WVU Cancer Institute forms scientific leadership team to advance NCI designation goals

Hannah Hazard-Jenkins, M.D., executive chair and director of the West Virginia University Cancer Institute, recently appointed several members to the Institute’s scientific leadership team to continue to strengthen and align an ecosystem that encompasses clinical care, education and research.

Several key members from the WVU School of Medicine, Ashkan Emadi, M.D., Ph.D.; Reagan Curtis, Ph.D.; and Stephenie Kennedy-Rea, Ed.D., will join together with the Cancer Institute’s Lori Hazlehurst, Ph.D., to bring expertise and innovation in their respective fields and form the team.

“Filling these essential roles with such remarkable talents marks a significant step forward toward building the infrastructure necessary to run a clinical, research and educational enterprise worthy of National Cancer Institute Designation – the only in West Virginia,” said Dr. Hazard-Jenkins.

“Most importantly, it better aligns the expertise necessary to build an all-encompassing cancer program changing lives in West Virginia, the surrounding region and beyond,” she added.

Dr. Emadi will serve as the associate director for clinical research. Emadi joined WVU as the founding chair of the newly formed Department of Medical Oncology in early 2024. Prior to joining WVU, Emadi served as the associate director for clinical research at the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center.  Since joining, Emadi has served as the associate director for translational research, but to better align the leadership team, his leadership skills and prior experiences in his new role will be essential.

Dr. Curtis has been appointed associate director for cancer research training and education coordination. Curtis joined the Department of Cancer Prevention and Control in 2024 after decades of experience in education and program evaluation. Curtis has been an integral part of the West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute, directing the WVCTSI Tracking and Evaluation Core since 2012. In this new role, he will support robust cancer-related training and educational opportunities along the educational continuum from school aged children to faculty professional development.

Dr. Kennedy-Rea will continue serving as associate director for community outreach and engagement. As the founding chair of the Department of Cancer Prevention and Control and long-time director of the Cancer Institute’s Office of Cancer Prevention and Control, Kennedy-Rea has championed programs that address health disparities across the state. Under her leadership, the institute has expanded mobile cancer screening services through initiatives like Bonnie’s Bus, LUCAS and the soon-to-be-launched Bonnie’s Bus 2.

Dr. Hazlehurst will step into the role of associate director for translational research. She also serves as co-leader of the Institute’s Alexander B. Osborne Hematopoietic Malignancy and Transplantation Program. Hazlehurst has led groundbreaking research that has not only shaped her academic career, it was also the catalyst for the creation of a successful biotech startup.

For more information about the Cancer Institute, visit wvucancer.org.