Julie Vose, MD, to assume new leadership role in lymphoma research

Julie M. Vose, MD, MBA, the George and Peggy Payne Distinguished Presidential Chair in Oncology, will be stepping aside from her role as the chief of the UNMC Division of Oncology/Hematology to assume a new leadership role as the director of the Lymphoma Research Group. 

Mark Rupp, MD, interim chair of the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine, said the move, which will be effective Nov. 1, will allow Dr. Vose to spend additional time on what she is most passionate about – advancement in the treatment of lymphoma. 

“Dr. Vose will be devoting her talent toward developing and conducting cutting-edge clinical research in the treatment of lymphoma and further development of the Lymphoma Research Group within the Armitage Center for Hematologic Malignancy Research at UNMC and the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center” Dr. Rupp said. “She will continue to be an active clinician and teacher at UNMC, Nebraska Medicine and the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center.”

Also effective Nov. 1, Dr. Rupp said, the oncology/hematology division will be split into two units: 

• The UNMC Division of Medical Oncology, with Nicole Shonka, MD, serving as interim chief.
• The UNMC Division of Hematology (malignant and nonmalignant), with Matthew Lunning, DO, serving as interim chief.  

Dr. Vose is a UNMC medical school alumna who also trained in internal medicine and hematology/oncology at UNMC. She joined the faculty in 1990 and assumed the role of division chief in 2003. 

“Under her leadership, the division has seen great success providing excellent clinical care to patients at Nebraska Medicine, training specialists in hematology/oncology and conducting breakthrough clinical research,” Dr. Rupp said.  He went on to relate: “Dr. Vose is internationally recognized for her clinical expertise and clinical research in the treatment of lymphoma, and this change in leadership roles will enable her to make an even greater impact.”   

“The admiration and respect that patients, families and colleagues alike have for Dr. Vose speaks volumes about the profound impact she has made as both an extraordinary clinician and a compassionate leader,” said Michael Ash, MD, CEO of Nebraska Medicine. “Her vision and years of dedicated leadership have strengthened the division and positioned it for continued success across every aspect of academic medicine.” 

Joann Sweasy, PhD, director of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, called Dr. Vose an internationally recognized leader in the treatment of lymphoma.

“I am thrilled that she will be taking translational and clinical research in lymphoma at our center to the next level,” Dr. Sweasy said. 

UNMC College of Medicine Dean Bradley Britigan, MD, added: 

“Over the course of her exceptional career, Dr. Vose has been among the world’s leaders advancing the treatment of lymphoma, dramatically improving patient outcomes and saving lives. Further advances can only occur through cutting-edge research. I am very appreciative of Dr. Vose’s willingness to focus her attention to propel UNMC’s internationally recognized lymphoma research program to even greater success.” 

Dr. Vose’s many career honors include receiving the UNMC Distinguished Scientist Award in 2008 and serving as the president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in 2015. She has published nearly 600 papers in the peer-reviewed literature and has presented her work internationally.  

Dr. Shonka, the clinic and infusion medical director at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, joined UNMC in 2010. Her research focuses on brain cancer; however, she also specializes in the treatment of sarcomas as well. 

Dr. Lunning, the UNMC assistant vice chancellor of clinical research, returned to UNMC, where he did his internal medicine residency, in 2013 as a faculty member. A UNMC Distinguished Scientist Awardee, he has been active in clinical research, research mentoring, education and patient care during his UNMC career.