William F. Pirl, MD, MPH, joins Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center as the Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences Chair | Newswise

Newswise — Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) has named William F. Pirl, MD, MPH, as the new Chair of the Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences Department. Dr. Pirl is a nationally and internationally recognized expert and leader in psycho-oncology. He is no stranger to MSK; he completed his fellowship in psycho-oncology at the institution twenty-five years ago.

“We look forward to welcoming Dr. Pirl back to MSK as he continues our tradition of excellence in Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences,” said Selwyn M. Vickers, MD, FACS, President and CEO of MSK. “His clinical and academic expertise, compassion for patients, and proven leadership in the field will strengthen our efforts to fulfill MKS’s mission to End Cancer for Life.”

Dr. Pirl joins MSK from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where he served as the Vice Chair for Psychosocial Oncology since 2018 and was a Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Prior to that, he was Associate Director for Cancer Support Services at the University of Miami Health System and spent 17 years as faculty at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he led the Center for Psychiatric Oncology and Behavioral Sciences.

At MSK, Dr. Pirl will lead a department with a pioneering legacy. Founded in 1977, MSK’s Psychiatry Service is historically known as the birthplace of psycho-oncology. It was the first program in the United States dedicated to addressing the psychiatric, psychological, and psychosocial needs of cancer patients, integrating comprehensive care, education, and research.

Throughout his career, Dr. Pirl has focused on supporting cancer patients’ mental and emotional well-being. His work has driven meaningful change through clinical innovation and research, particularly on cancer-related depression and psychosocial distress. In his new role, he will continue to see patients, train future leaders, and advance research that enhances quality of life for those undergoing treatment.

Dr. Pirl earned his BA from the University of Pennsylvania, his MD from Harvard Medical School, and his MPH from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. After completing his postdoctoral studies, Dr. Pirl completed an internship in Internal Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he also completed his residency in Psychiatry. During this time, he pursued a fellowship in Psychotherapy at Harvard University. He completed a fellowship in Psycho-oncology/Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry at MSK.

He has published extensively in prestigious journals, including the Journal of the American Medical Association, New England Journal of Medicine, and Cancer. He has also served on numerous committees, including those for the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the National Cancer Institute.

He brings to MSK a deep commitment not only to the care of patients but also to the support of their families and loved ones.

About Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK):

The people of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) are united by a singular mission: ending cancer for life. Our specialized care teams provide personalized, compassionate, expert care to patients of all ages. Informed by basic research done at our Sloan Kettering Institute, scientists across MSK collaborate to conduct innovative translational and clinical research that is driving a revolution in our understanding of cancer as a disease and improving the ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat it. MSK is dedicated to training the next generation of scientists and clinicians, who go on to pursue our mission at MSK and around the globe. One of the world’s most respected comprehensive centers devoted exclusively to cancer, we have been recognized as one of the top two cancer hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report for more than 30 years. .