Peter WT Pisters, M.D., took the helm as president of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2017, and forged a new path forward to end cancer by transforming the culture of the nation’s top-ranked cancer center. With a boundless appetite for listening and learning, Dr. Pisters has built an inclusive environment within the organization while also prioritizing relationships with government, industry and community partners to thrive in the rapidly changing health care landscape.

A renowned cancer surgeon, researcher, professor and administrator, Dr. Pisters established his career at MD Anderson, serving over 20 years as a faculty member and medical director for the center’s expansion in metropolitan Houston. He left MD Anderson to serve as president and CEO of the University Health Network in Toronto, Canada’s largest academic medical center, before returning to MD Anderson in 2017. He says the privilege of caring for cancer patients was the most impactful preparation he has had for his current role.

With MD Anderson’s 22,000+ employees as his priority, Dr. Pisters has cultivated a diverse executive team and championed programs and continuous growth for all. He was named a Top CEO by Glassdoor in 2018 and 2019 – the only health care leader in Texas to make the top 100 list.

Dr. Pisters earned his medical degree at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Western Ontario in Canada and did postgraduate work at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. He received a master’s degree in health care management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston.