UAB O’Neal Cancer Center Welcomes Dr. Jorge E. Cortes to the Division of Hematology and Oncology

UAB Medicine and the O’Neal Cancer Center are pleased to announce the commitment from Jorge E. Cortes, M.D., to the Division of Hematology and Oncology, joining us as the Chief of Hematology in April. Cortez will also assume the role of Associate Director for Translation for the UAB O’Neal Cancer Center.

“With his long history of championing clinical care and advancing cutting-edge cancer therapies through clinical trials, I am excited to welcome Dr. Cortes to both UAB and the O’Neal Cancer Center,” says Director Barry Sleckman, M.D., Ph.D. “His dedication to improving cancer care and his commitment to training the next generation of clinical investigators will lead him to do great things at UAB and the O’Neal Cancer Center.”

Cortes joins UAB from his role as the Director of the Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University, where he led the center’s ongoing efforts toward National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation and holds the Cecil F. Whitaker Jr., GRA Eminent Scholar Chair in Cancer. He is a distinguished physician-scientist with a career spanning over three decades, including more than 20 years at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center where he was the Deputy Chair of the Department of Leukemia.

He has held leadership roles in major national and international hematology organizations and authored over 1,200 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and abstracts, serving as principal investigator on numerous clinical trials that shaped the standard of care in leukemia and other hematologic malignancies. This includes over 230 grants and contracts as principal investigator, leading to the approval of four drugs currently available for patients with leukemia.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Cortes is known for his collaborative spirit and commitment to mentorship, having trained and guided countless fellows, residents and students throughout his career.

The UAB O’Neal Cancer Center looks forward to welcoming Dr. Cortes and his wife, Lili, to Birmingham. His expertise, leadership and vision will further strengthen our mission to deliver world-class cancer care and transformative research to patients across Alabama and beyond.