Bold Named Physician-in-Chief of UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center

Richard Bold, MD, chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology, has been named Physician-in-Chief of the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center. This new position, effective May 15, gives Bold clinical oversight of outpatient and inpatient services as well as the Cancer Center’s affiliated UC Davis Health Cancer Care Network sites throughout Northern California.

The announcement of Bold’s new role is part of a broader effort to further integrate the Cancer Center’s research, clinical trials, education, training and community outreach into clinical oncology services. He will report to Primo Lara, Jr., director of the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, and David H. Wisner, vice dean for clinical affairs in the School of Medicine and executive director of the Practice Management Board. He will work directly with Kristen Mensonides, director of oncology services.

“The reorganization of the Cancer Center leadership is now more aligned with the expectations of the National Cancer Institute to more fully integrate all of the pillars of the mission of the Cancer Center − clinical care, research, education, outreach and prevention,” said Bold. “It is an honor for me to serve Dr. Lara in this capacity and work toward further improvements in the outstanding care provided to our patients in Northern California.”

Bold will be responsible for advancing patient-centered care as well as setting the quality agenda and managing relationships among the various Cancer Center clinical activities to include UC Davis Health and the UC Davis Cancer Care Network sites. He will also provide leadership in aligning physicians and physician services outlined in the strategic plans of both the health system and Cancer Center as it relates to clinical program priorities. The physician-in-chief will lead the development and oversight of the Center’s performance targets, benchmarks and metrics, enhancing patient access to high-quality cancer care, ensuring integration of cancer clinical trials into clinical operations, measuring and improving patient outcomes, and establishing best practices.

The medical directors of the inpatient oncology units and outpatient clinics, as well as the Cancer Center’s disease groups, physicians and clinician leaders all will directly report to Bold.

Bold will also be responsible for:

• Representing the Cancer Center to the UC Cancer Consortium, advising on initiatives to improve cancer care delivery across all five UC comprehensive cancer centers.
• Collaboration with UC Davis Health leadership to strengthen integration of research into clinical care and program development to allow for growth, increased patient volumes, increased patient access, improved referral patterns, and dissemination and accrual to clinical trials at network sites.
• Provision of leadership to the Cancer Center as the senior clinical cancer physician on UC Davis Health initiatives related to healthcare reform planning and payer interactions.
• Cancer Center Senior Management Group representation.