UK College of Medicine gets new dean, from Rutgers

Dr. Robert DiPaola

Dr. Robert DiPaola, director of the Rutgers Cancer Institute and vice chancellor for cancer programs at the New Jersey university’s medical school, has been named dean of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.

“We are thrilled to welcome someone of Dr. DiPaola’s caliber, who is nationally renowned for excellence in clinical, research and leadership settings, to the UK family,” UK Provost Tim Tracy said in a UK news release. “His accomplishments in translational research and his exemplary leadership experience make him the ideal person to build upon the College of Medicine’s legacy of academic excellence.”

DiPaola earned his bachelor’s of science and medical degree at the University of Utah. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Duke University Medical Center, and did a fellowship in Hematology-Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia.

At Rutgers, DiPaola was responsible for all research and for the clinical and administrative activities of a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, of which there are only 69 in the country. His research efforts have affected national standards of care, says the release.

“I am excited and energized by a great opportunity to work with such a distinguished team of leaders to further enhance and engage the academic strengths in research, education and clinical care, including opportunities for more personalized or precision medicine to best benefit community health and wellness,” DiPaola said in the release.