Justin Klamerus, M.D., M.M.M., has been appointed president of the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Hospital, the clinical operation of the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit. The appointment is effective immediately.
Dr. Klamerus, an associate professor of Oncology for the Wayne State University School of Medicine, will report directly to Gerold Bepler, M.D., Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of the Karmanos Cancer Institute. He assumes the role after serving as interim president since April 2016, following the departure of Margaret Dimond, Ph.D.
He will oversee all clinical operations at Karmanos' treatment locations in Detroit and Farmington Hills.
"I'm confident Dr. Klamerus will continue to do an outstanding job leading our clinical operations," said Dr. Bepler, chair of the WSU Department of Oncology. "His experience prior to coming to Karmanos as well as his track record since arriving here in early 2014 has earned the respect of staff; those working day to day with our most valued customers - our patients and their families. His insight as a physician and his ability to bring people together to work toward our mission of providing our patients with outstanding cancer care will continue to be a priority as we navigate the ever-changing health care environment."
Before his appointment, Dr. Klamerus oversaw operations of the Karmanos Cancer Network - 14 cancer centers, including nine radiation centers, throughout Michigan. After the acquisition of Karmanos by McLaren Health Care in 2014, Karmanos became the largest cancer research and provider network in Michigan. Dr. Klamerus has served in various roles since joining, including executive vice president/chief quality officer and associate center director for Community Oncology.
"I have had the privilege of working with the exceptional team at Karmanos for the past three years and have seen first-hand their unprecedented level of compassion, commitment and expertise when serving our patients," Dr. Klamerus said. "I'm honored to serve as the next president of Karmanos Cancer Hospital, and I know, together with Dr. Bepler and our team, we will continue to provide high-quality, state-of-the-science cancer care with compassion, dignity and determination that will lead to the next standard of cancer care."
He served as president and medical director of the McLaren Cancer Institute from 2012 to 2014, and cancer program director at McLaren Northern Michigan from 2009 to 2012, where he also practiced medical oncology. At McLaren, Dr. Klamerus led cancer research operations, serving as principal investigator for cancer research. During his tenure, McLaren saw a four-fold increase in cancer research accruals.
Dr. Klamerus is a graduate of the College of Human Medicine at Michigan State University. He completed his residency and chief residency in Internal Medicine at The Ohio State University. He also served as a clinical instructor of Internal Medicine and as a lecturer in the College of Medicine and Public Health at Ohio State. He completed a fellowship in Medical Oncology at Johns Hopkins University and earned a Master of Medical Management degree in the Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University. He is completing a management fellowship in health system leadership in the General Electric Leadership Fellowship program of the Health Management Academy.
Dr. Klamerus is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, having served on several committees, including the Clinical Practice and the Government Relations Committees. He is a member of the Steering Committee of the Michigan Oncology Quality Consortium. He has served as program director of the Michigan Oncology Clinical Treatment Pathways Program, a clinical quality initiative of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
He is board certified in Medical Oncology and Internal Medicine. His published works include the book, "The Johns Hopkins Patient Guide to Lung Cancer," and several papers on access to cancer clinical trials, health care disparities and cancer care delivery.