Investiture Ceremony of
William Matsui, M.D. Robert E. Askew, Sr., M.D., Chair in Oncology
Wednesday, February 16, 2022 | 4 p.m.
Program Welcome and Opening Remarks George Macones, M.D., MSCE Interim Dean, Dell Medical School Chair, Department of Women’s Health Academic Lecture William Matsui, M.D. Deputy Director & Director of the Hematological Malignancies Program, Livestrong Cancer Institutes Professor, Department of Oncology Courtesy Professor, Department of Internal Medicine Presentation of Medallion and Closing Remarks George Macones, M.D., MSCE
William Matsui, M.D. Dr. Matsui came to Austin from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he was a professor of oncology and served as the director of the Multiple Myeloma Program and the co-director of the Division of Hematologic Malignancies. He received his undergraduate degree in biochemistry from Harvard College and his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco. He then completed his residency training in internal medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle and his clinical training in medical oncology at Johns Hopkins. At Dell Medical School, Dr. Matsui is an active educator, researcher and clinician, caring for patients at UT Health Austin. A specialist in blood cancers, he leads a research team working to understand why cancers relapse. His laboratory has discovered specialized tumor cells that are resistant to chemotherapy, and he has developed strategies to target these unique cells. His work has led to several clinical trials in leukemias, lymphomas and multiple myeloma. Dr. Matsui leads the Livestrong Cancer Institutes’ faculty mentoring program, and he is a recipient of the National Cancer Institute’s prestigious K24 award to support his mentoring of junior faculty and his patient-oriented research. He also leads the new Shine Awards for Research and Research Mentorship Excellence and co-leads the institutes’ fellowship work.
About the Robert E. Askew, Sr., M.D. Chair in Oncology The Shivers Cancer Foundation and its predecessor, the Capital Area Radiation and Research Foundation, have long been dedicated to improving cancer care throughout Central Texas. The foundation established the Robert E. Askew, Sr., M.D. Chair in Oncology at Dell Medical School in 2014. William Matsui, M.D., is the proud inaugural recipient. As a masterful general surgeon, the late Dr. Robert Askew Sr. was known for his character and heartfelt kindness toward his patients. “I learned from my father that it’s not about the science of medicine as much as it’s about the compassion of medicine,” said his eldest son, Dr. Robert Askew Jr., also a general surgeon. Askew, a 1950 UT alumnus in chemistry, went above and beyond not only for his patients but also for the newer doctors whom he mentored. “There aren’t many ways to make a bigger difference for cancer care in Austin than to support oncology training at Dell Medical School, and there aren’t many doctors who made a bigger difference for Austin patients than Bob Askew,” said Clarke Heidrick, chair of the Board of the Shivers Cancer Foundation. “He was the dean of Austin surgeons for a long time. He took a lot of time with younger physicians to help them be as good as they could be. He left a great legacy to this community. We hope this gift will extend that legacy.”
About the Shivers Cancer Foundation The foundation dates back to 1968 and is named in honor of Alan Shivers, former Texas governor and chairman of the UT System Board of Regents, who established the Capital Area Radiation and Research Foundation in 1970. For nearly 20 years, that foundation provided the initial nonprofit, open-staff, quality radiation therapy services to the Central Texas community. In the 1990s, the foundation sold its radiation centers to the Seton Healthcare Family (now Ascension Seton), dedicating the proceeds to establish the Shivers Cancer Foundation. Since then, the proceeds of that sale have been used to award more than $10 million in grants to various organizations to improve and advance comprehensive cancer treatment and other services to Central Texas cancer patients.
History of the Endowed Chair Endowed chairs are a powerful tradition with a lasting legacy. Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of King Henry VII, established the first named chair in England in 1502 at Cambridge and Oxford universities. Five centuries later, her endowed gift continues to support distinguished faculty members. Today, holding an endowed chair remains one of the highest honors in academia — and recognizes excellence in research, education and care. These prestigious positions are made possible by generous donors who have invested in ensuring visionary health transformation and leadership at Dell Medical School. Medallions are presented to endowed chairholders during a formal investiture ceremony. The medallion serves as a tribute to the generosity of the donors and to the outstanding accomplishments of the chairholder.
Our Mission
Our Vision
Revolutionize how people get and stay healthy by:
A vital, inclusive health ecosystem: •
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Improving health in our community as a model for the nation Evolving new models of personcentered, multidisciplinary care that reward value Accelerating innovation and research to improve health Educating leaders who transform health care Redesigning the academic health environment to better serve society
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Vital: Vigorous, animated, full of life and energy, dynamic Inclusive: Open to everyone Ecosystem: The complex of a community and its environment functioning as a system