Wakelee Becomes Interim Chief of Division of Medical Oncology, Sledge Assumes Role as Senior Advisor to the Chair of Medicine for Cancer Programs

After successfully leading the Division of Medical Oncology for the last seven years, George Sledge, MD, professor of oncology, has decided to step down as division chief and will join the Department of Medicine leadership team as the Senior Advisor to the Chair of Medicine for Cancer Programs. Heather A. Wakelee, MD, professor oncology, has agreed to serve as the interim Chief, Division of Medical Oncology. Department of Medicine Chair Bob Harrington, MD, describes Wakelee as a highly skilled and experienced clinician, researcher and educator, and says she is “well suited to lead the division in its continued quest for excellence.”

Wakelee is a graduate of Princeton University and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.  She returned to her native California for residency, chief residency and fellowship training with the DOM, eventually becoming a professor of medicine in 2017.  Wakelee currently acts as the thoracic cancer clinical research group leader and medical director of the cancer clinical trials office for the Stanford Cancer Institute. Her extensive list of accomplishments includes mentorship for more than 25 trainees, clinical research focusing on the use potential of novel therapeutics for lung cancer and co-authorship of more than 145 peer review publications. She has held national leadership roles with the American Society of Clinical Oncology and ECOG-ACRN Cancer Research Group and is currently serving as president-elect of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC).  She will assume the presidency of IASLC in 2021.

Wakelee will replace Sledge who will now join the Department of Medicine leadership team as the Senior Advisor to the Chair of Medicine for Cancer Programs. In his new role, Sledge will focus on cancer-related scientific initiatives and strategic issues, providing support for the Director of Cancer Team Science in identifying opportunities for faculty in cancer research. He will also serve as a member of a mock NIH study section, mentor junior faculty applying for a first K or R grants and work closely with Medical Center Development on philanthropic initiatives. Harrington emphasizes he is very grateful for Sledge’s willingness to assume this new position and is certain his talent will help create synergies among the three cancer divisions.

Sledge came to Stanford in 2013 after a distinguished career as a clinician-scientist at Indiana University and after serving as President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.  His tenure on campus is equally successful and distinguished. Under his calm and steady leadership, the Division has grown its faculty and research programs substantially, with clinical volumes expanding more than 10 percent annually each year.