ASTCT Spotlight: Dr. Olalekan Oluwole, MD, MPH — Advancing Transplantation and Cellular Therapy for Veterans

This spotlight features ASTCT Board member Olalekan Oluwole, MD, MPH, a hematologist–oncologist specializing in stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy, and the director of the cellular therapy research program at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. In this Q&A, he reflects on what inspired his commitment to confronting the most complex problems in lymphoid malignancies, how he leads a high-performing cellular therapy program across Vanderbilt and the Nashville Veteran Affairs (VA), the mentors who guided his path within ASTCT and the advice he offers to early-career clinicians entering this important space.

ASTCT: What inspired you to pursue a career treating hematological malignancies using stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy?  

Dr. Olalekan Oluwole (OO): Cancer causes a lot of morbidity and mortality; hence, I knew I wanted to develop a career in anti-cancer therapy. During my training in hematology and oncology, I was particularly drawn to lymphoid malignancies, especially in the relapse setting, where it seemed that lymphoma was always winning due to excessive mortality and lack of curative treatment options. My desire to join the research team to push back against morbidity and mortality, and promote potentially curative treatment, led me to a career in hematologic malignancies and stem cell transplant. 

ASTCT: What does your day-to-day look like leading the cellular therapy research program at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center?  

OO: I work at Vanderbilt Medical Center and the Nashville Veteran Affairs (VA) hospital, which is the only VA in the country that offers transplant and cellular therapy. We have a well-oiled machine at Vanderbilt and the VA, where we as physicians have invested a lot of time and effort to train competent hands to whom we can delegate specific aspects of the treatment process. 

As the head of the cellular therapy program, I chair the IEC committee meetings and lead the cellular therapy research business team meetings.

My daily clinical routine involves several meetings with our support staff, who do an initial assessment of all referrals to ensure that all records and information are available for me to determine eligibility for transplant or cellular therapy. I often call patients and referring physicians to discuss various nuances of transplant and CAR T treatment. I provide inpatient and outpatient care of transplant and cell therapy patients. At the VA, I also review requests for transplant and cell therapy. I am very happy with what I do because I am able to provide excellent care to patients, including veterans, and I am proud to be a transplant physician at the Nashville VA where our outcomes are as good or better than many academic centers 

ASTCT: What volunteer positions have you held at ASTCT? Can you share a favorite memory? 

OO: I recently joined the Board of Directors, and my favorite memory was walking into the meeting and seeing how kind and welcoming the rest of the team is. I felt immediately welcome, and I see myself thriving amid like-minded people 

ASTCT: What role has ASTCT played in your professional development and leadership journey?  

OO: ASTCT has provided mentors who guided me at critical times in my career journey. I remember as a clinical fellow that I was drawn to Dr. Bipin Savani, who provided excellent career advice, and who continues to be a resource for me in transplant and cell therapy. As a young faculty member and new to ASTCT, I interacted with Dr. Miguel Perales, who also provided very thoughtful answers to my questions about how ASTCT works. I am grateful for these and other mentors at ASTCT who are ever so willing to provide counsel. 

ASTCT: What advice would you give to early-career clinicians or researchers interested in cellular therapy and transplantation? 

OO: Get involved early, attend ASTCT meetings and seek out one of the many leaders who can provide guidance like the kind I benefitted from 

ASTCT: Outside of your clinical and research work, what’s something you enjoy that might surprise your colleagues or ASTCT members? 

OO: I love exploring different cultures and their cuisine.