CLEVELAND – Alvin H. Schmaier, MD, Chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the Ireland Cancer Center of University Hospitals Case Medical Center (UHCMC) and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, has been appointed to the prestigious Robert W. Kellermeyer, MD, Chair in Oncology.
The Kellermeyer Chair was established in 1993 to honor Dr. Kellermeyer’s 40-plus years of dedicated service to UHCMC. Dr. Kellermeyer, an outstanding clinician and major contributor to medical education, is a Case Professor Emeritus of Medicine.
Dr. Schmaier, a renowned expert in blood disorders, joined the Case Medical Center (CMC) in 2006 from the University of Michigan. Dr. Schmaier’s major investigative work is in blood disorders and anticoagulant development. “Dr. Schmaier’s leadership in our academic medical center is part of our multimillion dollar commitment to enhance translational research at the Case Medical Center,” said Pamela Davis, M.D., Ph.D., Interim Dean, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
His research has led to the development of a new blood-clotting inhibitor, Thrombostatin, and he is the founder of Thromgen, Inc., in Ann Arbor. His recent work evaluates blood clot disorders in cancer patients.
“Dr. Schmaier’s focus on bringing basic science rapidly into clinical practice truly embodies the spirit of the Kellermeyer Chair,” says Richard Walsh, MD, Chairman, Department of Medicine at UHCMC and Professor of Medicine at Case. “The development of this Oncology Chair has helped us to recruit and retain the brightest in the field of cancer and we are pleased to have Dr. Schmaier hold this Chair. Dr. Schmaier was our first choice to lead the Division of Hematology/Oncology after a national search that revealed a host of outstanding candidates and we are pleased to have him in the Department of Medicine.”
Dr. Schmaier and Stan Gerson, MD, Director of the Ireland Cancer Center and the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, lead a UHCMC team in developing plans for a new cancer hospital to be built on the UHCMC campus. The new hospital, which will house the Ireland Cancer Center and the Division of Hematology/Oncology, will combine state-of-the-art technologies, the most effective protocols and the latest findings for cancer treatment in a 320,000-square-foot, free-standing facility. The new cancer hospital is a key component of University Hospitals’ Vision 2010, a $1.2 billion, five-year strategic plan.
“Dr. Schmaier embodies the most outstanding qualities of a physician scientist,” says Dr. Gerson. “As Chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology, he provides an excellent role model for the transfer of discovery to new patient treatments while being an outstanding physician. Dr Schmaier is further strengthening our national reputation in both cancer and hematology expertise at the Case Medical Center. He is a terrific colleague.”
Since joining CMC, Dr. Schmaier and a team have established the Vascular Medicine Clinic for patients with blood clotting disorders, thrombosis and anticoagulation therapy problems. The multi-disciplinary clinic provides advanced diagnosis and treatment for these hematologic and vascular problems. Further, Dr. Schmaier envisions that vascular medicine targets are becoming increasingly important targets for new cancer therapies.
At the University of Michigan, Dr. Schmaier served as Professor of Internal Medicine and Pathology. In addition he was Director of the Coagulation Laboratory in the Department of Pathology at the University of Michigan Health System. Previously, he was a Professor in the Department of Medicine of Temple University.
Dr. Schmaier earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and his M.D. from the Medical College of Virginia of Virginia Commonwealth University. He is an elected member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation and American Association of Physicians. Dr. Schmaier has authored over 181 publications, 8 patents and a book. He and his wife presently reside in downtown Cleveland. Dr. Schmaier has one son who is an MD/PhD student at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
“We are pleased to have a physician of Dr. Schmaier’s caliber lead our distinguished Hematology/ Oncology Division and hold the Kellermeyer Chair,” says Fred C. Rothstein, MD, President and CEO of UHCMC. “As we prepare to build a new 150-bed cancer hospital, we are excited about the direction of cancer research and treatment under his leadership.”