Washington, DC—Anthony Sandler, MD, the Diane and Norman Bernstein Chair of Pediatric Surgery, has been named the Senior Vice President of the Joseph E. Robert, Jr., Center for Surgical Care at Children’s National Medical Center. Dr. Sandler has served as Acting Director of the center since September 2011, when Kurt D. Newman, MD, the prior Senior Vice President of the center, was chosen to lead Children’s National as President and CEO.
“Tony Sandler is an extremely talented colleague,” said Mark Batshaw, MD, Chief Academic Officer and Interim Chief Medical Officer. “When I looked around the country for the next leader, based on his experience and what his colleagues and others said, I quickly came to the conclusion that Dr. Sandler is clearly the best choice. While Kurt’s shoes are hard to fill, I expect Tony will lead the center to new heights in clinical care, education, and research.”
Dr. Sandler is internationally known for his work on childhood solid tumors and operative repair of certain congenital anomalies of the gastrointestinal tract. Dr. Sandler’s research interests focus on solid tumors of childhood in which he has developed markers for determining the risk of tumor recurrence. His current research in tumor immunology investigates immunotherapeutic strategies for tumors, and is supported by from multiple resources, including the National Institutes of Health.
“What a great day for the children of Washington, DC,” said Diane and Norman Bernstein, underwriters of the Endowed Professorship for Pediatric Surgery. “The tradition of delivering the very best in surgical care continues with Dr. Sandler’s appointment to Senior Vice President for Surgical Care. Kurt Newman left big shoes to fill, but we have no doubt that Tony will fill them just fine.”
Dr. Sandler joined Children’s faculty in 2006 as Chief of the Division of General and Thoracic Surgery. He came to Children’s National from the University of Iowa where he held the Robert and Helene Soper Chair in Surgery and was professor and Chief of the Division of Pediatric Surgery.
“I have worked closely with Tony for many years,” commented Dr. Newman. “He is an outstanding teacher, a superb clinician, and an innovative investigator. He was instrumental in shaping the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation here at Children’s National, and is an integral member of a team that is reimagining how we care for kids.”
Dr. Sandler’s research team with the Sheikh Zayed Institute is focused on the formulation and application of novel tumor vaccine therapies, especially around targeted activation of host immunity. Dr. Sandler has published more than 70 peer-reviewed manuscripts in clinical and scientific medical journals.
Dr. Sandler completed his General Surgery training at the University of Iowa and, after serving as chief resident in surgery, completed a pediatric surgery fellowship at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. He has received multiple awards including several for Outstanding Teaching of Surgical Residents and was also awarded the Joel Rosyln Young Investigator Award from the Association for Academic Surgeons.
Contact: Emily Dammeyer or Paula Darte, Public Relations: 202-476-4500