City of Hope Announces Jeff A. Walker's Appointment as New Chief Operating Officer

Jeff A. Walker

City of Hope announced today that Jeff A. Walker has been appointed chief operating officer (COO), effective Aug. 1. Walker has more than two decades of experience in cancer center leadership and transformation, taking programs from the strategic business phase into mature operational structures.

Walker joined City of Hope earlier this year as senior vice president in transformation development and has been leading the institution’s efforts around operational design and planning for new strategic initiatives and ventures.

“Jeff has brought a wealth of cancer center and hospital leadership experience to City of Hope,” said Michael A. Caligiuri, M.D., president of City of Hope National Medical Center and the Deana and Steve Campbell Physician-in-Chief Distinguished Chair. “He will help guide City of Hope into the future as our institution continues to deliver best—in-class clinical care and research innovations to all the people we serve.”

As COO, Walker will lead patient care operations for the Duarte, California, campus and all community practice locations as well as all research operations. Furthermore, he will oversee the management of the enterprise-wide physical plant, including an estimated $1.1 billion in new construction projects.

Prior to coming to City of Hope, Walker served as the chief operating officer for The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center and the James Cancer Hospital, overseeing and integrating the administrative and operational structure to support the program’s research and clinical missions. During his tenure, the new James Cancer Hospital was built and opened, becoming the third largest cancer hospital in the country.

Walker has also served as executive vice president for the Roswell Park Cancer Research Institute in New York and, prior to his roles at Ohio State and Roswell Park, he held administrative leadership positions at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute during his 14 years at that institution.

Walker holds several national leadership positions. He serves as vice-chair of the Alliance of Dedicated Cancer Center executive committee, treasurer of the Association of American Cancer Institutes, and member of the executive and finance committees of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the Cancer Center Administrators Forum.

Walker earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Pennsylvania State University and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh.

About City of Hope

City of Hope is an independent research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Designated as one of only 49 comprehensive cancer centers, the highest recognition bestowed by the National Cancer Institute, City of Hope is also a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, with research and treatment protocols that advance care throughout the world. City of Hope’s main campus is in Duarte, California, just northeast of Los Angeles, with additional locations throughout Southern California. It is ranked as one of "America's Best Hospitals" in cancer by U.S. News & World Report. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a pioneer in the fields of bone marrow transplantation, diabetes and numerous breakthrough cancer drugs based on technology developed at the institution. For more information about City of Hope, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram.