World-renowned surgical oncologist Dr. Claudius Conrad has joined Carle Illinois College of Medicine, bringing new opportunities to advance cutting-edge cancer care and mentor the next generation of physician-innovators.
Conrad’s new role includes leadership appointments at Carle Health and the Cancer Center at Illinois, laying the groundwork for increased collaboration in research and innovation that translates into tangible solutions for patients.
“What attracted me to the University of Illinois is the possibility of leveraging its culture of cutting-edge technology and innovation to advance patient-centered care. I’ve already experienced here how the college’s emphasis on innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration can lead to breakthrough discoveries for our patients,” Conrad said.
An internationally recognized expert in minimally invasive surgery to treat liver, pancreatic, and biliary tract cancers, Conrad brings a wealth of experience to Illinois and Carle Health, integrating research, clinical practice, and medical education in his new roles. His work focuses on curing progressive cancers, in part through the development of surgical and diagnostic technologies that minimize trauma for patients. “And by coming here, I’m aiming to leverage our community of really brilliant innovators, from students to seasoned investigators, to develop innovative ways of curing cancer,” Conrad said.
Conrad's arrival offers expanded opportunities to Carle Illinois College of Medicine (CI MED) students. He opens a new area of medical expertise to enrich their medical education and will provide mentorship as they explore ideas to revolutionize health care. “I strongly believe that the students who are here are so well prepared to be leaders in future health care, and I would be honored to be a part of their journey in becoming one of those leaders,” Conrad said.
As Director of Translational Research at the Cancer Center at Illinois and as Medical Director of Surgical Strategy and Innovation at Carle Health, Conrad plans to strengthen collaborations between the Carle Health System, CCIL, and CI MED. “I do think the Cancer Center at Illinois has incredible ideas and incredible solutions to clinical problems being developed every day. However, there needs to be a vehicle to bring them to the bedside, to make them clinically applicable, and to have the students, as the future of medicine, be part of this journey,” Conrad said. As part of that work, Conrad will lead CCIL’s Cancer Scholars for Translational and Applied Research (C*STAR) program for graduate and medical student research scholars, connecting clinical faculty with CCIL researchers through translational projects.
A classically trained concert pianist, Conrad pioneered research into music’s role in medicine, to benefit both clinicians and patients. “We have tried to investigate how does the body mediate music-induced relaxation, how does music impact surgical performance when the surgeon operates, how does it impact the team in the operating room, not only health care providers, but also families of patients, who we feel are under-researched in health care today.” Conrad plans to leverage Illinois’ expertise in artificial intelligence to expand his research into therapeutic applications for music.
Conrad has been affiliated with some of the top medical research facilities in the world. He earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School, and then trained at Massachusetts General Hospital during his general surgery residency. He completed a surgical oncology fellowship at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and a research fellowship at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, followed by two minimally invasive and robotic hepatobiliary fellowships at Institut Mutualiste in Moutsouris, Paris, and the University of Tokyo in Japan. He holds dual doctorate degrees in biology and musical science.
He comes to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign after serving as Chief of General Surgery and Surgical Oncology at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Boston and Professor of Surgery at Boston University School of Medicine.
Conrad started in his new roles at Illinois in mid-March.