Dr. Charis Eng was a pioneering cancer geneticist and world-renowned leader in genomic medicine who founded and served as inaugural Chair of the Genomic Medicine Institute at Cleveland Clinic. Born in Singapore in 1962, she grew up there and in Bristol, UK, entering the University of Chicago at age 16 and graduating in 1982. She earned both her medical degree from the UC Pritzker School of Medicine in 1986 and a doctoral degree in 1988, completing her clinical training with residencies at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School followed by fellowships at Brigham & Women's Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine. Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic in 2005, she established and directed The Ohio State University James Cancer Hospital's Clinical Cancer Genetics Program, where she became co-director of the division of human genetics and later full professor and division director.
Dr. Eng's groundbreaking research established the paradigm for clinical cancer genetics through her seminal work characterizing PTEN mutations and their association with Cowden Syndrome and autism spectrum disorder, fundamentally transforming the understanding of genetic predisposition to cancer. Her research on RET testing in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 became the gold standard for clinical cancer genetics practice and provided the scientific foundation for precision oncology implementation. As one of only four formally trained clinical cancer geneticists in the United States, she pioneered the integration of genomic information into clinical practice and was universally recognized as a foremost authority on implementing genetic- and omics-informed personalized healthcare. Her work bridged the critical gap between genomic discovery and clinical application, establishing new models for how genetic information could be translated into actionable patient care strategies.
Dr. Eng's enduring legacy extends far beyond her scientific contributions through her transformative leadership in establishing foundational programs including the Center for Personalized Genetic Healthcare and the PTEN Multidisciplinary Clinic: Center of Excellence at Cleveland Clinic. Elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2010, she held the prestigious Sondra J. and Stephen R. Hardis Endowed Chair in Cancer Genomic Medicine and was honored with the American Cancer Society Clinical Research Professorship and Medal of Honor. Renowned for her mentorship and collaborative spirit, she inspired generations of trainees who now lead genomic medicine programs worldwide, with her colleagues describing her as welcoming, brilliant, and devoted to advancing patient care through genomic insights. Her vision continues to shape the field of genomic medicine as healthcare systems globally implement the personalized approaches she championed throughout her distinguished career.
