Steven N. Kalkanis

Steven Kalkanis, M.D., was appointed chief executive officer of the Henry Ford Medical Group and senior vice president and chief academic officer in January 2020. Dr. Kalkanis provides strategic leadership and direction over the 1,900-member group of physicians and researchers responsible for all aspects of clinical performance across 40 specialties. In his role as senior vice president and chief academic officer, Dr. Kalkanis works to advance the health system’s academic mission including the development and growth of all research and medical education programs.

In these roles, he also works collaboratively with health system clinical and operational leaders and national and community partners to provide exceptional patient care and advance Henry Ford’s population health and accountable care strategies.

Dr. Kalkanis joined Henry Ford in 2004 as a board-certified neurosurgeon after completing neurosurgical residency training at the Harvard - Massachusetts General Hospital program. In May 2014, he was named chair of Henry Ford’s Department of Neurosurgery, which is nationally recognized for research and clinical excellence with 33 physicians and scientists. and he also serves as co-director of the Neuroscience Institute.

Additionally, he leads 1,300 cancer physicians, nurses, scientists and administrators as medical director of the Henry Ford Cancer Institute, which has been recognized for innovations ranging from precision medicine and advanced clinical trials to MRI-guided radiation therapy. The HFCI’s newly constructed Brigitte Harris Cancer Pavilion is set to open in 2020.

Dr. Kalkanis received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University, graduating with the highest honors and distinction as a John Harvard Scholar. He earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and received the Linnane Prize for highest overall achievement and served as class marshal.

An internationally recognized brain tumor expert, Dr. Kalkanis serves as president of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the largest association of its kind. In 2018, he was also named a director of the American Board of Neurological Surgery, the official accrediting and credentialing body for all neurosurgeons practicing in the U.S.

Actively involved in clinical trials and research, Dr. Kalkanis leads a translational research laboratory investigating the molecular genetic differences between short- and long-term brain tumor survivors with the goal of refining future personalized medicine treatment protocols. He has also served as a visiting professor and guest lecturer for more than 100 national and international audiences and has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications.