Sent on behalf of Sarah McLaughlin, M.D., Deputy Director, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center Disease Groups and Adam Van Hyfte, Administrative Director, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center Disease Groups
We are pleased to announce the appointment of new Disease Group Chairs within Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center (MCCCC). Disease Group Chairs play a vital role in shaping the vision and providing strategic direction for their respective groups, ensuring alignment with MCCCC’s overarching strategic priorities in collaboration with center leadership. Dr. Sikander Ailawadhi will lead the Myeloma group; Dr. Wendy Allen-Rhoades will chair the Pediatrics/AYA group; and Dr. Yousef Zakharia will head the Genitourinary group.
Sikander Ailawadhi, M.D., is a professor with the Division of Hematology-Oncology at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. His career focus has been on treatment of plasma cell disorders with core research efforts in understanding the epidemiology and pathophysiology of these disorders, evaluating the benefit of various therapeutic strategies in different populations based on racial-ethnic and socioeconomic diversity, as well as developing novel therapeutics by means of conducting several phase 1 through phase 3 clinical trials for novel drugs including cellular therapies. He serves as the vice chair for NCI’s Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program’s (CTEP)’s Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) Myeloma Committee and is a member of NCI’s Myeloma Steering Committee. Dr. Ailawadhi also leads Cancer for Mayo Clinic International (MCI) and is the Medical Director of International Advisory Services (IAS) for MCI with a focus on expanding and implementing the Mayo model of care and vision across the world.
Wendy Allen-Rhoades, M.D., Ph.D., is an associate professor of pediatrics and medical co-director of the Enterprise Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Program at MCCCC, with a distinguished career dedicated to advancing the care and outcomes of children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer. As the institutional principal investigator for the Children’s Oncology Group and national Study chair for the NCI-sponsored ARST2031 high-risk rhabdomyosarcoma trial, Dr. Allen-Rhoades brings extensive leadership in multi-site clinical research, translational science, and collaborative trial development. Her experience developing and directing successful multidisciplinary programs in pediatric oncology, oncofertility, and sarcoma care reflects her commitment to integrating clinical innovation, education, and research—core to the mission of MCCCC. With a track record of mentorship, policy advocacy, and programmatic growth across academic and community settings, she is well-positioned to lead the Pediatric and AYA Disease Group in promoting enterprise-wide excellence, collaboration, and discovery.
Yousef Zakharia, M.D., is a professor in the Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Blood and Marrow Transplantation at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, and serves as a senior associate consultant and professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. He completed medical training at Damascus University, followed by residencies in diagnostic radiology and internal medicine, and fellowships in hematology/oncology at Michigan State University and Georgia Regents University. Board-certified in internal medicine and medical oncology, Dr. Zakharia has held key academic and leadership roles, including assistant and associate professor at the University of Iowa, co-leader of the Genitourinary Malignancy Program, and director of Phase 1 clinical trials. He is an active member of major professional societies such as American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, and American College of Physicians. Furthermore, he has mentored numerous fellows and residents who have advanced to prominent positions. Dr. Zakharia has led and contributed to a wide array of clinical trials and research initiatives focused on genitourinary malignancies, immunotherapy, and translational cancer research, with an extensive bibliography of peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national and international conferences.
Please join us in congratulating the new Disease Group leadership who will be integral in advancing our MCCCC mission.
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