The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center has name Dr. Stefan C. Grant, a medical oncologist, to serve as the associate center director and medical director of the Karmanos Cancer Network, vice chair of clinical operations, co-leader of the Thoracic Oncology Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), and a member of the Phase I Clinical Trials MDT.
He brings decades of experience in the operations of comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), where he also held leadership roles and played an integral part in ensuring renewal of this distinction. Grant began his role at Karmanos in September.
“It is due to Karmanos’ commitment to advancing cancer research, expanding access and opportunity to clinical trials throughout the Network, and delivering the highest-quality, patient-centered care, that I have decided to dedicate the next chapter of my career at this institution,” says Grant. “I am looking to continue my research in Detroit, expanding clinical trial access and helping my new patients find successful treatment options, whether that’s standard of care or a new approach to treating their disease.”
The associate center director of the Karmanos Cancer Network is a new position at the Institute, where Dr. Grant also serves as the medical director of the Network. He works closely with the associate center director for clinical science, Dr. Anthony Shields, and McLaren Health Care to oversee oncology operations and the oncology service line at Karmanos’ 13 additional locations in Michigan outside of metro Detroit.
He is responsible for working with oncology teams to increase access to clinical trials for patients in those areas, bringing treatment options closer to where they live, work and play daily. Also, as the associate center director, Grant will serve on multiple committees at Karmanos, assist with recruiting key faculty, and work collaboratively with the associate center directors for basic sciences, population sciences, translational research, community outreach and engagement, education, and research administration to ensure strategic goals and research priorities are met.
As the new medical director of the Karmanos Cancer Network, Grant further provides leadership and oversight of medical oncology services throughout McLaren, supports clinical program development, quality, compliance, and medical informatics initiatives. He serves alongside Brian Gamble, president of the Cancer Network, Doris Ranski-Zazula, vice president of the Cancer Network, and multiple clinical leaders throughout McLaren to ensure consistent, high-quality oncology care.
“Creating the position of associate center director and medical director will help ensure that our Network locations have these additional high-quality, compliant and high-impact clinical trials available to their patients, without the need to travel to Detroit in order to participate,” says Dr. Boris Pasche, president and CEO of Karmanos. “Dr. Grant is well known and respected for his advancements and work in oncology, including his leadership at other comprehensive cancer centers designated by NCI. He understands the standard that we have upheld and will be integral in overseeing that we continue to supersede what high-quality, research-driven cancer care means.”
Dr. Grant co-leads Karmanos’ Thoracic Oncology MDT with Dr. David Sternberg, cardiothoracic surgeon. As a thoracic medical oncologist, Grant specializes in treating lung cancer, including non-small cell and small cell lung cancer, pleural mesotheliomas, pulmonary carcinoids (lung carcinoids), and related thoracic malignancies. His research interests focus on immunologic approaches to treating lung cancer, targeted therapies and pragmatic clinical trials.
Grant comes to Karmanos after serving as co-director of the Louisiana Cancer Research Center (LCRC) in New Orleans. He also served as director of Tulane Cancer Center and division chief of Hematology Oncology for the Tulane University School of Medicine, where he was a tenured professor and held the Edward G. Schlieder Chair in Medical Oncology.
Before that, Grant was a professor at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, where he served as the associate director for Clinical and Translational Research and Intellectual Property Development and associate director for Clinical Research Operations and Intellectual Property Strategy at Wake Forest’s NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Additional past appointments were held at the University of Alabama (UAB) at Birmingham Hospital, UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center and the NCI-designated Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York.
