Dear Dartmouth Cancer Center friends, patients, and community,
It is both an honor and a privilege to write to you in my new role as Interim Director of Dartmouth Cancer Center. I step into this position with great respect for the legacy and leadership of Dr. Steve Leach, whose transition to Interim Dean of the Geisel School of Medicine leaves me with very big shoes to fill. I am deeply grateful for his guidance, and I will work hard to build on the strong work he carried out over the past 8 years.
By way of introduction, I was born and raised in Bulgaria and came to this country as a postdoctoral fellow at the National Cancer Institute. Following training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, I arrived at Dartmouth nearly three decades ago. For the past 27 years, I have had the privilege of serving here as both a practicing medical oncologist and a translational scientist. My clinical and research focus is on lung cancer treatment and prevention—a field that continues to challenge us, but also one where we are seeing new opportunities for hope through innovation, collaboration, and compassion.
Before he stepped up as interim director, Konstantin H. Dragnev, MD, served as associate director for clinical research at Dartmouth Cancer Center. In this video, he joins Dartmouth Health CEO and president, Joanne M. Conroy, MD, for a conversation about how progress in medicine is made through clinical trials.
One of my greatest joys each year is taking part in The Prouty, where I join the 5K wooded walk. There, I often run into former and current patients—sometimes alongside their children and grandchildren. For me, these encounters are both humbling and inspiring. To see patients living their lives fully, and then turning around to give back to the Cancer Center community, reinforces why we do what we do together.
As I begin this interim role, my goal is to support the steadfast commitment of our extraordinary clinicians, researchers, staff, and community members who make Dartmouth Cancer Center such a special place. Together, we will continue to push forward in advancing cancer prevention, treatment, and survivorship, bringing hope, discovery, and healing to you—the people we serve across northern New England and beyond.
With gratitude,
Konstantin H. Dragnev, MD
Interim Director, Dartmouth Cancer Center
Professor of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology
Irene Heinz Given Professor in Pharmacology