Remembering Arti Hurria, M.D.

The City of Hope community was devastated by the untimely death of Arti Hurria, M.D., director of City of Hope’s Center for Cancer and Aging. She is survived by her husband, Thomas Lee, M.D., and her daughter, Serena, as well as her legacy at City of Hope, where she pioneered geriatric cancer care and was beloved by those who had the privilege to work with her. 

“Dr. Arti Hurria was known by many and loved by all who had the pleasure to work with her,” said Robert Stone, president and chief executive officer of City of Hope. “Her passion for her patients, her team and her colleagues was only surpassed by her passion for her family, especially her daughter.”

“I am always cautious to use the term ‘perfect’ for my colleagues in academic medicine,” said Sumanta Pal, M.D., co-director of the Kidney Cancer Program at City of Hope. “Some might excel in clinical medicine, but lack in research expertise – some may excel in hospital politics, but they lack interpersonal skills that guide day-to-day interactions with peers. Dr. Hurria was flawless. She was perfect in every way.”

Hurria, the George Tsai Family Chair in Geriatric Oncology, specialized in treating cancer patients who are 65 and older. A trained geriatrician and oncologist who served fellowships at Harvard and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Hurria focused on improving treatments for older patients while minimizing side effects that could affect quality of life.