A Message from our chief
Welcome to the 2024-2025 Review for the Division of Hematology and Oncology. With over 100 faculty, Hematology and Oncology is the second largest division within the Department of Internal Medicine. In numerous state-of-the-art specialty clinics at the U-M Rogel Cancer Center and several other locations, we provide specialized care for patients with solid tumors, hematologic malignancies and non-malignant blood disorders. Our approach is holistic, including support for patients and their families alike. Our scientific programs span the entire spectrum from basic to translational to clinical and population-based research and we prepare the next generation of hematologist and oncologists for a career in clinical medicine or research. Over the past year, I assumed the role of division chief, succeeding Dr. Lynn Henry, whose leadership helped establish outstanding patient care, education, and research. I look forward to building on this strong foundation in the years ahead. We are excited to share the remarkable accomplishments and ongoing growth of our division over the past two years. Michael Deininger, MD, PhD - Division Chief
FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS
Qing Li, MD, PhD, was named the Betty Nixon-Spurway and Don L. Nixon Leukemia Research Professor. Jordan Schaefer, MD, received the Jennifer Luft Emerging VTE Clinician Research Award from the National Blood Clot Alliance. This award commends his dedication to improving quality of care for thrombotic disorders & a commitment to patient-centered venous thromboembolism research. Garth Strohbehn, MD, was awarded the Gilbert S. Omenn, MD, PhD Early Career Endowment Award from the University of Michigan Health System. This award is assigned to junior faculty at the assistant professor level who are within five years of their training. Franic Worden, MD, was named the Nancy Wigginton Oncology Research Professor in Thyroid Cancer.
Patient Care
In 2024 and 2025, our division cared for over 11,000 new patients with 42% of new patient visits seen within two weeks.
Bone Marrow Transplant and Malignant Hematology
Through a joint venture with Chelsea Hospital and Trinity Health, U-M Health consolidated its adult acute rehabilitation services into a single, dedicated facility within Chelsea Hospital. As part of this initiative, the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit expanded from 24 to 40 beds, significantly increasing access to specialized rehabilitative care for patients recovering from cancer, spinal cord injury, stroke, amputation, brain injury, and other medically complex conditions. In conjunction with this expansion, the spinal cord injury and cancer rehabilitation programs transitioned from U-M Health to Chelsea Hospital, unifying all inpatient services, clinical resources, and contributions from U-M Health’s leading academic and research programs under one roof. U-M Health providers also support bone marrow transplant and malignant hematology interprofessional consultations as part of the expanded services.
Weiser Family Center for Breast Cancer
Michigan Medicine announced the $25 million gift from the Weiser Charitable Foundation to establish the new Weiser Family Center for Breast Cancer at the Rogel Cancer Center. The new center is co-led by Monika Burness, MD, and supports patients at all stages of their breast cancer journey. Specifically, it supports staff, new technology, operations, research, and education, along with assisting patients seeking plastic surgery or breast reconstruction.
Inpatient/Outpatient Initiative
Under our newly established Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, John Magenau, MD, and Mary Riwes, DO, have partnered to pilot the out-migration of select cell therapies in hematologic malignancies. This initiative known as inpatient/outpatient or IPOP is anticipated to enhance patient experience, reduce emergency room utilization and ultimately improve access for these rapidly growing cancer treatments.
Maintaining Top-Tier Cancer Care Status
The Rogel Cancer Center continues to be recognized as Michigan’s #1 cancer program by the U.S. News & World Report and among the nation’s leaders in comprehensive cancer care, offering advanced specialty clinics and multidisciplinary teams that draw from hematology/oncology expertise.
research
Pre-Neoplasia Grant for Lung Cancer Research
The Lung Cancer Research Foundation® (LCRF) awarded $3.55 million in funding through its Scientific Grant Program Awards, the largest in its history. LCRF grants are awarded for projects that demonstrate promise to make a lasting impact on lung cancer research and outcomes. Peggy Hsu, MD, PhD, was awarded the research grant on Early Detection and Pre-Neoplasia in Lung Cancer for her project on "Understanding the Origin of Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase-Driven Lung Cancer". The award is given to faculty who are facilitating advances of pre-neoplasia or approaches for early detection in non-small cell and small cell lung cancer.
Organoid Model Predicts Bladder Cancer Treatment Response
Using tumor samples from bladder cancer patients, Michigan Medicine researchers, led by Sofia Merajver, MD, PhD, created short-term patient-derived organoid (PDO) models, which they screened against a panel of clinically relevant drugs in ex vivo three-dimensional culture. The team used multiomic profiling to validate PDO models, establish molecular characteristics of each tumor, and determine drug response. This model can be used to help guide treatment decisions for patients with bladder cancer by predicting an individual tumor's likely response to specific drugs.
American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting
Our division had a strong presence at the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2025 Annual Meeting (May 30 - June 3, Chicago), showcasing faculty like Yasmin Karimi, MD; Christine Veenstra, MD; Kristen Pettit, MD; and Bryan Schneider, MD, with presentations, posters, and involvement in panel discussions, highlighting their research in driving knowledge to action in cancer care. Their participation underscores U-M's significant contributions to oncology research and practice.
Education
Advancing Education in Genitourinary Cancer
Ulka Vaishampayan, MD, presented on genitourinary cancer, or cancer affecting the urinary or male reproductive system, at the 2024 Summit on Cancer Health Disparities, one of the largest gatherings of cancer care professionals interested in cancer health disparities with a focus on achieving health equity. Joshi Alumkal, MD; Zachery Reichert, MD; and Sarah Yentz, MD, developed the inaugural Advanced Genitourinary Malignancies Symposium to cover timely topics across the spectrum of genitourinary malignancies such as diagnostic modalities, evolving therapies, and research findings.
Fellowship Elections
Reese Aitken, MD, PhD, and Prathana Dalal, MD, PhD, were selected for Michigan Pioneer Fellowships - a collaborative initiative among several University of Michigan units, offering competitive financial mentoring support to outstanding postdoctoral fellows aiming to advance research in biomedical sciences. Dylan Fortman, MD, was selected for the Michigan Society of Hematology and Oncology Board of Directors fellowship position.
Continuing Medical Education
We hosted the inaugural Advances in the Treatment of Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer webinar. The webinar featured a panel discussion with faculty from hematology and oncology, radiation oncology, pulmonary and critical care medicine, and thoracic surgery, and provided an update on the evolving landscape of NSCLC treatment.
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