Dr. Howard A. "Skip" Burris III is a distinguished oncologist and leader in cancer research who served as President of Clinical Operations and Chief Medical Officer for Sarah Cannon, the global cancer institute of HCA Healthcare. He received his undergraduate education at the United States Military Academy at West Point, earned his medical degree from the University of South Alabama, and completed his internal medicine residency and oncology fellowship at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. During his military service, he attained the rank of lieutenant colonel in the US Army and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster for service in Operation Joint Endeavor. Dr. Burris established the first community-based phase I drug development program in Nashville in 1997, which evolved into the Sarah Cannon Research Institute, demonstrating his early commitment to expanding clinical trial access beyond traditional academic settings. His career has been defined by a dedication to bringing cutting-edge cancer research directly to patients in community healthcare environments.
Dr. Burris pioneered the community-based model for conducting phase I clinical trials, fundamentally transforming how early-stage cancer drug development is approached by bringing these critical studies directly to patients in their local communities. He led numerous first-in-human studies for now-approved cancer therapies that have significantly altered the standard of care for multiple cancer types, with his research contributing to over 850 first-in-human trials that led to FDA-approved treatments. His visionary leadership established that the majority of cancer patients treated in community settings could actively participate in cutting-edge clinical research without needing to travel to academic medical centers. This paradigm shift has enabled more diverse patient populations to access novel therapies while maintaining their care close to home, addressing critical barriers to clinical trial participation that had previously limited cancer research. The infrastructure and collaborative approach he developed at Sarah Cannon have become a model for community-based oncology research worldwide.
Having served as ASCO President for the 2019-2020 term, Dr. Burris has held extensive leadership roles within the American Society of Clinical Oncology, including service on the Board of Directors, chairing the Cancer Research Committee and Nominating Committee, and co-chairing the Ethics Committee. He was named a Fellow of ASCO in 2010 in recognition of his significant contributions to the field of oncology. After retiring as President and Chief Medical Officer of Sarah Cannon Research Institute, he continued to provide guidance in an advisory capacity, supporting relationships with biopharma partners and steering key initiatives related to Accelero. Dr. Burris's enduring legacy lies in proving that high-quality, innovative cancer research can successfully thrive outside traditional academic institutions, thereby expanding access to novel treatments for countless cancer patients across diverse community settings. His commitment to patient-centered research continues to influence the field as new generations of oncologists adopt his community-based approach to clinical trial design and implementation.
