William Tse

William Tse, MD, MBA, FACP

Professor of Medicine 

MetroHealth Professorship in Research

Chief, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Deputy Director, MetroHealth Cancer Center

Co-director, National Center of Regenerative Medicine

Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

William Tse is a clinical academician with national and international recognition. He is not only a competent bedside clinician in intensive oncology care, but also has comprehensive healthcare management knowledge, skills, and business acumen for today’s complex medical market. 

Dr. William Tse received his medical degree from Sun Yet-Sen University School of Medicine in China, a school founded by American Missionaries with a long-standing history and tradition of outstanding academic achievements. 

Upon graduation, Dr. Tse went on to receive surgical training focusing on Thoracic Oncology. He then pursued his research fellowship at the Princess Margaret Hospital/Ontario Cancer Institute and The Hospital for Sick Children at the University of Toronto, where he produced a seminal work characterizing one of the important chromosomal translocations, t (1;11) (q21; q23), in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This was one of the earliest molecular cloning efforts to characterize the MLL fusion gene, AF1q, in AML. Over the last twenty years, he has been a pioneer in developing the clinical translational research program from discovering the AF1q gene to clinical targeting treatment in cancers.

Completing his Internal Medicine residency at the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, he then completed medical oncology and stem cell transplantation fellowship at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, the University of Washington School of Medicine. Prior to holding his current position, he was the Marion F. Beard Endowed Chair and Chief, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation at James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville (UofL)School of Medicine. 

Dr. Tse’s research interests are focused on three major areas: 1) Early phase cancer therapeutics, cellular and immunotherapies for blood cancers and other non-malignant disorders; 2) Laboratory-based translational research in normal and cancer stem cell signaling profiles and pre-clinical animal models for therapeutics; 3) Applying the economic game theories in medical economics and hospital’s operational efficiency management (Tse’s administrative areas). 

Since taking over the role as the Chief of Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation at UofL, Dr. Tse has systemically applied the 14 Toyota Way Principles to revitalize and modernize one of the oldest BMT programs in the US. Today the program has enjoyed the highest ratings for quality and efficiency of patient care in the program’s history since its inception in the middle of the 1980s. Under the leadership of Dr. Tse, the UofL BMT program has become the premier option for some of the Kentucky blood cancer patients. The notable achievements of the BMT division under the leadership of Dr. Tse is a record of growth and success as well as a pivotal example of innovation on how academic medical services can be built differently. 

Building a top-notch Hematologic Malignancies and BMT program, focusing on patient-centered and quality driven in the Commonwealth of Kentucky 

Under Dr. Tse’s leadership, the entire BMT staff embrace patient-centered values of innovation, collaboration, confidentiality, empathy, and integrity. The team puts the patient’s benefit first. The program focuses on providing the safest and most effective new technologies to all patients; closely monitoring patients to ensure continuous clinical excellence; assessing all patient concerns, including clinical, psychological, and financial issues; and performing constant audits on all aspects of care that influence patient outcomes and satisfaction. This comprehensive patient care system rapidly uplifts the quality of care of transplant patients and differentiates the UofL Hematologic Malignancies and BMT program from its “competitors.” The long-term survival of UofL BMT patients is among the top tier in the nation, and BMT Division has gained a reputation as the Center of excellence from all major commercial carriers. To date, the BMT Division is the only BMT program to receive the Blue Distinction Recognition in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.   

Development of innovative in-house CAR T cell therapies and related translational sciences

The Division has built arrays of strong innovative clinical and translational science programs that coherently surround the hematologic malignancies and BMT-related clinical focuses. Dr. Tse successfully obtained a total of 2.5 million phases I/II funding from the State of Kentucky and 1.5 million from the Thomas Dunbar Family Foundation to support: 1. An IND for the first-in-human anti-CD4 CAR T therapy for T-cell malignancies recently approved by the FDA; 2. Two additional INDs for the compound (dual targeting and armored with vaccine component and safety-switch) CAR T therapies for AML and multiple myeloma are actively developing in collaboration with iCell Gene Therapeutics. 

Achievements at the MetroHealth System Cancer Center/Case Western Reserve University

Dr. Tse was recruited by the MetroHealth System Cancer Center, affiliated with Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, as the Deputy Cancer Center Director and Chief of Hematology/Oncology to rebuild the under-stressed cancer program and clinical trial operation in 2020. Within two years under his leadership, the cancer center has successfully recruited six R01 funded scientists who brought in a total of 15 new R01; Eleven clinical faculty members; tripled the cancer therapeutic trial enrollment; and achieved 30-70% business volume growth.  Under the leadership of Dr. Tse, the MetroHealth System has invested nearly 4 million dollars to building a GMP facility that is able to produce the GMP grade CAR T vector (first in the NE Ohio) and cellular production.   

Dr. Tse feels most honored by the trust and confidence his patients and colleagues have for him. He credits the faculty and staff who have demonstrated incredible morals, ethics, passion for innovation, entrepreneurial spirit, and heartfelt commitment for making the UofL and MetroHealth System BMT programs stand out to reach even greater heights than he could envision.  

Education:

1980-1986     MD, Sun Yat-Sen University School of Medical 

Guangzhou, Guangdong, P. R. CHINA

1986-1990     Intern/Resident, Thoracic Surgery in Oncology

                        Department of Thoracic Surgery

                        Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center

Guangzhou, Guangdong, P. R. China 

1. Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Department of Biophysics (Mark Minden’s lab)

The Princess Margaret Hospital/Ontario Cancer Institute 

University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

1. Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Research Scientist

Division of Immunology & Cancer (Amos Cohen’s lab)

The Hospital For Sick Children 

University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

1. Resident, Department of Pathology

North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health Care System

New York University School of Medicine, Manhasset, NY, USA

1. Intern, Department of Medicine

North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health Care System

Long Island Campus for Albert Einstein College of Medicine 

New Hyde Park, NY, USA

1. Resident, Department of Medicine

North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health Care System

Long Island Campus for Albert Einstein College of Medicine 

New Hyde Park, NY, USA

1. Senior Medical Oncology Fellow

Divisions of Clinical Research and Medical Oncology 

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA

2016-2018     Executive MBA Program (Complete In-person Classroom Program

(Ranked World-wide #27 by CEO Magazine 2018)

Joint Program under the University of Louisville/University of Kentucky