Walter John Curran Jr., MD

For the past several decades, Walter J. Curran Jr., M.D. has focused on oncology patient care and conducting clinical and translational cancer research at the institutional level, national cooperative or network group level, and the global level. He has specialized in adult patients who have been diagnosed with either a brain tumor or lung cancer.

From 2021 to 2023, Dr. Curran served as the global chief medical officer of GenesisCare, the largest provider of radiation oncology care in the world and one of the largest global providers of cancer care. In this role, he accelerated the group's global capacity to conduct high-impact cancer research across four continents. Previously, he served as executive director of Winship Cancer Institute (Winship) from 2009 to 2021, successfully leading Winship to align its cancer care and cancer prevention efforts with its research and education programs. His work lessened the cancer burden across the state of Georgia. Winship was approved as the latest NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center effective April 1, 2017. Dr. Curran also served as one of the founding leaders of NRG Oncology, which began its involvement as one of four adult NCI-supported National Clinical Trials Network groups in 2014. As NRG Oncology group chair, he integrated the outstanding science of cancer investigators with the national and international reach of a large NCI-supported network group.

In January 2024, Dr. Curran joined Piedmont as the inaugural chief of Piedmont Oncology Institute. As of February 2025, Dr. Curran is the Whitaker Endowed Chief of Piedmont Oncology.
He is committed to transforming cancer care and leading Piedmont Oncology as one of the nation's premier community-based programs providing care that is fully aligned with discovery and innovation.