Elevating Our Mission: UT Health San Antonio alumnus chosen to be new executive director of Mays Cancer Center
Mays Cancer Center Annual Report
Patient care and research are at the forefront of Zheng’s goals
In September 2024, Lei Zheng, MD, PhD, alumnus of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio), was appointed executive director of Mays Cancer Center and vice president for oncology for the health science center.
Zheng was also named the Mays Family Foundation Distinguished University Presidential Chair of Oncology. Additionally, he was selected to be a professor with tenure in the Department of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine.
“As the newly appointed executive director of the Mays Cancer Center, Dr. Lei Zheng’s leadership and commitment to excellence in cancer care elevate our mission to decrease the burden of cancer in San Antonio, South Texas and beyond,” said Robert Hromas, MD, FACP, dean of the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine.
Research Driven
Patient care and research are at the forefront of Zheng’s goals. He plans to continue enhancing the multidisciplinary cancer care programs at Mays Cancer Center, investing in groundbreaking research to advance drug discovery and innovation, and strengthening our community outreach to expand across the South Texas region.
Leading Pancreatic Cancer Oncologist and Researcher
Previously, Zheng led the Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program at Johns Hopkins University, where he established a pancreatic cancer immunotherapy research program. He also instituted several preclinical models of pancreatic cancer for developing innovative immunotherapy strategies.
Zheng was a professor of oncology and surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He was also associate cancer center director of precision medicine, director of the Multidisciplinary Gastrointestinal Cancer Laboratories Program and assistant cancer center director of translational research at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center.
“An esteemed alumnus of our university, Dr. Zheng is one of the world’s leading pancreatic cancer medical oncologists and researchers,” said Francisco Cigarroa, MD, senior executive vice president for health affairs and health system at UT Health San Antonio. “Dr. Zheng’s leadership will bring a new chapter of innovation.”
