Brunet, Lesley W.

Margaret Kripke, Ph.D. is widely regarded as a trailblazer and role model for women in medical science, academia and executive leadership. She has supported and mentored countless colleagues, employees and trainees throughout her distinguished career. Dr. Kripke’s many accomplishments include: first woman chair of an M.D. Anderson academic department, Immunology; pioneering research focused on ultraviolet radiation’s role in skin cancer; creation of the field of photoimmunology, the study of interactions between light and the immune system; first female member of the institution’s management and executive committee; first woman to attain the title of Senior Vice President and, ultimately, Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer; two-time appointment by President George W. Bush to the three-person President’s Cancer panel, on which she continues to serve under President Barack Obama.

A native of California, Dr. Kripke received her Ph.D. in immunology from the University of California at Berkeley and completed postdoctoral work at Ohio State University. After three years on the University of Utah faculty, she joined the National Cancer Institute – Frederick Cancer Research Facility, where she advanced to director of the Cancer Biology program. After joining M.D. Anderson in 1983 as professor and founding chair of the Department of Immunology, she entered administration in 1998 as Vice President for Academic Programs. She was promoted to Senior Vice President in 1999 and Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer in 2001.

Dr. Kripke’s reputation at M.D. Anderson and throughout the international cancer research community led to the 2008 establishment of the Margaret L. Kripke Legend Award. This award recognizes scientific and medical leaders who have made extraordinary efforts to hire a diverse workforce, promote women to leadership roles, nominate women for awards and otherwise advance their careers.