Moffitt Cancer Center names new CEO

Nine months after a leadership shakeup, Moffitt Cancer Center has named a new president and CEO.

Dr. Patrick Hwu will take on the top job at Moffitt starting Nov. 10.

Hwu, whose research focuses on vaccines, adoptive T-cell therapies and immune resistance, has been division head of cancer medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. He brings 33 years of oncology experience to Moffitt, a Tampa-based facility that is one of only 51 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers.

The former president and CEO of Moffitt, Dr. Alan List, and Timothy Sellers, the former center director, resigned in December, following allegations of violations of conflict of interest rules through their work in China.

During his tenure at MD Anderson, Hwu held a variety of leadership roles, serving as chairs of both the Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology and the Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology. He was also the co-director of the Center for Cancer Immunology Research. Nationally, Hwu is vice president/president elect at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, serves on the Melanoma Research Alliance Foundation Medical Advisory Panel in Washington, D.C., and is a member of numerous scientific advisory boards throughout the U.S. 

“Dr. Hwu is truly a cancer visionary ready to elevate Moffitt to even greater success,” Tim Adams, chair of Moffitt’s Institute Board of Directors, said in a statement. “Drawing from his innovative cancer research, quality patient care and extensive leadership experience, Dr. Hwu will no doubt continue to help Moffitt in our pursuit of dynamic growth and groundbreaking work.”

Hwu, who earned his medical degree from The Medical College of Pennsylvania, said he’s honored to join Moffitt, which has made “unprecedented strides” in the prevention and treatment of cancer.

“I look forward to bringing my years of experience as a cancer physician, researcher and leader to help advance the outstanding work already underway by the teams of cancer experts at Florida’s top-ranked cancer hospital,” Hwu said. “I’m confident that our collective efforts will further elevate Moffitt’s leadership in cancer patient care, research and education.”

With Hwu at the helm, founder H. Lee Moffitt said he expects the center’s impact on helping cancer patients will be felt worldwide.

“Dr. Patrick Hwu is a nationally respected physician-scientist with the vision to lead Moffitt into the future,” Moffitt said. “Coming from the largest cancer center in the country, where he has distinguished himself and produced incredible results, we expect he will successfully guide the Moffitt team through the next generation of cancer treatments and discoveries.”