This October, the Department of Surgery at WashU Medicine hosted the inaugural Dr. Timothy J. Eberlein Lecture. The lecture was followed by the unveiling and dedication of a portrait of Eberlein.
Named for the director of the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, the lecture honors Timothy Eberlein, MD, who served as William K. Bixby Professor and chair of the Department of Surgery from 1998-2022.
“Few people in this world have done more for academic surgery and academic medicine, and we at WashU are so proud that Tim Eberlein has dedicated his enlightenment to us,” said David H. Perlmutter, MD, the George and Carol Bauer Dean of WashU Medicine, executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and the Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Distinguished Professor. “Personally, I am profoundly grateful for his intelligence, wisdom and support in the most important challenges that we have had to address over my time here at the school, no matter the complexity.”
Eberlein is known for his pioneering leadership and innovation in surgical education, cancer research and clinical care of cancer patients. As founding director of Siteman Cancer Center, Eberlein has led the center through unprecedented growth in size, research grants, clinical trial accrual and collaborations with other institutions. Siteman is the only cancer center in Missouri to hold the prestigious Comprehensive Cancer Center designation and “Exceptional” rating from the National Cancer Institute, as well as membership in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
Eberlein’s research has focused on tumor immunology and immunotherapies for cancer, including vaccines. He has authored more than 300 peer-reviewed scientific publications and book chapters, with a focus on breast cancer, molecular biology and tumor immunology.
The inaugural Dr. Timothy J. Eberlein Lecture recognized Eberlein’s contributions to the field of surgery at WashU Medicine. 
A portrait of Eberlein was unveiled, honoring the previous Department of Surgery chair. 
Tim and Kim Eberlein received the portrait unveiled at the event. 
Eberlein is joined by Dean David H. Perlmutter, MD (left), and John A. Olson Jr., MD, PhD, Department of Surgery chair. 
Eberlein addressed the crowd, noting the importance of teamwork in achieving meaningful contributions. 
Eberlein’s impact on academic surgery includes innovations in surgical education, cancer research and clinical care. 
John Carpten, PhD, from City of Hope’s cancer center, delivered the inaugural Eberlein Lecture. 
Carpten’s lecture focused on factors influencing cancer disparities.
Eberlein has held important roles in the American College of Surgeons, the American Board of Surgery and the National Cancer Institute. He served as president of the Society of Surgical Oncology, the Society of Surgical Chairs, the American Surgical Association and the Southern Surgical Association. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine; a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Glasgow, the Swiss Surgical Society and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh; and an honorary member of the French Academy of Surgery in Paris.
“Today’s inaugural Tim Eberlein lecture and dedication of this portrait are a fitting tribute to Dr. Eberlein’s 24 years of impactful leadership of our department of surgery and the cancer center, and indeed his leadership in American surgery,” said John A. Olson Jr., MD, PhD, the Bixby Professor and chair of the Department of Surgery. “Tim and his teams built a house of surgery here that many now acknowledge as a leading department of surgery in our country. Under Tim’s leadership, our faculty has grown and flourished; our clinical programs have grown to become recognized not just as market leading, but destination centers for patients in need of complex surgical care; our research programs have grown tremendously, with impactful discovery and innovation acknowledged by robust federal grant funding. Perhaps most importantly, Tim has fostered excellence and innovation in our educational programs, now known widely for our leadership in advancing flexibility in surgical training, competency-based advancement of our residents, and in the SCORE curriculum. Beyond Tim’s leadership at WashU, he’s been among the most impactful leaders of American surgery over the last 20 years. He has had a dramatic impact on the field of surgery in our country.”
The Eberlein Lecture featured a presentation by John Carpten, PhD, the director of City of Hope’s National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, director of Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope and chief scientific officer. Carpten’s lecture, focused on cancer disparities, was titled “Closing the Gaps to Achieve Cancer Health Equity: Factors Influencing Cancer Disparities.”
In his remarks, Eberlein emphasized the importance of teamwork.
“What a privilege it’s been to be part of the team that created all these innovations and advancements,” said Eberlein, who serves as the Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Distinguished Professor and senior associate dean for cancer programs. “None of it would have been possible without the unique atmosphere of Washington University School of Medicine. It wasn’t about the individual; it was about the team. The more that we work together as a team with diverse areas of expertise, the faster we will make contributions, and the better those contributions will be. The beneficiaries will be our patients.”