Moffitt director Ruckdeschel will step down

TAMPA -- After 10 years at the helm of the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Dr. John Ruckdeschel said Wednesday night that he will step down as chief executive when his contract expires June 30.

Ruckdeschel, 56, will remain part of Moffitt's research team and will return to his practice. He also will continue his teaching duties at the University of South Florida's College of Medicine, where he is an internationally known expert on lung cancer.

When he was hired in 1992, Ruckdeschel said his goal was to ensure that Moffitt became a "comprehensive cancer center" as designated by the National Cancer Institute. The center achieved that goal during his tenure.

He said that made the decision to step down a bit easier.

"Over the years, we have attracted national and international attention while we have grown our faculty and expanded our scope of services," Ruckdeschel said in a news release.

"We have attained one of the medical profession's highest honors. I feel I can now step back into patient care and research knowing that I have helped lay the foundation for continuing excellence at the Moffitt Cancer Center."

Ruckdeschel could not be reached for comment Wednesday night. He recently announced his intention to marry Angie Stone, a Moffitt nurse. The wedding is scheduled for June 15.

Since coming to Florida from New York 10 years ago, Ruckdeschel has been a major presence in the Tampa Bay area.

He is on the board of directors of SunTrust Bank and is a trustee at Jesuit High School. He is the president of the Florida Division of the American Cancer Society.

He also is a board member for the American Society of Clinical Oncology and a member of the American Association for Cancer Research. He has authored or co-authored more than 250 cancer-related medical articles.

Ruckdeschel came here from Albany Medical College, where he was director of the Joint Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.

He was named director and chief executive officer of Moffitt after an 18-month search.

The past few years have been particularly satisfying for Ruckdeschel, who has helped Moffitt garner significant state and federal support.

Just last week, Florida lawmakers approved a budget that guarantees the cancer center $66-million over the next 12 years. The money will go toward construction of a 330,000-square-foot research tower at its on-campus facility.

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