Dr. Bauman is renowned for her work in both the treatment and prevention of head and neck cancer
Julie E. Bauman, MD, MPH, has joined the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix as the inaugural chair and professor with tenure for the Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology. She will also serve as senior medical director of Oncology Research at Banner Health.
Dr. Bauman was formerly the director of the George Washington (GW) University Cancer Center, as well as the associate dean of Cancer Programs and professor of Medicine at the GW School of Medicine & Health Sciences. A recipient of the prestigious National Cancer Institute (NCI) Clinical Investigator Team Leadership Award, Dr. Bauman is internationally recognized in cancer therapeutics for both prevention and treatment, with more than 150 publications and a long record of National Institute of Health team science funding.
“Dr. Bauman’s work is at the intersection of oncology and public health,” said Dean Fred Wondisford, MD, MS, MBA. “Her education and training resulted in unique expertise in clinical trial design for cancer prevention and treatment, with ease transitioning between individual and population health lenses. Raised in Arizona from age five, Dr. Bauman is now bringing her expertise home to serve the communities she loves.”
The co-principal investigator of the U of A Cancer Prevention Clinical Trials Network — one of only four NCI-funded clinical trial networks devoted to drug development for cancer prevention — her independent research focuses on “green chemoprevention,” or the use of whole plants or their extracts for cancer prevention. Dr. Bauman also leads multiple national clinical trials for the treatment of head and neck cancer, with dedicated expertise in early phase trials evaluating precision medicine and immunotherapy.
“We are thrilled about the transformative impact Dr. Bauman’s leadership will have on our Oncology Research program at Banner Health. Her exceptional track record in cancer prevention and treatment, combined with her expertise in precision medicine and immunotherapy, aligns perfectly with Banner’s commitment to bringing cutting-edge therapies to patients in our communities,” said Corey Casper, MD, MPH, senior vice president and chief research officer for Banner Health. “Through her dual role bridging the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix and Banner Health, Dr. Bauman will help us accelerate clinical trial innovation and expand access to groundbreaking cancer research across our system. This appointment strengthens our position as a leader in translational medicine and reinforces our mission to transform medical discoveries into meaningful clinical impact for the patients and families we serve.”
Dr. Bauman is also the deputy principal investigator for the NRG National Community Oncology Research Program, which conducts potentially practice-changing clinical trials in cancer prevention and control. She is the current co-chair of the NCI Cancer Prevention Steering Committee. In 2020, she completed the premiere Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine fellowship at the Drexel University College of Medicine.
“I was excited to help recruit Julie ‘back home’ to Arizona, where she served as a leader in the U of A Cancer Center for many years before departing for the GW Cancer Center in 2022. Her return represents an important step forward for our center. Julie will be a major connector between our Phoenix and Tucson locations and a vital bridge across our clinical enterprise with Banner and our translational research efforts at both sites,” said Dan Theodorescu, MD, PhD, director of the U of A Cancer Center.
Dr. Bauman completed a dual MD/MPH degree at Tufts University School of Medicine. This was followed by internal medicine residency at the University of Utah and medical oncology fellowship at the University of Washington/Fred Hutch Cancer Center.
She assumed her new roles on August 31.
About the College
Founded in 2007, the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix inspires and trains exemplary physicians, scientists and leaders to advance its core missions in education, research, clinical care and service to communities across Arizona. The college’s strength lies in our collaborations and partnerships with clinical affiliates, community organizations and industry sponsors. With our primary affiliate, Banner Health, we are recognized as the premier academic medical center in Phoenix. As an anchor institution of the Phoenix Bioscience Core, the college is home to signature research programs in neurosciences, cardiopulmonary diseases, immunology, informatics and metabolism. These focus areas uniquely position us to drive biomedical research and bolster economic development in the region.
As an urban institution with strong roots in rural and tribal health, the college has graduated more than 1,000 physicians and matriculates 130 students each year. Greater than 60% of matriculating students are from Arizona and many continue training at our GME sponsored residency programs, ultimately pursuing local academic and community-based opportunities. While our traditional four-year program continues to thrive, we will launch our recently approved accelerated three-year medical student curriculum with exclusive focus on primary care. This program is designed to further enhance workforce retention needs across Arizona.
The college has embarked on our strategic plan for 2025 to 2030. Learn more.