Dr. Charles M. Balch, MD, FACS, FASCO

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Get to know Surgical Oncologist Dr. Charles M. Balch, an academic leader in surgical oncology in Houston, Texas.

A seasoned surgical oncologist, Dr. Balch is an international leader in surgical oncology, amassing a remarkable 49-year career, distinguished by significant contributions to the understanding and treatment of melanoma and breast cancer. His expertise extends beyond clinical practice into the realms of laboratory and clinical research, particularly in tumor immunology and immunotherapy.

Academically, his career is rooted in a solid foundation of rigorous education and specialized training. He earned his Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from Columbia College of Physicians & Surgeons in New York, NY, USA, followed by an internship in surgery at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC, USA, and a surgical residency at the University of Alabama, Birmingham. He also undertook an immunology research fellowship at the Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation in La Jolla, CA, and served as a specialist in the General Clinical Research Centers Branch of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD.

In 1975, Dr. Balch was appointed to the surgical faculty at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, serving in various capacities as Chief of Surgical Oncology in the Department of Surgery, and Associate Director of Clinical Studies in the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center. In 1985, He was appointed as Head, Division of Surgery, Anesthesia, and Dental Oncology and Chair of the Department of Surgical Oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; later, he served as Vice-President of Hospital and Clinics, Medical Director of MD Anderson Outreach Corporation, and Executive Vice-President for Health Affairs. Beginning in 1996, he served in leadership positions as President and CEO of the City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, CA, as Executive Vice-President and CEO of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Alexandria VA, as Professor of Surgery, Oncology, and Dermatology, and Deputy Director for Clinical Studies and Outcomes Research at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions in Baltimore MD, and as Professor of Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas TX. In 2015, he returned to UT MD Anderson Cancer Center where he is currently practicing as Professor and Past-Chair of Surgical Oncology.

With a prodigious  tally of over 850 publications to his name, Dr. Balch’s work has significantly impacted the biomedical landscape, garnering over 35,000 citations in the biomedical literature—an average of 75 citations per article. His influence transcends borders, having lectured in more than 42 countries worldwide and at numerous academic institutions across the United States.

Dr Balch was tthe founding Editor-in-Chief of the Annals of Surgical Oncology, widely regarded as the premier journal in its field, whose content has a pivotal role in shaping the discourse of surgical oncology in over 100 countries globally. He is the Founding Editor of Cutaneous Melanoma, regarded as the authoritative textbook on melanoma, now in its 6th edition (Springer Publications). Dr Balch is passionate about cancer patient education, and initiated Resource Cancer Guides, now in its 15th year as its Founding Editor-in-Chief, which distributes nearly one million cancer guides (with 51 different titles) on request  to cancer patients each year (www.patientresource.com).

Dr Balch has organized or participated in randomized surgical trials that have defined the current standards of melanoma surgery, either through the World Health Organization Melanoma Program or as Principal Investigator of the Intergroup Melanoma Surgical Trial. He has also led 5 multi-institutional randomized clinical trials involving various combinations of adjuvant biological therapy or chemotherapy in high-risk melanoma patients. His research helped shape the staging of cutaneous melanoma that is now used worldwide.

Dr. Balch’s has held leadership roles in many professional organizations, including the Society of Surgical Oncology (as President), the American Board of Surgery (Board of Directors), the Association of Academic Surgeons (President), the International Sentinel Node Society (as President), the Commission on Cancer (Chair, Board of Directors), the National Comprehensive Cancer Centers Network (Founding Board of Directors), and the American Joint Committee on Cancer (Executive Committee and Chair of the Melanoma Staging Committee). He holds honorary memberships in many national and international organizations (including the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, the Japan Surgical Society, the National Academy of Medicine of Mexico, Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology, British Society of Surgical Oncology, Italian Society of Surgical Oncology, Mexican Society of Oncology, Brazilian Society of Surgical Oncology, Latin America Societies of Surgical Oncology, and the European Society of Surgical Oncology), a Ph.D. degree (Honora causa) from the University of Crete, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the British Association of Surgical Oncology, Professor Emeritus from John Hopkins University, and the Highest Alumni Award from his alma mater, The University of Toledo.

In addition to his many professional activities, Dr Balch has volunteered for not-for-profit organizations, including Health Volunteers Overseas. World Vision, Patient Advocacy Foundation, American College of Surgeons Foundation (Founding Board of Directors), Manned Space Flight Education Foundation and NASA Space Center Houston (Founding Board of Directors), and Undying Hope International (Chair, Board of Directors).

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