Leadership Appointments

Children’s Mercy named Alejandro Quiroga, MD, MBA, its president and chief executive officer. Children’s Mercy is a consortium partner of The University of Kansas Cancer Center. A pediatric nephrologist, Dr. Quiroga brings deep clinical expertise alongside a strong track record in healthcare leadership. 

Dr. Quiroga comes to Kansas City from Corewell Health in Michigan, where he led Corewell Health West, a large health system that includes 10 hospitals, 120 outpatient locations, telehealth, a large continuing and home care enterprise, and a medical group with over 2,000 provider members. At Children’s Mercy, he will guide one of the nation’s leading pediatric health systems into its next phase of growth. Dr. Quiroga brings a passion for advancing care and expanding research, while keeping children and families at the center of everything the hospital does.

Sufi Thomas, PhD, professor of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, has taken on the role of associate director for Basic Science at The University of Kansas Cancer Center. She succeeds Shrikant Anant, PhD, professor of Cancer Biology, who has served in this role since 2010. Dr. Thomas will guide the strategic direction of basic science at the cancer center, with a focus on strengthening the Cancer Biology program. 

Dr. Thomas provides a wealth of experience in cancer biology, with a focus on metastasis and the tumor microenvironment in head and neck cancers. Her research investigates how non-malignant cells interact with tumors to promote cancer growth and resistance to therapy. Dr. Thomas’ lab has made significant contributions to understanding tumor-fibroblast communication, metabolic symbiosis and secretory autophagy, all of which are critical to developing better cancer therapies.

Bret Freudenthal, PhD, professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, will serve as a co-leader of the cancer center’s Cancer Biology research program. Dr. Freudenthal is internationally recognized for his work on how DNA damage contributes to disease, bringing deep expertise in structural biology, genome stability and biochemistry to the role. As co-leader, Dr. Freudenthal will help guide the program’s strategic direction and foster interdisciplinary research that bridges lab discoveries with clinical impact. 

Dr. Freudenthal’s research has illuminated how cells respond to genetic damage, providing key insights into the biological foundations of cancer. His collaborative approach and commitment to advancing basic science make him a strong fit for co-leading the program as researchers work to uncover the molecular mechanisms that drive cancer development and progression.

Stefan Bossmann, PhD, chair of Cancer Biology, will co-lead the Discovery, Delivery & Experimental Therapeutics research program. Dr. Bossmann is widely recognized for his innovative work in nanomaterials and targeted cancer therapies. 

With a background that bridges chemistry, engineering and medicine, Dr. Bossmann’s research focuses on developing smart drug delivery systems and diagnostic tools that can detect and treat cancer more precisely. His interdisciplinary approach aligns with the research program’s mission to accelerate the development of new treatments from the lab to the clinic. As co-leader, Dr. Bossmann will help shape the program’s research strategy and foster collaboration across scientific disciplines.

Kalyani Pyaram, PhD, assistant professor of Cancer Biology, has stepped into the role of research project leader for the Kansas Institute for Precision Medicine. Dr. Pyaram’s research centers on understanding how immune cells function and how their behavior can be fine-tuned to improve cancer treatment. In her new role, Dr. Pyaram will help guide the institute’s research efforts to tailor immunotherapies to individual patients based on their unique biology. 

Her research focuses on the molecular and metabolic signals that guide the development and function of T cells, which are key players in the immune system’s ability to fight cancer. Dr. Pyaram aims to identify new targets and design novel strategies to tailor immunotherapies by precisely targeting and enhancing T cells for improved cancer treatment.

The University of Kansas Cancer Center has launched a new initiative to strengthen connections between its research programs and key institutional efforts focused on community engagement, education and workforce initiatives. As part of this effort, the cancer center has named three faculty members to serve as research program liaisons, each representing one of the center’s major research programs. These are new leadership roles designed to foster collaboration and communication across the cancer center. 

Ryan Barnes, PhD, assistant professor of Cancer Biology, will serve as liaison for the Cancer Biology program, Lauren Nye, MD, associate professor of Internal Medicine, for Cancer Prevention and Control and Divya Kamath, PhD, director of the Lead Development and Optimization Shared Resource and research assistant professor of Cancer Biology, for Drug Discovery, Delivery & Experimental Therapeutics. Each will work closely with the cancer center’s Community Outreach & Engagement, Cancer Training, Education & Career Development and Cancer Workforce Initiatives teams. 

These liaisons will help ensure that research priorities are informed by the needs of the cancer center’s catchment area, which includes the state of Kansas and 18 counties in western Missouri. They will also support emerging leaders and connect researchers and students with valuable resources and career development opportunities.