Dr. Anne Tsao is an accomplished medical oncologist and research scientist. She is the director of the Mesothelioma Program at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston Texas. She is an Associate Professor, Department of Thoracic/ Head and Neck Medical Oncology, at MD Anderson and also the Director of Thoracic Chemo- Radiation Program at MD Anderson. Dr. Tsao also holds many other positions such as co-chair of the Clinical Research Committee at MD Anderson. As an accomplished clinical scientist Dr. Tsao has been an Associate Editor of the New England Journal of Medicine, Watch Oncology and Hematology section since June 2013. She also serves on the SWOG Mesothelioma Steering Committee, SWOG Lung Executive Committee, and the Scientific Board of the American Radium Society.

Dr. Tsao attended medical school at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. She completed her residency at Indiana University in Indianapolis. Her training continued as she completed a second residency at University of Texas and completed her Fellowship there. Dr. Tsao has specialized in thoracic, head and neck cancers. She has been a recipient of many awards. She has received the Asco award (American Society of Clinical Oncology) merit award and has also been the recipient of the MD Anderson Achievement in Research Award along with many others.

Dr. Tsao is the principal investigator to many clinical trials for Mesothelioma. Dr. Tsao has a personal message to patients who have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma which is, “there is hope and patients with mesothelioma can certainly exceed the median survival.” She encourages patients to go to a medical center that specializes in this disease. Often times patients remark that at home they were offered no hope. Dr. Tsao reassures them that this is not the reality. One of her many concentrations in fighting Mesothelioma is proton beam therapy used in addition to chemotherapy. Dr. Tsao spends much of her time researching new and better ways to treat Mesothelioma. Dr. Tsao is focusing on individualizing cancer therapy through understanding of the molecular basis of cancer.

Dr. Tsao is an energetic, personable, accomplished researcher in her chosen fields. She is an advocate for collaboration in research.   The mesothelioma community is fortunate to have Dr. Tsao as a valued member of this community as she continues to work tirelessly for a cure.