Ruth M. O'Regan

Dr. Ruth M. O'Regan, M.D. is the Chair of Medicine and Charles A. Dewey Professor at the University of Rochester. She additionally serves as Physician-in-Chief of Strong Memorial Hospital and as Associate Director of Education and Mentoring at the Wilmot Cancer Institute at University of Rochester. Previously, she was Division Chief of Hematology, Medical Oncology and Palliative Care in the Department of Medicine and as Deputy Director at the Carbone Cancer Center at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. She also served as Chief Scientific officer of the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium and as Vice-Chair of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Board of Directors.

Dr. O'Regan earned her Medical Degree from University College, Dublin, Ireland and completed her Internal Medicine residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin and her Hematology/Oncology fellowship at Northwestern University.

Dr. O'Regan's research program focuses on identifying mechanisms of resistance to breast-cancer therapies and on the development of new therapies with a specific focus on triple negative breast cancer. Her work spans clinical trials, translational research, and health disparities in breast cancer outcomes. She has published extensively on breast cancer subtypes, targeted therapies, immunotherapy approaches, and treatment resistance mechanisms, with particular emphasis on the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and novel therapeutic combinations.

Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on triple negative breast cancer, HER2-positive breast cancer, and hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. She has led significant clinical trials investigating novel combinations of targeted therapies and immunotherapies, particularly for difficult-to-treat subtypes. Her work also addresses important issues in cancer care delivery, including chemotherapy stewardship and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer research.

• Charles A. Dewey Professor

Dr. O'Regan has led numerous clinical trials and research initiatives, particularly in the area of breast cancer. Her leadership roles have included directing cancer programs at multiple institutions and guiding the scientific mission of the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium. She has been instrumental in developing educational programs and mentoring the next generation of oncologists.

As Chair of Medicine and Physician-in-Chief at Strong Memorial Hospital, Dr. O'Regan oversees a large academic department and clinical enterprise. Her educational leadership includes serving as Associate Director of Education and Mentoring at the Wilmot Cancer Institute, where she focuses on developing comprehensive training programs for medical students, residents, and fellows.