Montefiore Einstein Cancer Center Finalizes New Senior Leadership Team

Amit K. Verma, previously an associate director, steps into the role of Deputy Director of the center. A specialist in myeloid malignancies, Verma brings a track record that includes defining stem cell alterations in leukemia and securing FDA approval for novel MDS therapies. His appointment coincides with the promotion of Julio A. Aguirre-Ghiso to Associate Director of Basic Science, where he will leverage his expertise in cancer dormancy to study how tumors remain undetected before triggering treatment-resistant metastasis.

Translational efforts will be spearheaded by Marina Konopleva, the new Associate Director of Translational Science. Known for her work on proteins that allow leukemia cells to evade death, Konopleva is tasked with accelerating the transition of laboratory discoveries into clinical practice. Complementing these research-focused roles, H. Dean Hosgood has been named Associate Director for Population and Community Sciences. Hosgood will concentrate on the intersection of environmental exposures and cancer health outcomes, particularly within the Bronx community, utilizing his background in molecular epidemiology to address social determinants of health. These leadership changes arrive as the center seeks to integrate its transdisciplinary initiatives—ranging from tumor microenvironment studies to precision drug development—more effectively into patient care.