Anthony Letai, MD’95, PhD’93, the newly appointed Director of the National Cancer Institute, traces the roots of his scientific curiosity and leadership to his training at the University of Chicago. As both a medical and doctoral student, Letai describes his time at UChicago as intellectually rigorous yet deeply enjoyable—an environment filled with “fun, smart people” that sparked his love for medicine. Working with renowned cell biologist Elaine Fuchs, PhD, he completed his PhD on the molecular basis of heritable blistering diseases, gaining the confidence to pursue bold scientific questions. Reflecting on his education, Letai credits UChicago for providing the strong foundation that shaped his career as a physician-scientist and prepared him to lead one of the nation’s foremost cancer research institutions.
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