Robert Timmerman

Robert Timmerman, M.D., whose research helped lead to the development of a method of delivering radiation that has transformed cancer treatment, became chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology in March 2022. An expert in diseases of the central nervous system, including cancer of the brain, spine, and lung, Dr. Timmerman has championed the use of precise, noninvasive, radio-surgical tools that employ multiple angles to deliver radiation. This approach reduces the levels of toxicity, allowing patients to tolerate the treatment better with fewer side effects. Working with other researchers, he developed a method – known as stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SAbR) or stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) – that uses sophisticated image guidance and tracking to safely deliver radiation. This seminal contribution is widely regarded to have transformed the field of radiation oncology. Dr. Timmerman joined UT Southwestern in 2004 as Professor and Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs in the Department of Radiation Oncology and Director of the Annette Simmons Stereotactic Treatment Center. He has been the Clinical Director of Radiation Oncology since 2014. He graduated from Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering and from the University of Tennessee with a master’s degree in reactor physics. After finishing medical school at the University of South Dakota, he completed a residency in radiation oncology at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. He is a Fellow of both the American Society for Radiation Oncology and the American College of Radiology. In 2019, Dr. Timmerman received UT Southwestern’s Patricia and William L. Watson Jr., M.D. Award for Excellence in Clinical Medicine.