Dr. Stephanie Perkins named as S. Lee Kling Endowed Chair in Radiation Oncology

Stephanie Perkins, MD, a Washington University School of Medicine radiation oncologist and expert in proton therapy, has been named the S. Lee Kling Endowed Chair in Radiation Oncology at The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital. As director of the S. Lee Kling Proton Therapy Center at Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine over the last four years, her many achievements have cemented her position as a national leader dedicated to improving patient outcomes and advancing the proton therapy field.

The chair supports radiation oncology research and treatment at Siteman with an emphasis on proton beam therapy.

Endowed chairs exist in perpetuity to provide outstanding physician-scientists with the resources to pursue groundbreaking research. Dr. Perkins focuses on the late effects of therapy on pediatric cancer survivors, contributing to ongoing breakthroughs that inform and reshape the understanding of radiation therapies.

In her drive for excellence, Dr. Perkins continues the extraordinary legacy of S. Lee Kling, the establishing donor for the chair.

Honoring a Champion for Treatment Innovation

When prominent St. Louis philanthropist, civic leader, and former chair of the Foundation board S. Lee Kling was diagnosed with a hard-to-reach eye tumor, he was forced to travel across the country for the surgery and treatment he needed. The proton beam therapy he received allowed for precise tumor targeting far beyond what is possible with traditional radiation, allowing treatment without damage to delicate surrounding tissues.

To bring this advanced technology to more people—including children, Kling mobilized 200 friends, colleagues, and community members to make a transformative donation to the Foundation. As a result of Kling’s efforts, the S. Lee Kling Endowed Chair in Radiation Oncology was established in 2008, and the

S. Lee Kling Proton Therapy Center opened in December 2013 at Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis.

The center that bears the Kling name is the first single-vault proton center in the country. In addition to housing the world’s first compact proton beam accelerator, for which physician-scientists developed global quality standards and patient protocols, the proton center holds a second unit equipped with pencil-beam scanning technology, the most advanced form of radiation therapy available.

“The S. Lee Kling Proton Therapy Center has been a game-changer for cancer therapy and has given more patients access to specialized treatment closer to home,” Dr. Perkins says. “We’re grateful to the Kling family and other donors for their vision and generosity that continues to help so many families.”

Advancing Clinical Care Through Visionary Leadership

When the installation of this second unit was completed in June 2020, the transition from passive scatter proton therapy to pencil-beam proton therapy required new training, workflow redevelopment, and patient care coordination under Dr. Perkins’ guidance as center director. Even as FLASH (ultra-high dose rate) radiation capabilities were introduced in 2022, Dr. Perkins designed and implemented novel processes to advance clinical care while still maintaining a robust research mission and expanding clinical trials for proton therapy patients.

“Dr. Perkins is an outstanding physician and leader who is contributing to the advancement of knowledge and research in proton therapy,” says Sana Karam, MD, PhD, the James S. McDonnell Professor of Radiation Oncology and head of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Washington University School of Medicine. “She is elevating our proton therapy program and the field of radiation oncology to benefit patients here in St. Louis and around the world.”

Dr. Perkins’ path of distinction has been paved with accolades since she completed her residency in radiation oncology in 2010 as chief resident at Washington University School of Medicine. As the residency program director for Radiation Oncology from 2012 to 2022, Dr. Perkins was instrumental in growing the program while drawing top applicants, ultimately joining only three other faculty members in department history to be named Teacher of the Year twice. As the current chief of pediatric radiotherapy service at Washington University and St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Dr. Perkins manages the care of all children requiring radiation therapy.

Dr. Stephanie Perkins was formally installed as the S. Lee Kling Endowed Chair in Radiation Oncology at The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital during a special ceremony in September 2024.