Dear Colleagues,
We are writing to share the news that Steven Leach, MD, Director of the Dartmouth Cancer Center (DCC) and Preston T. and Virginia R. Kelsey Distinguished Chair in Cancer at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth has announced his intention to step down as DCC Director in early 2026.
Recruited from Memorial Sloan Kettering in 2017, Dr. Leach began his tenure at the Dartmouth Cancer Center during a time of high-level leadership transitions for both the academic medical center and the medical school. The timing was instrumental as Dr. Leach crafted a shared vision for DCC that has resulted in an even closer partnership between the institutions.
Dr. Leach has led the Dartmouth Cancer Center through significant achievements, including the expansion of clinical services, the enhancement of research programs, and the strengthening of our community outreach efforts. He has led the DCC through two successful National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center (NCI) renewals, increased total grant funding by more than 50%, and overseen a 7-fold increase in clinical trial accruals.
Under his leadership, DCC also established the Dartmouth Cancer Faculty Fellows Program, created a new PhD degree in Cancer Biology and recruited more than 30 new faculty while measurably increasing diversity among DCC leadership, faculty, staff, and students. Actively involved in philanthropy, Dr. Leach has been instrumental in raising more than $100M in support of DCC and its programs, including Mrs. Dorothy Byrne’s signature gift to establish the Byrne Family Cancer Research Institute.
Dr. Leach has proven to be an inclusive and visionary leader who brings stakeholders together to work toward the shared goal of providing world-class cancer care and undertaking cutting-edge research for the people of our region and beyond. Launching the Dartmouth Innovation Accelerator for Cancer to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship across the five schools of Dartmouth and integrating our multidisciplinary, award-winning oncology service line across the Dartmouth Health system are two important examples of this work.
As Dr. Leach steps down from the DCC Director role, he will resume his research in cancer genetics in the Department Molecular and Systems Biology at Geisel.
Steve’s commitment to excellence has earned the Dartmouth Cancer Center national recognition and has positively impacted countless patients and families across our region.
The impact of his work and leadership will undoubtedly be felt for decades to come. While his transition announcement is bittersweet, we could not be more grateful for his immense contributions and friendship over the past eight years, and we are pleased he will remain a valued part of the Dartmouth Health and Dartmouth community. He has our thanks and well wishes as he prepares to embark on this new chapter.
A national search will be conducted to name his successor. The search will be supported by Spencer Stuart and more details will be shared in the coming months.
Duane Compton, PhD, Dean, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
Joanne M. Conroy, MD, CEO and President, Dartmouth Health