Dr. Steven Libutti, who has run the Rutgers Cancer Institute since 2017, was given a more formal title Thursday, when he was named the inaugural William N. Hait Director of Rutgers Cancer Institute, a position named in honor of the institute’s founding director.
The William N. Hait Endowed Directorship at Rutgers Cancer Institute was established through the donation of $7.4 million raised to honor the pioneering contributions to cancer research and care by Dr. Hait.
Hait, who recently retired as the executive vice president, chief external innovation and medical officer at Johnson & Johnson, has held numerous global leadership positions where he focused his teams on addressing unmet medical needs through breakthrough science, transforming the lives of millions of patients worldwide.
During his 14-year tenure as director of Rutgers Cancer Institute, Hait was instrumental in earning the center its prestigious National Cancer Institute designation in 1997 — the first and only in New Jersey. Under his leadership, the center also achieved Comprehensive Cancer Center designation from the NCI in 2002 in a record amount of time.
Libutti, who joined New Jersey’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in 2017, serves as the director of Rutgers Cancer Institute, SVP of Oncology Services for RWJBarnabas Health, and Vice Chancellor for Cancer Programs at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences.
Under his guidance, Rutgers Cancer Institute continues to thrive, recently earning an “Exceptional” score from the NCI — the highest rating given.
“I am deeply honored to be named the inaugural William N. Hait Director, and I am committed to carrying forward Bill’s legacy of visionary leadership, groundbreaking scientific discovery, and dedication to patient care at Rutgers Cancer Institute for generations to come,” he said. “This legacy will be further realized when we open New Jersey’s first freestanding cancer hospital, the Jack and Sheryl Morris Cancer Center, in 2025, where we will continue to deliver the most advanced cancer treatments powered by cutting-edge research to the communities we serve.”
Hait said he was humbled and honored.
“It is truly humbling to see this directorship established in my name, and I can’t think of anyone better suited than Steve to take on this role,” he said. “His leadership has already proven transformative, and I have every confidence that he will continue to elevate Rutgers Cancer Institute’s mission of pushing the boundaries of cancer research and patient care, just as we envisioned from the start.”
The appointment of Libutti was announced during a celebration at Rutgers Cancer Institute in recognition of Hait’s contributions to the center and the field of oncology.
