Dawn Luryn Hershman is an American oncologist. Since 2020, she has served as the American Cancer Society Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology at

Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...

Early life and education

Hershman was born to artists

Lynn Hershman Leeson Lynn Hershman Leeson (née Lynn Lester Hershman; born June 17, 1941) is an American multimedia artist and filmmaker. Her work with technology and in media-based practices is credited with helping to legitimize digital art forms. Her interests inc ...

and George Leeson. She completed her undergraduate degree in psychology from the

University of California, Los Angeles The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Its academic roots were established in 1881 as a normal school the ...

and earned her

medical degree A medical degree is a professional degree admitted to those who have passed coursework in the fields of medicine and/or surgery from an accredited medical school. Obtaining a degree in medicine allows for the recipient to continue on into special ...

in 1994 from

Albert Einstein College of Medicine The Albert Einstein College of Medicine is a Private university, private medical school in New York City. Founded in 1953, Einstein is an independent degree-granting institution within the Montefiore Einstein Health System. Einstein hosts Doc ...

. While completing her

residency Residency may refer to: * Artist-in-residence, a program to sponsor the residence and work of visual artists, writers, musicians, etc. * Concert residency, a series of concerts performed at one venue * Domicile (law), the act of establishing or m ...

and

fellowship A fellow is a title and form of address for distinguished, learned, or skilled individuals in academia, medicine, research, and industry. The exact meaning of the term differs in each field. In learned or professional societies, the term refers ...

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital The NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (abbreviated as NYP) is a nonprofit academic medical center in New York City. It is the primary teaching hospital for Weill Cornell Medicine and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. The hospit ...

, she was appointed chief resident from 1997 to 1998.

Career

Following her post-doctoral work, Hershman joined the faculty at

Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health The Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health (formally the Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health) is the public health graduate school of Columbia University. Located on the Columbia University Irving Medical Center campus in the ...

in 2001. As an

assistant professor Assistant professor is an academic rank just below the rank of an associate professor used in universities or colleges, mainly in the United States, Canada, Japan, and South Korea. Overview This position is generally taken after earning a doct ...

of Epidemiology, Hershman co-developed a gene test to measure the activity and aggressiveness of over 70 genes found in tumor cells. She was also the recipient of the 2007 Advanced Clinical Research Award from the

American Society of Clinical Oncology The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is a professional organization representing physicians of all oncology sub-specialties who care for people with cancer. Founded in 1964 by Fred Ansfield, Harry Bisel, Herman Freckman, Arnoldus G ...

. Following this, Hershman was recognized by the

Breast Cancer Research Foundation The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) is an independent, not-for-profit organization which has raised $569.4 million to support clinical and translational research on breast cancer at medical institutions in the United States and abroad. B ...

for her innovative clinical and translational breast cancer research. In 2015, Hershman was elected a member of the

American Society for Clinical Investigation The American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI), established in 1908, is one of the oldest and most respected medical honor societies in the United States. Organization and purpose The ASCI is an honorary society to which more than 2,800 p ...

. As a result of her "leading work in improving cancer care delivery and cancer health outcomes, particularly in breast cancer," Hershman was appointed the American Cancer Society Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology in 2020. She was also named the recipient of the 2020 Hologic, Inc. Endowed Women Who Conquer Cancer Mentorship Award. The following year, Hershman was recognized as a Giant of Cancer Care by Onclive as her work had a "demonstrable and lasting impact on improving quality of life for people with cancer and reducing barriers for patients to receive cancer care." She was also the co-recipient of the 2021 Real-World Data Impact Award from the American Cancer Society for her research investigating the toxicity and efficacy of oral antineoplastic drugs and identifying disparities in care.

Personal life

Hershman married her fiancée Richard Hankin in a Jewish ceremony in 1991. Following their marriage, they had two children together.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hershman, Dawn L. Living people American oncologists Albert Einstein College of Medicine alumni Members of the American Society for Clinical Investigation Columbia University faculty University of California, Los Angeles alumni Year of birth missing (living people)