Awards and Honors

Sharmas Honored at Investiture Ceremony

Two distinguished members of The University of Kansas Cancer Center were formally invested with professorships on March 21, 2023. Endowed professorships recognize the cancer center’s most productive faculty and are made possible by generous donors. 

Priyanka Sharma, MD, professor in the Department of Medical Oncology at the University of Kansas School of Medicine and co-leader of the cancer center’s Drug Discovery, Delivery and Experimental Therapeutics research program, was invested with the Elaine Blaylock Cancer Research Professorship. 

A breast medical oncologist, Dr. Sharma is a leading expert on triple-negative breast cancer. She has dedicated much of her career to identifying more effective therapies to treat this aggressive subtype of breast cancer. She serves as vice chair for the breast committee of the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) and is a member of the SWOG Board of Governors and National Cancer Institute breast cancer steering committee. In 2022, Dr. Sharma was named chair-elect of the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Research Committee.

Prateek Sharma, MD, professor of medicine and director of GI Fellowship Training at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, was invested with the Frank B. Tyler Cancer Research Professorship. Dr. Sharma is a renowned gastroenterologist and scientist focusing on esophageal diseases, including cancer. Currently, he is president-elect of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, serves as chair on the Esophageal Diseases, Ad hoc Committee of World Endoscopy Organization and chairs the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy artificial intelligence task force.

Both professorships are appointed positions made by Roy Jensen, MD, vice chancellor and director of The University of Kansas Cancer Center.

“Drs. Priyanka and Prateek Sharma are outstanding leaders and experts in their respective fields,” Dr. Jensen said. “Through these endowed chairs, both can pursue more innovative ideas and create more interdisciplinary collaborations leading to advances in cancer care.”

Sally Maliski, PhD, FAAN, served as the dean of the University of Kansas School of Nursing since January 2016 and announced her retirement effective January 2024. During Dr. Maliski’s tenure as dean, she oversaw numerous initiatives, including the expansion of the nursing school to the Salina campus and the launch of the Community College Nursing Partnership program. She also served as associate director for Health Equity at The University of Kansas Cancer Center from 2016 to 2019. As associate director for Health Equity, Dr. Maliski oversaw the cancer center’s community outreach and education work.  

Dr. Maliski’s research has centered on quality of life and the management of cancer treatment-related symptoms among underserved populations. She has served as the principal investigator for two Department of Defense-funded studies and three National Institutes of Health-funded studies focused on the effects of prostate cancer treatment, quality of life and family roles.

“It has been an honor to serve the University of Kansas School of Nursing over these past 8 years. I have had the privilege of working with stellar scholars and clinicians across the University of Kansas Medical Center and The University of Kansas Cancer Center. It has been a fulfilling and meaningful time,” Dr. Maliski says.