Erik Sulman, MD, PhD, has been appointed chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Duke University School of Medicine effective August 1, 2025.
Sulman joins Duke from NYU Langone Health, where he has made significant contributions to the field of radiation oncology. He has held several key leadership positions, including vice chair for research with NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s Department of Radiation Oncology and co-director of the Brain and Spine Tumor Center at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center. He has also served as the assistant dean of physician scientist education and director of the MD/PhD Program at NYU. Sulman earned his medical and graduate degrees from Temple University School of Medicine, completed his clinical internship at Albert Einstein Medical Center, and finished his residency at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
“Erik’s extensive experience and dedication to advancing cancer treatment make him an exceptional addition to our team,” said Mary E. Klotman, MD, executive vice president for health affairs for Duke University and dean of the School of Medicine, and Craig Albanese, chief executive officer of Duke University Health System, in an announcement.
Sulman is a distinguished clinician and researcher with a robust background in the treatment of brain tumors and the development of novel therapeutic strategies. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of radiation resistance in glioblastoma and the development of targeted therapies to overcome these challenges. Additionally, he is involved in identifying molecular predictors of treatment response and improving the effectiveness of radiation therapy.
Klotman and Albanese also thanked Christopher Willett, MD, for his dedicated service as chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology for over two decades. Willett will continue to serve as the Mark W. Dewhirst Distinguished Professor of Radiation Oncology.