The Penn State College of Medicine announced Monday, April 2, that it has created a new department of radiation oncology. Rickhesvar Mahraj, MD, a professor of radiology and pediatrics, is the department’s interim chair.

“Elevating radiation oncology to its own department will further empower transformational change across our cancer research, education and patient care missions,” Craig Hillemeier, MD, dean of the Penn State College of Medicine, CEO of Penn State Health and Penn State’s senior vice president for health affairs, said in a prepared statement. “Creating this department goes one step further in ensuring that we can deliver the most advanced cancer diagnostics and treatment in the communities we serve.”

Radiation oncology had previously been a division in the school’s department of radiology. A search is now underway for a permanent department chair.

Raymond Hohl, MD, PhD, director of the Penn State Cancer Institute, indicated in the statement that more changes would be announced in the near future. “Over the next few weeks, we will announce additional enhancements to our cancer services, as we pursue endeavors to ensure that patients battling cancer have easier access to the advanced care and clinical trials of our Cancer Institute,” he said. “These enhancements also will ensure that our investigators have the resources they need to turn promising laboratory discoveries into new treatments, vaccines and, potentially, cures.”