About Us
The Division of Oncology’s mission mirrors that of the University of Utah Department of Internal Medicine (DOIM) and of the Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI).
The DOIM advances health through excellence in each of our core domains: education, patient care and discovery, through inspiring an engaged, wide-ranged membership, encouraging innovative thinking, and building collaborative partnerships.
The HCI’s mission is to understand cancer from its beginnings, to use that knowledge in the creation and improvement of cancer treatments, to relieve the suffering of cancer patients, and to provide education about cancer risk, prevention, and care.
The Division encompasses the DOIM’s and HCI’s missions through building an exceptional oncology program. We combine our experienced and caring physicians with a commitment to teaching and passion for research. Our faculty cover all areas of medical oncology, including:
- Breast cancer
- Gastrointestinal cancer
- Genitourinary cancers
- Geriatric oncology
- Gynecologic malignancies
- Head and Neck cancers
- High-Risk Genetics
- Melanoma and other skin cancers
- Sarcomas
- Thoracic cancers
The Division’s clinical activities are supported by 30 physicians, 27 advanced practice clinicians, 3 adjunct faculty, and 8 adjunct genetic counselors, who provide outpatient and inpatient patient care at 4 locations in the Salt Lake Valley including HCI and the University of Utah Health’s community clinics in South Jordan, Sugarhouse and Farmington. Clinical activities include specialty programs such as the Huntsman Acute Care clinic, Supportive Oncology & Survivorship (SOS), Family Cancer Assessment Clinic (FCAC ), and Geriatric clinic, among others. Outside of the valley, the Division provides outreach services at the affiliate hospitals of Madison Memorial in Rexburg, Idaho, St. John’s Health in Jackson, Wyoming and St. Peter’s Health in Helena, Montana.
Educational activities in the Division of Oncology include a combined Oncology/Hematology Fellowship program consisting of 12 fellows. We are currently expanding our fellowship program by 2 new fellows each year over the next 3 years. By the end of year 3, our fellowship program will consist of 18 fellows. The Division is highly committed to the education of fellows, DOIM house staff, PhD postdoctoral fellows, and students as demonstrated by this expansion. Attracting and training clinicians and researchers are integral to our education mission.
Research activities in the Division focus on clinical trials and translational research programs. Many of our faculty are lead researchers in their field, and all faculty are active in clinical trials. In FY22, the Division of Oncology accounted for 45% of all Industry Trials, 48% of all Investigator Initiated Trials (IITs), and 46% of NCI and Cooperative Group Trials at HCI. Further, in the last few years the Division has made an investment in our Translational Research Program by hiring five MD/PhD researchers. Overall research activities in the Division are supported by $17M in FY23 of annual extramural research funding through federal, association/foundation and industry awards.
These are just a few examples of how we are working hard to meet the ultimate goal of providing thoughtful patient care for those with oncologic cancers.