Dr. Ruben Mesa leads Atrium Health’s mission and programs against cancer as president, Atrium Health Levine Cancer; executive director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI)- designated Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center; vice dean for cancer programs and professor of medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine; and senior vice president for Atrium Health. Dr. Mesa oversees the cancer practice, research and education across the Atrium Health system. Mesa previously was the executive director of the NCI-designated Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson from 2017-2023 where he developed and grew the cancer service line, co-led the development and construction of a new cancer focused hospital, grew cancer faculty, peer reviewed funded research and successful renewed the NCI designation in 2020.

Mesa is a leader in hematologic cancers, dedicating over 20 years research and drug development for myeloproliferative neoplasms with a focuses on MPN biology, novel therapeutics and over 100 clinical trials, symptom assessment tools and non-pharmacological interventions to alleviate MPN symptoms. He has over 800 publications, 400 peer-reviewed manuscripts, 15 book chapters. He is an international speaker on MPNs with over 600 lectures and visiting professorships.