Memorial Health Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute (ACI) is pleased to announce that William Burak Jr., MD, has been appointed as its new medical director. Burak is a surgical oncologist and currently serves as director of breast oncology at the ACI. In this new role, he will provide medical leadership and oversight for all adult cancer programs.

“The Anderson Cancer Institute is certainly a leader in cancer treatment in our region,” said Burak. “Our teams provide exceptional care for a variety of common and complex malignancies. We’ve brought new and innovative cancer treatments to southeast Georgia and we are the only healthcare system in our region to treat children’s cancers. I’m excited to have the opportunity to lead this program.”

Burak joined Memorial Health in 2015 as a fellowship-trained surgical oncologist specializing in the treatment of breast cancer and benign breast disease. In addition to completing a surgical oncology fellowship, he also completed a research fellowship studying hormones and breast cancer at the Comprehensive Cancer Center at The Ohio State. Burak’s residency training in general surgery was at the University of Maryland Medical Systems, where he served as administrative chief resident. He graduated cum laude from Jefferson Medical College, part of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons. 

Burak has spent much of his career as a tenured faculty member at The Ohio State University and the James Cancer Hospital, where he received awards for his teaching and research. His work has been published in numerous clinical journals and textbooks. Before coming to Savannah, Dr. Burak practiced in the Atlanta area, where he served as director of Advanced Breast Care of Georgia.