our patients will always receive tomorrow's treatments today."

An internationally recognized medical oncologist specializing in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers, Weiner is an accomplished researcher who focuses on monoclonal antibody research and other immunotherapy treatments. He serves as chair of the NCI’s Board of Scientific Counselors and as a member of its Clinical Trials Advisory Committee. In addition, Weiner recently concluded service as a member of the Advisory Panel of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Center for Scientific Research, which administers NIH research grants. Lou earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Pennsylvania and his medical degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine. He completed his fellowship at Tufts University School of Medicine. Prior to his appointment as Georgetown Lombardi director in 2007, Weiner held several leadership positions at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia.

The integration of MedStar Health’s clinical care and Georgetown Lombardi’s robust research platform will bring advanced cancer care, greater access to clinical trials and state-of-the-art technologies to patients at more convenient locations.  It is a direct outgrowth of the continuing collaborations of Georgetown University and MedStar Health, reflected by a recent agreement to extend and enrich existing interactions between the two enterprises.

“Weiner is uniquely qualified to lead this effort with expertise as a clinician, clinical researcher, laboratory scientist, director of a large research operation and experience in service delivery,” says M. Joy Drass, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of MedStar Health.

“This important collaboration amplifies our shared commitment to the health and wellness of the communities we serve by further elevating the level of cancer services and research-inspired cancer care now available to all of our patients,” says Edward B. Healton, MD, MPH, executive vice president for health sciences at Georgetown University Medical Center and executive dean of the Georgetown School of Medicine.