Two UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Members Elected to the National Academy of Medicine

October 20, 2025

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center incoming director, John Byrd, MD, and faculty member, Terence Dermody, MD, were elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), among the highest honors in health and medicine. They join 19 other University of Pittsburgh faculty members who have been elected to the academy and are two of three University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine NAM members elected in 2025.

Dr. Byrd is the incoming director of UPMC Hillman, beginning in November 2025. He will also serve as the University of Pittsburgh’s associate vice chancellor for cancer affairs. He will assume overall responsibility for all aspects of cancer-related basic, translational, and clinical research and education at both the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC Hillman. Dr. Byrd was elected to NAM “For his work in effectively demonstrating non-oncogene addiction as an effective cancer strategy through the preclinical and clinical development of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitors ibrutinib and acalabrutinib that changed chronic lymphocytic leukemia from a fatal disease to one that now has a natural life expectancy.”

Dr. Dermody is the Vira I. Heinz Distinguished Professor and chair of pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, physician-in-chief and scientific director, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, and member of the Cancer Virology cancer center support grant research program of UPMC Hillman. He was elected to NAM “For being an internationally recognized physician-scientist, field-leading virologist, award-winning educator and mentor, and academic leader. He has made transformative discoveries in viral replication and pathogenesis, developed innovative programs for physician-scientist education, and spearheaded the community-engaged Pittsburgh Study to foster the well-being of children.”