Patrick Hwu, MD, is president and CEO of Moffitt Cancer Center, one of the nation’s leading cancer hospitals and the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center based in Florida. An internationally recognized tumor immunologist, Dr. Hwu has led pioneering research and clinical efforts to better understand the interactions between tumors and the immune system.
My father was a chemical engineer, and my mother taught chemistry. My parents both immigrated from different regions of China and met in Cincinnati, Ohio. Because of their careers, they taught me and my sisters a lot about the importance of science and research, but also compassion and work ethic. They encouraged education and the importance of being goal-oriented. They both had to work hard to earn their citizenship in the U.S., and that work ethic really stuck with me.
At a young age, I watched both a teacher and a classmate get diagnosed with leukemia, and they had to travel out of state for treatment because our small town’s hospital did not have the resources. Later in life, both of my parents would become cancer survivors. I recognized the need for cutting-edge cancer therapies and more places to receive treatment.
My early experiences with cancer opened my eyes to the fact that there weren’t really a lot of places to treat the disease, so early on in life, I saw cancer as a problem I wanted to tackle. I entered an accelerated undergraduate-to-medical school program where I developed an interest in cancer immunotherapy and eventually began my medical oncology fellowship at the National Cancer Institute.
I never thought that something I helped to pioneer back in the 1990s, CAR T-cell therapy, would one day become such a powerful and widely used treatment, saving thousands of lives around the globe.
My work in cancer care and research has focused around cancer immunotherapy, which harnesses and amplifies the body’s immune system to attack cancer, training existing immune cells, called T cells, to recognize and attack cancer. My focus has been in melanoma, a cancer that starts on the skin but can travel to anywhere in the body. In my role as president and CEO of Moffitt Cancer Center, it’s my job to guide everyone within our organization to success and ensure our entire team has the resources, support and vision needed to accomplish our mission to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.
At places like Moffitt, we don’t just treat cancer, we are driving the research that will define the future of care. And right now, it’s the time to put the pedal to the metal.
I know that the collective work of Moffitt Cancer Center will have a lasting impact, reducing the cancer death rate through research and patient care, but also by mentoring the next generation of scientists, clinicians and leaders who will carry our mission forward.
My business philosophy is centered around ensuring that every part of the organization is mission-driven. Whether it’s in the lab, at the bedside or behind the scenes in operations, every team member should recognize how their work contributes to our ultimate goal, which is to prevent and cure cancer. When everyone is aligned on that mission, we succeed.
The last few years taught me the importance of listening. Whether it’s listening to the incredible team of senior leaders we’ve built at Moffitt Cancer Center or our nurses working on the front line, listening is one of our best tools as a leader.
I look up to the late Waun Ki Hong, MD, who was a cancer research pioneer, friend and mentor to many in the field. He was a world-renowned clinical researcher whose innovations led to successful organ-sparing cancer treatment, and he was loved and respected worldwide. His mentorship in the field provided invaluable guidance to so many through the years. I also look up to Steve Rosenberg, MD, PhD, who is Chief of the Surgery Branch at the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Rosenberg was my mentor at the NCI and taught me the importance of translating science to patients. At 85 years old, he is still doing some of the best work of his life.
I am originally from St. Albans, West Virginia, but I had visited Tampa many times before ending up here. I love our proximity to the beaches, our many days of sunshine and the vibrant culture and history that still thrives in Tampa Bay and the surrounding region!
I feel so fortunate to live and work in a place where most people only come to vacation! Tampa Bay offers year-round sunshine, natural beauty and a vibrant community.
My “perfect” day would be a trip to Pass-a-Grille Beach, listening to the waves and the music, enjoying lunch at the Paradise Grille and catching the sunset.
Music was a big part of my childhood. I started formal piano lessons in third grade, but as I got older, I gravitated from classical music to rock. I played trumpet in high school and even played with the St. Albans Red Dragon Band in Tampa’s Gasparilla parade in 1981. Who knew I’d end up back in Tampa nearly 40 years later!
I helped to create and play in The ReMissions, a band made up entirely of Moffitt team members. It’s a fun and meaningful way to unwind, connect with colleagues and bring joy to our organization and surrounding community.
A song I love is “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey. It’s not just a rock anthem, it’s an anthem for the field of immunology, which faced so many uphill battles, as well as for cancer patients of today and tomorrow who face their battles with strength and perseverance.
My greatest extravagance/luxury is my growing collection of guitars, which I recently added a banjo to!
The biggest item on my bucket list is to get to play with the Rolling Stones.
My first job was working as a reporter at our local newspaper in St. Albans. This job taught me the importance of asking the right questions, which is certainly important when you work in the sciences. Science is all about asking and answering questions.
My most surprising hobby or skill is doing TikTok dances with my daughter Ally. She’s a dancer, so she’s great at picking up the choreography, and I’ve gotten decent at keeping up! It’s a fun way for us to connect and share laughs.
Something most people don’t know is that I was part of a swim team called the Ancient Mariners and once even swam across the Chesapeake Bay.
If I could wake up tomorrow with this quality/skill it would be being able to speak another language. I wish I learned Chinese from my parents, but it seems too late to learn such a complex language now.
If I could go back and change one thing about my life, I would tell my younger self not to worry so much, that things will work out and that I should enjoy the ride a bit more.
I believe my best quality is being self-aware and committed to leading myself intentionally. That foundation has allowed me to grow into a leader who can both inspire and support others effectively.
My biggest supporters have certainly my parents, who raised me to work hard toward my goals in life, but also my wife and two daughters, who have been an unwavering source of support, love and inspiration.
I’m most proud of my wife and two daughters. They are just such genuinely kind people and that’s one of the most important things in life.
The biggest honor of my life has been the privilege to work and lead at Moffitt Cancer Center, a place with an important mission that’s making an impact on our community and world.
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
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