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Steven R. Grossman, M.D., Ph.D., has been appointed the deputy director of Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center. This new position of deputy director was added to support the continuation of Massey’s upward trajectory and considerable growth over the last few years.

“Since Dr. Grossman joined Massey in July 2011, he has shown that he is an excellent fit for this position, and his extensive skills, experience and expertise have provided added value,” said Gordon D. Ginder, M.D., director of VCU Massey Cancer Center.

As the chair of one of the most important and largest academic units contributing to the cancer center and one of the largest divisions in the Department of Internal Medicine at VCU School of Medicine – the Division of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care, Grossman has played a key role in implementing the strategic vision and future of educational programs, research and clinical service lines related to oncology.

He has significantly contributed to the growth of Massey’s cadre of experts by helping to recruit several senior-level scientists and physician-researchers as well as junior investigators, clinical educators and clinicians. Additionally, his support of a collaborative research environment has been important in moving promising ideas from the laboratory bench to the patient bedside, helping Massey to open several exciting early phase clinical trials.

“In his short time at Massey, Grossman has made extraordinary contributions that are helping to propel the cancer center’s mission forward,” Ginder stated further.

As deputy director, Grossman will lead the planning and development of disease-specific scientific research groups; oversee clinical oncology interactions; and develop strategic initiatives in new multidisciplinary research areas. All of these activities are of great importance to the cancer center and will help position Massey for success during the next National Cancer Institute competitive review in 2016, where the center hopes to achieve Comprehensive status, the highest level of NCI designation.

At VCU, Grossman serves in many other important capacities: as the Dianne Nunnally Hoppes Endowed Chair in Cancer Research and member of the  and Developmental Therapeutics research programs at Massey; medical director of the Oncology Service Line at the VCU Medical Center; and professor of internal medicine, director of the American Board of Internal Medicine research track and active participant on the M.D.https://massey.vcu.edu/Ph.D. Steering Committee at the VCU School of Medicine.

A researcher and physician, Grossman is a nationally recognized expert in tumor biology and gastrointestinal cancers. He currently holds a National Institutes of Health grant that supports his research examining the role of tumor suppressor proteins in cancer with the goal of developing a new way of treating pancreatic cancer. He was also awarded three grants that are given to support the work of researchers advancing the understanding of basic cancer biology and the development of new methods for its prevention and treatment: the Kimmel Scholar Award from the Sidney Kimmel Foundation for Cancer Research, the Howard Temin Pathway to Independence Award in Cancer Research from the National Cancer Institute and a Research Scholar Award from the American Cancer Society.

Prior to joining Massey, Grossman was an associate professor in the Departments of Cancer Biology and Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester. He was also medical director of the Simonds-Sinon Regional Cancer Center and co-director of the Center for Gastrointestinal Oncology at the University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center.