Remembering Nathan Berger, MD: Professor, Cancer Researcher, Mentor

Dr. Berger, Founding Director of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center in Cleveland, Ohio, passed away on June 15, 2024, at the age of 83.

Dr. Berger’s 41-year history at Case Western Reserve University began in 1983, when he became Chief of the Department of Medicine’s Division of Hematology Oncology and developed its first training program. He also served as dean from 1995 to 2002.

Most recently, he served as Director for Science Health and Society and Professor of Medicine, Oncology, Biochemistry, and Genetics and Genome Sciences at Case Western. His research at the Berger Lab included mouse model studies on energy balance, obesity, and cancer. Specifically, he looked at the effect of obesogenic diets on Barrett esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Aside from his research endeavors, Dr. Berger also stepped into a mentoring role for students interested in pursuing medicine. In 2017, he created the Youth Enjoy Science program, which provides scientific educational opportunities for middle and high school students in the greater Cleveland area through funding from the NIH.

“Dr. Berger’s [Youth Enjoy Science] summer program has profoundly impacted the education of students from our underrepresented community in cancer medicine,” said Gary Schwartz, MD, current Director of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, in a statement. “It is just one part of his legacy as our first director.”

In 2022, Dr. Berger received the university’s Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognized his decades-long contributions to cancer care, research, and education.

“[Dr. Berger] had the greatest impact on medicine in Cleveland of anyone,” Stanton Gerson, MD, Dean of the School of Medicine at Case Western, wrote in a statement.