Thaker Named Chief of Gynecologic Oncology

Nationally recognized clinical trials expert also known for outstanding patient care

Premal H. Thaker, MD, MS, a physician-scientist recognized for her expertise in conducting clinical trials, authoring numerous medical and scientific publications and outstanding patient care, has been named chief of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at WashU Medicine. In this role, she oversees a continuum of research and clinical approaches aimed at improving the treatment of ovarian, cervical, endometrial and other gynecologic cancers at Siteman Cancer Center, based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine.

A member of WashU Medicine’s faculty since 2006, Thaker has served as interim director of the division for the past 17 months. She also is the David G. and Lynn Mutch Distinguished Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and director of Gynecological Oncology Clinical Research at WashU Medicine. As a surgeon, she is a member of the multidisciplinary teams at Siteman that provide personalized care incorporating the specific needs of each patient.

“I am honored and humbled to lead such a great team of physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, scientists and staff who are committed to excellent patient care and cutting-edge research in gynecologic malignancies,” Thaker said. “I am excited by the opportunity to continue to expand our service line both locally and regionally to help more patients receive care from Wash U Medicine and Siteman Cancer Center.”

She succeeds Matthew A. Powell, MD, the Ira C. and Judith Gall Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, who served as chief of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology from 2015-2024.

The division’s mission is to improve care through exceptional clinical service, research, education and community engagement. Specialties within the division include advanced minimally invasive benign gynecologic surgery and gynecologic oncologic surgeries, fertility-sparing medical and surgical options for gynecologic oncology diseases, and reconstructive surgery. Pediatric, adolescent and young adult gynecologic care is also offered.

Thaker earned her undergraduate degree in biology from Villanova University in Villanova, Pa., and her medical degree from Allegheny University of the Health Sciences in Philadelphia through a prestigious six-year BA/MD program. She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, also in Philadelphia, and her fellowship in gynecologic oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. She also holds a master’s degree in cancer biology from the University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, also in Houston. Additionally, Thaker received training in laparoscopic lymph node dissection at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin in Germany.

In recognition of her outstanding patient care, she has been consistently named to the St. Louis Magazine and Castle Connolly Top Doctors lists since 2013 and 2021, respectively.

Thaker also is an accomplished clinical investigator in translational research and is recognized for her expertise in conducting clinical trials. She has co-led a collaborative R01 program that explored biobehavioral influences such as social isolation on ovarian cancer progression. This work began during her fellowship at MD Anderson and resulted in a landmark publication in 2006 in Nature Medicine titled, “Chronic stress promotes tumor growth and angiogenesis in a mouse model of ovarian carcinoma.” This collaborative research has resulted in more than 24 articles in such journals as Cancer, the Journal of Clinical Oncology and Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.

She also has been part of WashU Medicine and Siteman’s endometrial Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE), first received in 2009, evaluating ERK signaling in endometrial cancer and its potential for therapeutic targeting. Thaker continues to engage in translational research evaluating stress on ovarian cancer immunology, with her colleague Melanie Flint, PhD, at the University of Brighton in the United Kingdom. This work was published by their mutual graduate student Marta Falcinelli, PhD, in Brain, Behavior and Immunity in 2023. Thaker has published more than 200 peer-reviewed manuscripts, nine reviews and 11 chapters. See her research profile here.

Under Thaker’s leadership, WashU Medicine has been named among the top five sites for patient accrual for Lead Academic Participating Site (LAPS) and GOG Partners clinical trials. She has been the national principal investigator of two GOG Foundation clinical trials, four national pharmaceutical trials and three investigator-initiated trials. Thaker also serves on several Data and Safety Monitoring Boards for clinical trials. She has chaired the Early Business Development Subcommittee for GOG Partners since 2021 and has led efforts of the Association of Community Cancer Centers to educate the greater medical oncology community about ideal ovarian cancer care, leading to a white paper in Cancer in 2022. Thaker also represents Siteman Cancer Center on the ovarian cancer guidelines committee of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), an alliance of 33 leading cancer centers that convenes world-renowned experts to create national clinical practice guidelines.

Since joining the WashU Medicine faculty, Thaker has shown a strong commitment to education and has mentored many medical students, residents, fellows and faculty members. She also contributes to continuing medical education programs locally, nationally and internationally.