Former Chief Physician Executive and internationally renowned neuro-oncologist, Lisa M. DeAngelis, MD, is an emeritus member of the Department of Neurology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK).
Dr. DeAngelis served MSK for nearly 40 years – first starting as a neuro-oncology fellow to becoming the Chair of the Department of Neurology. In institutional leadership roles, she served as the Acting Physician-in-Chief, then Physician-in-Chief, and eventually the Chief Physician Executive.
Dr. DeAngelis co-founded MSK’s Brain Tumor Center, bringing together experts from across MSK to move new discoveries from the lab to patients as quickly as possible. Her research focused on primary brain tumors and the neurological complications of cancer and its treatment, such as cognitive impairment and strokes. She helped develop the regimen to treat primary central nervous system lymphoma and led numerous national clinical trials that investigated new brain tumor therapies.
In 2018, Dr. DeAngelis was named Acting Physician-in-Chief and was appointed Physician-in-Chief in 2019. In these roles, she was responsible for the integration, coordination, and improvement of patient care and safety throughout MSK, and the clinical and translational research and graduate medical education programs of Memorial Hospital.
Dr. DeAngelis helped lead MSK through the COVID-19 pandemic. She played an instrumental role in MSK’s response to COVID, working with colleagues across the organization to develop and communicate new practices, policies, and approaches to care.
Dr. DeAngelis was deeply involved in the development of new facilities and multiple launches that supported and extended MSK’s commitment to patient care and access, research, and faculty development.
During her tenure, MSK created the Gerstner Physician Scholars Program; announced plans for The Kenneth C. Griffin Pavilion at MSK; integrated the departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; established the Marie-Josée Kravis Center for Cancer Immunobiology; opened Memorial Medical Care, PC, in Flatbush, Brooklyn; formalized a new collaboration with Medisys Health Network at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center to expand access to world-class cancer care in Queens; and launched the Olayan Center for Cancer Vaccines at MSK. Dr. DeAngelis is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and a fellow of the American Neurological Association (ANA). She is also a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), which in 2019 awarded her the organization’s highest honor, the Wartenberg Lecture.
Dr. DeAngelis served previously on the board of directors for the Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO), one of the premier multidisciplinary organizations dedicated to promoting the advances in neuro-oncology through research and education. In 2023, she was the recipient of SNO’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. That same year, SNO created the Excellence in Education Award, Honoring Lisa DeAngelis, MD, which is bestowed annually on an individual who has made significant contributions to neuro-oncology education.