Ann D. Thor, MD, who has served as chair of University of Colorado Anschutz Department of Pathology for more than 20 years, will step down from her leadership position July 1.
As chair, Thor led the department through a period of remarkable growth and transformation. Pathology transitioned from a basic science department to a clinical department in 2023, recognizing its emergence in the academic medical pathology field. Thor was the first permanent female chair of a School of Medicine basic science department, as well as the Department of Pathology.
During the past 20 years, the department experienced a fivefold growth in faculty, a sixfold increase in financial assets, a threefold increase in subspecialty fellowship programs, and a complete transition to subspecialty-based practices at most sites. Notably, the number of women in all academic ranks, including tenured professors, increased from 10% to 50%.
“I would like to express my deep appreciation for Dr. Thor’s enormous contributions to our school,” said John Sampson, MD, PhD, MBA, vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine. “She has been a powerful force who has changed the field. We are grateful for all she has done.”
The CU Anschutz School of Medicine will commence a national search for Thor’s successor. In the interim, Scott Lucia, MD, professor of Pathology, will serve as chair.
Thor’s research in tumor immunology, genetic, genomic, and hormonal drivers of breast cancer were supported by over $5 million in external funding, and resulted in over 200 scientific papers in Nature, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the New England Journal of Medicine, and other highly regarded journals. She also authored 30 book chapters, one book, 120 additional proceedings and non-refereed papers, and two patents.
Her lifetime scientific contributions have been externally rated with an h-index over 70, reaching the elite, world-class tier of academic influence, shaping medical guidelines and clinical trials. Some of the monoclonal antibodies, clinical guidelines, and novel cell lines she developed are used in medical practices, commercially produced, and in research today.
Thor’s career includes significant contributions to national and international scientific and medical organizations, serving as a member or leader of four National Cancer Institute (NCI)/National Institutes of Health study sections, the NCI Board of Scientific Counselors and Internal NCI Review teams, and lead or long-term member of State of California and Canadian study sections.
Thor was an active participant or co-principal investigator in numerous multi-institutional cooperative group breast cancer trials with Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) or the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) and managed their trial associated tissue banks and correlative scientific studies for over a decade.
Thor has also held significant positions in professional groups including chair of the 12,000-member Women in Cancer Research of the American Association of Cancer Research, board of directors of the American Society of Breast Disease, president and council member of the International Society of Breast Pathology, as well as chair of several committees for the Association of Pathology Chairs.
She also served the College of American Pathologists in various roles over 30 years, including Council of Government and Professional Affairs Committee, Research Committee, Cancer Committee and as a State of Colorado delegate to the house of Delegates of the College of American Pathology (CAP).
In July, Thor will receive the lifetime Distinguished Service Award from the Association for Academic Pathology (AAPath) of the US and Canada, at their annual meeting in Boston. Other notable awards include:
- Benjamin Castleman and Stowell Orbison awards from the International Academy of Pathology
- Career Development Award from the American Cancer Society
- ECOG Young Investigator Award
- Arthur Purdy Stout Award 1999
- Redbook Magazine designation of “Top Breast Cancer Doctor” in 2001
- University of Oklahoma Provost’s Award for Faculty Research
- one of Newsweek Magazine “Top Doctors for Cancer” in 2015
- the Society for Immunotherapy Cancer Team Science Award in 2026
Before joining CU, Thor was the first female chair of pathology at the University of Oklahoma. Thor had completed a decade of subspecialty fellowships, including breast biology/immunology at the Ludwig Institute in England; tumor immunology and biology at the NIH/NCI; surgical pathology and cytopathology at the University of California, San Francisco; gynecologic pathology at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard University; and cytopathology at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. Thor also completed fellowships with Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) and HERS Leadership Institute for women leaders in Higher Education.
