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Dr. Brian Druker, CEO of the Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health & Science University and developer of a drug that revolutionized cancer treatment, said he was stepping down in part because OHSU had “forgotten our mission” and is no longer a place to do cutting-edge research.
“It is with deep sadness that I am announcing my resignation, effective immediately, as the CEO of the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute,” Druker wrote in email to fellow staff. “I will be returning to where I started, running my lab and seeing patients, while exploring options for where I can continue to make an impact.”
Druker’s resignation is the latest blow to OHSU, Oregon’s flagship medical school and Portland’s largest employer. OHSU president Dr. Danny Jacobs resigned under pressure in October, after a widespread vote of no confidence from faculty leaders last year and poor morale among the rank and file. The university botched a hurried replacement plan, causing Gov. Tina Kotek, who appoints the university’s board, to step in and unwind the proposed appointment of a faculty insider. After Kotek intervened, OHSU brought back a former senior executive, Steve Stadum, to lead the university on an interim basis.
All the change comes as OHSU tries to buy rival Legacy Health in what would be its biggest purchase ever. Oregon regulators are studying the deal now to see if it would lead to higher prices for patients, as many hospital mergers do.
Druker achieved worldwide fame after he took a compound developed by Novartis and proved that it could be used to treat leukemia. The resulting drug, Gleevec, gained FDA approval in 2001. The breakthrough medication made him a rock star on Marquam Hill and, more importantly, led to a vast improvement in the prognosis for many leukemia sufferers. “Gleevec, the first of its kind targeted therapy...took a leukemia with a three- to five-year life expectancy to a disease where I can confidently tell a newly diagnosed patient that they can expect to live a normal life span,” he noted in his resignation message.
Druker’s success with Gleevec led to Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife, Penny, underwriting the establishment of the Knight Cancer Institute with by far the largest gift the university has ever received, a $500 million challenge grant in 2013. The university raised the matching funds in two years.
Druker, 69, nodded to the more recent turmoil at OHSU in his email.
“Throughout my career, I have had opportunities to lead some of the largest medical institutions in the world. But more than titles or prominence, I have always come back to what would have the most impact on advancing cancer research and improving patients’ lives. I always believed at this institution, in this beautiful, under the radar spot of the world, we could do things that no one else could,” he wrote.
“I still have more I want to do to advance cancer research and improve patient care. With much reflection, I have concluded that at this time those goals are no longer achievable at OHSU. We have lost sight of what is crucial and forgotten our mission. I will continue to see patients every week who always remind me why the work we do is so important.”
OHSU lauded Druker for his innovations and service.
“Dr. Druker has led the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute since 2007 and leaves an indelible legacy, such as the successful completion of the historic Knight Cancer Challenge,” OHSU said in a statement. “OHSU is grateful for his many years of leadership and looks forward to continued collaboration with him at OHSU through his research and patient care endeavors.”
Stadum, the interim president, sent a note to staff about Druker’s departure, obtained by WW.
“I had the honor and privilege of working with Dr. Druker for six years to help realize his vision for the Knight Cancer Institute,” Stadum wrote. “It was an exciting, momentous time in OHSU’s history, and I’m grateful for the experience. The opportunity to work with Dr. Druker again was one of many compelling reasons for me to return to OHSU as interim president. While I respect Dr. Druker’s decision and am disappointed by this development, this university is comprised of more than 22,000 individuals who will continue to advance scientific developments and pursue innovation in support of our missions.”
In a telephone interview, Druker said he wants to do something “big and bold” in medicine. He plans to take time to figure out his next target. One area that interests him is artificial intelligence, which may hold promise for matching cancer patients to the best drug, he said. Many cancer drugs are bespoke these days, tailored to a patient’s genetics.
“Imagine what AI could do with human intervention for cancer,” Druker said.
Another subject he’s mulling is public health, which is under siege by conservative lawmakers nationwide. Because his cancer patients are doing so well, Druker says he feels like a primary care doctor, reminding them to get their cholesterol checked and keep up with other routine tests.
“My patients are all healthy,” Druker said.
Sadly, OHSU is no long the place to do deep research, Druker says. Like so many hospital systems and academic medical centers, OHSU lost money during the pandemic as costs rose and the volume of patients seeking complex surgeries fell. OHSU hasn’t recovered from COVID, Druker said. Leaders are still focused on finances, not research.
“I’ve aways felt that there was a culture of innovation at OHSU, and we’ve lost that,” Druker said. “OHSU has gotten bigger and more bureaucratic. I’d rather be in start-up mode.”
Druker said he has spoken to Phil Knight about his move. The Nike co-founder understood, he said, having run an enormous company. Knight’s current donation to the cancer center that bears his name comes in yearly installments that are set to end in 2027, Druker said.
“We’ve discussed sustainability,” Druker said.
While he zeroes in on another research target, Druker plans to keep up his training for the Boston Marathon, which he plans to run with his daughter in April. They are running as part of a charity. Participants who do that don’t have to qualify. Right now, Druker is running about 35 miles a week.