Kolawole S. Okuyemi, MD, MPH, and David Horne, PhD

Kolawole S. Okuyemi and David Horne Added to Masonic Cancer Center’s External Advisory Board

Kolawole S. Okuyemi, MD, MPH, and David Horne, PhD, will join the External Advisory Board of the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota.

“We are very excited to have Drs. Okuyemi and Horne join our External Advisory Board,” said Douglas Yee, MD, Director of the Masonic Cancer Center. “Dr. Okuyemi’s familiarity with our center and the state of Minnesota will provide the Board with a unique insight into efforts focused on the cancer burden in our community. Dr. Horne is a renowned researcher with expertise in drug discovery. He will provide important advice and direction in our program in cancer experimental therapeutics.”

Dr. Okuyemi’s experience in cancer health disparities research as well as his familiarity with the University and the people of Minnesota will provide deep insight and valuable feedback to the center’s leadership. He is the Chair of the Family & Preventive Medicine department at the University of Utah School of Medicine. He also serves as a family medicine physician specializing in acute and chronic diseases and cares for patients of all ages.

Dr. Okuyemi has extensive experience with the University of Minnesota as a former Professor and the inaugural Endowed Chair for Health Equity Research in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Minnesota Medical School. He also served as the Director for the Program in Health Disparities Research and Director of Cancer Health Disparities for the Masonic Cancer Center.

While at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Okuyemi and Dr. Chris Pennell started the cancer disparities internship program to provide research opportunities to students from historically marginalized communities and/or communities most impacted by health disparities. This may include students who self-identify with a racial/ethnic minority community, first generation college students, LGBTQ peoople, and people of rural and/or disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds.

Dr. Okuyemi received a medical degree from the University of Ilorin in Nigeria and completed a residency in family medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center. He also received a master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Kansas, and completed a public health research fellowship at Morehouse School of Medicine in Georgia.

Dr. Okuyemi’s professional and research interests include improving the health of racial and ethnic minorities and other socio-economically disadvantaged individuals, addressing health disparities, socio-cultural and behavioral risk factors impacting health outcomes, and professional development and mentoring.

Dr. Horne is an internationally renowned medicinal chemist, and for the past twelve years has co-led the Developmental Cancer Therapeutics Program within City of Hope’s NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. In his role as Vice Provost, he oversees the Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, the Postdoctoral Training Office, International Students and Scholars Office, and the Office of Faculty Affairs.

Dr. Horne is Vice Provost and Associate Director of the Beckman Research Institute at City of Hope. He holds the Dr. & Mrs. Allen Y. Chao Chair in Developmental Cancer Therapeutics in the Department of Molecular Medicine and currently directs the small molecule GMP facility and co-directs the Drug Discovery and Structural Biology Core of the Cancer Center.

During his time at City of Hope, Dr. Horne has been instrumental in developing and translating three molecularly targeted small molecules to early phase clinical trials. Along with Steven Rosen, MD, Provost and Director, City of Hope’s Comprehensive Cancer Center Director and other institutional leaders, he helps shape the scientific and educational vision for City of Hope.  

Dr. Horne received a PhD degree in Chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his BS and MS degrees in Chemistry at the University of California, Los Angeles. Prior to joining City of Hope in 2006, he held faculty positions at Columbia University and Oregon State University.  He has been the recipient of several teaching and research awards including an NSF Young Investigator Award and Beckman Young Investigator Award.