Dr. W. Kimryn Rathmell talks about her new position as CEO
Dr. W. Kimryn Rathmell, former director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), has served as CEO of the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.
Dr. W. Kimryn Rathmell knows that no one or world-renowned medical institution is an island when it comes to eliminating the pain and pain of cancer.
In May, Rathmell was originally the new CEO of Ohio State University’s Comprehensive Cancer Center – James conducted a nationwide search, succeeding Dr. David Cohn, longtime interim CEO.
In a July 16 dispatch interview, the “synergy” of former directors of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) influx of “synergy” to science and practical medicine can better inform us how to treat and cure the disease. When these worlds intersect, research thrives and patient care becomes better.
“I was a major in biology and chemistry, and I was interested in doing that…but then, we didn't have a degree in biochemistry. But I felt that chemicals might be useful in biology, and absolutely,” Rathmell explained. “I was a doctor and a scientist because I lived at that intersection and I could do the basic science that really mattered and that science was crucial…that information could help patients experience it.”
Rathmell pointed out that this kind of cooperation, this kind of cooperation already exists in OSUCCC James (OSUCCC-James). This is just one of the many reasons why she came to the Columbus agency after her national leadership role (dedicating innovation and focusing on cancer prevention), not just cancer treatment and interaction and coordination with the community.
Rathmell still wants to pursue the “major task” of eliminating death from cancer, but still works on the ground, just like seeing patients and training students.
“In fact, you don’t actually have many positions like vision and this leadership, and you’re still in touch on the ground,” Rathmell said. “That provides.”
The legacy of cancer care innovation
The former director of NCI is just her latest honor. Born in Nebraska, Rathmell grew up in rural Iowa and received a degree in biology and chemistry from the University of Iowa.
Most importantly, she earned a degree in biophysics, and was a residency at the University of Chicago and the University of Pennsylvania, and attended Stanford’s School of Medicine. She said she likes to solve serious problems and work with patients throughout her care, two motivations that were early on marrying her physician-scientist status.
Rathmell is considered one of the leading experts in cancer care and research, and he is known for leading the basic science of investigating kidney cancer. She has served in professorship and leadership positions at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and Vanderbilt University, where she led many clinical and transitional trial programs and mentored hundreds of junior researchers.
She said the trainees “resolving the most difficult medical problems now” are the ones she is most proud of when looking back on her career.
Rathmell's research has led to more than 300 published and peer-reviewed journals, and she has been the top 10 resource of choice for the National Institutes of Health. Earlier this year, she received the American Cancer Society Medal of Honor, the highest honor the organization can give and one of many honors that medical organizations have awarded her.
In 2022, Rathmell received his Master of Health Care Management from Vanderbilt University’s Irving School of Management.
When she received an NCI proposal in 2023, she called it “excited” and she “can't fall asleep for a few days.” Rathmell ensures training and education are funded during his two years as director, and the Cancer Care Network is a hub for clinical care and research collaboration.
Oncology everywhere
Now at OSUCCC-James, Rathmell hopes to continue building the foundation of the institution.
Lasmael said interacting with the community and its needs is not only in central Ohio, but also in 88 counties throughout Ohio. Her hope is to bring OSUCCC-James' discovery and experts to every place in the state, rather than asking those who need care to come to Columbus to enter them.
An example is telemedicine follow-up via current mobile lung cancer screening, so health systems can reach those or rural areas without transportation in order to try to capture the cancer before it gets into a more severe phase.
Rural health care is a space Rathmell said she was inspired to grow up in rural Iowa, and she was excited that OSUCCC-James was already working in it. She provided clinical trials by mail and established partnerships with local physicians and laboratories already established in these areas, an approach that would remove existing barriers such as long-term drives or lack of transport.
“FedEx is everywhere, so why can't oncology be everywhere?” Rasmael asked.
The mission must continue
Rathmell’s appointment is in the midst of a major disruption in the health care sector under the Donald Trump administration, including millions of federal health funding cuts and massive changes to Medicaid.
The new CEO said she is watching the changes in the federal government in this new Medicaid era. “It really got me up,” she sighed, recalled 20 years ago when she saw more frequent late-stage cancer diagnosis and reduced health care coverage.
“We really don't want to get to some degree of norms again. I think it's important to double prevention and early detection,” she said.
When it comes to overall health funding, the OSU-CCC's financial portfolio is that Rathmell may fall asleep more easily.
“Even when I visited here, one of the most impressive things I was about the balance of the portfolio. I think that will make us well positioned…” she noted that the agency supports research through grants, philanthropy and clinical profits.
“Anyway, a prudent business is a prudent business, looking for ways to attract our discoveries and get them into commercialization … considering opportunities for collaboration that are different from the industry,” Rathmell said. “We are considering many different ways to continue to support because the mission is crucial. It absolutely has to continue.”
Medical and healthcare journalist Samantha Hendrickson can be contacted at shendrickson@dispatch.com