University of Rochester Medical Center Names Randall J. Kimple, MD, PhD, to Lead Department of Radiation Oncology
Randall J. Kimple, MD, PhD, MBA, FASTRO, will join the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) as Philip Rubin Professor and Chair of the University of Rochester’s Department of Radiation Oncology. Kimple will also serve on Wilmot Cancer Institute’s executive committee, acting as a liaison between the cancer center and other institutes across the medical center and university, and will be a member of Wilmot’s Cancer Microenvironment Research Program. Yuhchyau Chen, MD, PhD, will step down as chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology this spring after more than 16 years of leadership and will remain on the faculty following Kimple’s arrival this spring.
Kimple has served as a radiation oncologist at the University of Wisconsin Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center (UWCCC) since 2010 and has been a professor in the Department of Human Oncology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health for the past two years. He has held multiple senior leadership roles in cancer research, education, and departmental administration, including serving as co-leader of the Imaging and Radiation Sciences Program at UWCCC and leading key efforts in faculty development and graduate education. Within the Department of Human Oncology, he has provided strategic leadership as Associate Chair for Business and Faculty Development and with an additional affiliate appointment in Medical Physics.
Originally from western Michigan, Kimple completed his undergraduate studies at Michigan State University in East Lansing, earning a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and management. He earned both his Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology from the University of North Carolina (UNC), followed by a residency in radiation oncology at UNC Hospitals and a postdoctoral research fellowship focused on cancer biology. He joined the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in 2010 as faculty and as the Kaye Postdoctoral Fellow in Head and Neck Cancer Research.
"Dr. Kimple is an outstanding physician-scientist whose leadership, clinical expertise, and commitment to translating research to patient care make him an exceptional choice to lead Radiation Oncology at Wilmot,” said David Linehan, MD, CEO of the University of Rochester Medical Center and dean of the School of Medicine and Dentistry. “Dr. Kimple’s vision aligns perfectly with our institutional priorities to advance discovery, strengthen multidisciplinary care, and provide patients access to the most innovative treatments available through clinical trials.”
“I am thrilled that Dr. Kimple will be joining our team at Wilmot,” said Jonathan W. Friedberg, MD, MMSc, director of Wilmot Cancer Institute. “As a nationally funded cancer researcher, he brings a clear and innovative vision for the future of radiation oncology, an essential component of comprehensive cancer care. His leadership will be instrumental as we build on Wilmot’s NCI designation, advancing discovery, strengthening clinical excellence, and deepening collaboration across the medical center.”
Kimple’s clinical and research focus is on patients with head and neck cancers, particularly those with locally advanced or recurrent disease, which remain challenging to treat and require a multidisciplinary, team-based approach. His research centers on developing translational therapies to improve cancer outcomes, including a novel cell therapy for radiation-induced salivary gland damage and the development of next-generation radiopharmaceuticals that use engineered antibodies to deliver targeted radiation for both imaging and treatment. Together, these efforts reflect his broader vision of integrating biology, imaging, and radiation science to accelerate clinical trials and expand NIH- and NCI-funded research.
“Several factors came together to convince me that Wilmot was the right place for the next stage of my career,” said Kimple. “This is a department with tremendous clinical strengths and a deep commitment to providing the very best care to the patients we have the privilege of serving. I was especially drawn to the focus on caring for patients across the entire region—there is a real opportunity here to deliver world-class cancer care throughout the 27 counties Wilmot serves in upstate New York. Wilmot’s recent NCI designation reflects both the strength of the institution and the alignment across URMC around the importance of cancer care and research, and that makes this an exciting place to be.”
Hailing from the shores of Lake Michigan, Kimple is no stranger to lake-effect snow. He enjoys downhill skiing and golfing, making Rochester’s climate a perfect fit both professionally and recreationally. When he’s not on the green or the slopes, he can be found cheering on his Michigan State Spartans year-round.
