Cortes and Akce Receive Leadership Appointments in the Division of Hematology and Oncology

Effective April 1, 2026, Jorge Cortes, M.D. will join the Division of Hematology and Oncology as Chief of Hematology; furthermore, Cortes will serve as the Deputy Director of the O’Neal Cancer Center. Similarly, Mehmet Akce, M.D., will serve as Interim Chief of Oncology. These newly established roles will report directly to the Division Director. This leadership structure will enhance support, mentorship, and alignment with our strategic growth.

Cortes is internationally recognized for his leadership and clinical expertise in hematology. He previously served as Director of the Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University, and he spent over two decades at MD Anderson Cancer Center and acted as the Deputy Chair of the Department of Leukemia. He has authored more than 1,200 publications, and he led pivotal clinical trials that have shaped care in hematologic malignancies; additionally, he is also widely respected for his commitment to mentorship.

Akce is Director of the Phase I and Precision Medicine Program at UAB, as well as the Associate Director of the Hugh Kaul Precision Medicine Institute. His work focuses on innovative therapies for solid tumors, particularly gastrointestinal cancers, hepatocellular carcinoma, and cholangiocarcinoma. He leads early-phase and multi-institutional clinical trials advancing novel immunotherapy approaches. He completed his training at Marmara University, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital (Chief Medical Resident), and Baylor College of Medicine.