Dr. Silvia Formenti, the chair of Radiation Oncology and Sandra and Edward Meyer Professor of Cancer Research at Weill Cornell Medicine, was recently elected to the National Academy of Medicine, one of the highest distinctions in health and medicine. Renowned for her transformative contributions to radiation oncology and breast cancer research, Dr. Formenti has pioneered combining radiotherapy with immunotherapy, aiming to boost patients' immune responses against tumors. This groundbreaking approach, which she first proposed in 2004, has led to extensive clinical trials investigating the synergy between radiation and immune checkpoint inhibitors in combating metastatic solid tumors, including those in the breast, lungs, and brain.

Dr. Formenti’s journey in medicine began with an interdisciplinary background in oncology and immunology, which has allowed her to approach cancer research through innovative angles. Her hypothesis that radiation could have systemic effects—beyond merely controlling local tumors—pushed her to devote years to exploring its role in triggering immune responses. This work has...