Parvesh Kumar, MD
Back Where He Belongs
In early 2010, KU Medical Center recruited Parvesh Kumar, MD, from the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine to become the Joe and Jean Brandmeyer Chair and Professor of Radiation Oncology, and to serve as interim deputy director of The University of Kansas Cancer Center; he was subsequently named associate director of Clinical Research. We asked Dr. Kumar, a KU School of Medicine alumnus, 10 questions about his return to Kansas, the future of radiation oncology and the region's drive for NCI designation.
Why did you decide to come back to KU?
There were three very influential women who played a big role in my decision. One was (KU Medical Center Executive Vice Chancellor) Barbara Atkinson. She had been persistent in trying to recruit me for several years, and she finally persuaded me. The second was Annette Bloch, whose dedication to quality cancer care and generosity were a sign to me that KU was committed to building a world-class radiation oncology department. And the third was my wife, who even though she was from Los Angeles, encouraged me to pursue this opportunity in Kansas.
Was being a KU School of Medicine alum a big part of that decision?
Oh, definitely so. It had always been in the back of my mind that I would want to return to KU one day if the university got to a place where it could make a commitment to a top-quality radiation oncology department.
What drew you to radiation oncology as a career?
When I was going to medical school here, the chair of radiation oncology was Carl Mansfield. When Dr. Mansfield talked to us about radiation oncology, he was so passionate about how you can take photons, protons and neutrons and use them to cure cancer. Since I had a strong physics and engineering background, this was so fascinating, and I knew right then that this was the career for me.
Treating cancer with radiation has been around for nearly 100 years. How has radiation oncology changed over that period of time?
Radiation oncology has changed as much as air travel has changed since the Wright Brothers' flight at Kitty Hawk. Early 2-D radiation has been replaced by 3-D conformal radiation, which is used to treat tumors that in the past might have been considered too close to vital organs for radiation therapy. And now we're using IMRT (intensity-modulated radiation therapy), which is a high-precision radiation that is considered the next generation of 3-D conformal radiation.
What new radiation technology is on the horizon?
I'm very excited about new drugs like radiosensitizers that make tumor cells more sensitive to radiation, and mitigators, which minimize toxicity after radiation has been delivered.
What are some of your goals for KU's radiation oncology department?
To put it simply, I want our department to be a leader in national research, and I want our clinical program to be among the country's best. We need to sponsor more clinical trials. One of my goals for my first year here was to recruit several high-caliber faculty members for our department. I'm happy to say we've already met that goal.
What are some the challenges of running clinical trials?
First is making sure you comply with all the regulatory issues surrounding clinical trials in this country. You also need to make sure you write the best trial for your patient population. And being the principle investigator of a clinical trial is very time-consuming. But despite all that, we are committed to running more radiation oncology clinical trials here.
You've spent your entire career in academic medicine settings. Why does that appeal to you?
I think it is a privilege to be in academic medicine. I followed this path because I am driven to find ways to improve cure rates for cancer patients. Our society is counting on us to find better methods of treating cancer and to find a cure someday.
Why is achieving NCI designation so critical for KU and for this region?
NCI designation is a seal of approval signifying that you are one of the best research institutions in the country. And cancer patients in Kansas will benefit because they will have better access to the latest therapies and the opportunity to take part in early trials of promising treatments.
What do you enjoy doing away from the office – in your spare time?
I have two boys who are ages 12 and 6, and I love hanging out with them. I'm also a lifelong Kansas City Chiefs fan, so I'm looking forward to going to some games this season. And, of course, it goes without saying that I'm a rabid KU basketball fan!