In a significant development for the field of urologic oncology, UCLA Health has appointed Dr. Scott Eggener as the new chair of the Department of Urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Alongside this prestigious academic leadership role, he will serve as the executive medical director for urology across the UCLA Health system. This appointment follows a rigorous national search, signaling UCLA’s commitment to advancing excellence in clinical care, research, and education in urology. Dr. Eggener’s arrival marks a new chapter for UCLA Health’s urology department, recognized for its pioneering work and high standards in cancer treatment and research.
Dr. Scott Eggener brings extensive expertise from his previous tenure at the University of Chicago, where he held the esteemed position of Bruce and Beth White Family Professor of Surgery and vice chair of urology. At Chicago, Dr. Eggener was the founding director of the High-Risk and Advanced Prostate Cancer Clinic, a specialized center dedicated to managing complex prostate cancer cases requiring advanced diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. His deep clinical focus encompasses not only prostate cancer but also testicular and kidney malignancies, all areas demanding cutting-edge therapeutic innovation due to their heterogeneity and clinical challenges.
As a clinician-scientist, Dr. Eggener’s research portfolio is robust and multidisciplinary, revolving largely around the optimization of prostate and testicular cancer management. A critical dimension of his research involves addressing the pervasive challenges of overdiagnosis and overtreatment in prostate cancer. These issues have profound implications for patient quality of life and healthcare resource allocation. By emphasizing risk stratification and precision medicine through clinical trials, Dr. Eggener aims to refine treatment pathways, ensuring interventions are truly beneficial and necessary, thereby minimizing unnecessary morbidity.
Notably productive in his scholarly activities, Dr. Eggener has contributed over 350 research articles to the scientific community, published in top-tier medical journals including JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), JNCI (Journal of the National Cancer Institute), and NEJM (The New England Journal of Medicine). His publications often explore the molecular underpinnings of tumor progression, predictive biomarkers, and innovative therapeutic approaches—efforts that improve prognostication and treatment efficacy. This prolific output has earned him recognition beyond academia, with features in prominent media outlets such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, highlighting the societal impact of his work.
Dr. Eggener’s critical role extends beyond research and clinical duties to important editorial and leadership positions in the broader oncology community. He is currently an associate editor for the Journal of Urology, contributing to scientific discourse and the peer-review process that ensures rigorous standards in urologic research. His editorial influence and expertise have been sought in various other leading journals, indicating his stature in the field. Additionally, his advisory input on guideline panels for the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Urological Association, and National Comprehensive Cancer Network underscores his pivotal role in shaping national standards of care for urologic cancers.
Throughout his career, Dr. Eggener has earned numerous professional accolades, including the Society of Urologic Oncology Young Investigator Award and the American Urological Association Mid-Career Award. These honors reflect his innovative contributions and leadership in advancing urologic cancer research and clinical practice. His commitment to academic leadership and mentorship is also evident in his extensive experience as a visiting professor at more than 20 institutions worldwide, spreading knowledge and fostering collaborations that drive progress in the field.
An active advocate for global health, Dr. Eggener contributes his expertise as a long-standing executive board member of International Volunteers in Urology, an organization that addresses urologic conditions with limited local resources around the world. This role demonstrates his dedication not only to advancing urologic oncology in leading academic centers but also to improving care in underserved regions. He also serves on the board of directors for the Society of Urologic Oncology, influencing the strategic direction of this key professional society.
Dr. Eggener’s foundational training amalgamates some of the most prestigious programs in medical education and clinical specialization. He obtained his medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine, where he cultivated a rigorous scientific approach combined with clinical excellence. His residency training at Northwestern Medicine provided a comprehensive urologic surgical background, while his fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center equipped him with specialized expertise in urologic oncology, particularly in managing complex cancer cases with a multidisciplinary approach.
The strategic vision Dr. Eggener brings to UCLA Health is multifaceted, focusing on integrating translational research with cutting-edge clinical care. His approach involves leveraging genomic insights and biomarker development to enable personalized medicine in prostate and renal cancers. This is increasingly relevant as the field moves towards targeted therapies and immunotherapies that require precise patient selection based on tumor biology and individual risk profiles.
Furthermore, Dr. Eggener’s leadership at UCLA is expected to catalyze enhanced collaborative research efforts across departments and institutes. Given UCLA’s robust infrastructure in cancer biology, data science, and clinical trial networks, his chairmanship will likely accelerate the development and implementation of innovative therapeutic trials. This synergy aligns with broader trends in oncology aiming to reduce treatment-related morbidity while improving survival outcomes through rational therapy design.
Dr. Eggener’s emphasis on clinical trials is particularly noteworthy in the context of prostate cancer, where screening and management controversies persist. His focus on investigating the natural history of high-risk prostate cancers, optimizing surveillance strategies, and exploring novel treatment modalities reflects a nuanced understanding of the disease’s complexity. These efforts hold promise for changing paradigms in clinical practice, potentially leading to guidelines that limit overtreatment and enhance patient-centered care.
In sum, Dr. Scott Eggener’s appointment as chair of urology at UCLA represents a landmark moment for the institution and the wider field of urologic oncology. His expertise, scholarly achievements, and leadership roles position him uniquely to drive forward innovations that will influence patient care pathways and research trajectories. As prostate, testicular, and kidney cancers continue to pose significant clinical challenges, UCLA’s urology department under Dr. Eggener’s guidance is poised to serve as a beacon of excellence in translating scientific advances into tangible health outcomes.
Subject of Research: Urologic Oncology, with a focus on prostate, testicular, and kidney cancers and clinical trials addressing overdiagnosis and overtreatment.
Article Title: UCLA Health Names Dr. Scott Eggener Chair of Urology, Pioneering Advances in Urologic Oncology
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Keywords: Prostate cancer, Cancer, Urology, Kidney cancer
