Department: School of Medicine

 Throughout his nearly three decades at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Medical Center, Dr. John McCarty has not just treated diseases, but transformed lives, leaving an indelible mark on the field of cellular immunotherapies and transplantation. A graduate of Princeton University and Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Dr McCarty joined the VCU faculty in 1996 as a physician scientist after completing his Internal Medicine residency at Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts and a Hematology/Oncology fellowship at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center of the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington.

In 2000, Dr. McCarty transitioned into the role of Interim Medical Director for VCU's Bone Marrow Transplant program which had once thrived but had dwindled from 135 transplants a year to approximately 50. He quickly stabilized the program, and under his leadership, the program grew to between 150-200 transplants per year. As noted by Dr. Gordon Grinder, Professor of Internal Medicine at VCU, the program’s success “was rightly attributed to Dr. McCarty’s strong reputation as an expert clinician and tireless engagement with the Hematology Oncology practices throughout the state of Virginia,” ensuring that they were equipped to provide the best possible care to patients in need.

Dr. McCarty was subsequently selected among national candidates as the permanent Director of the program. He didn't simply revive the program; he spearheaded its evolution. Recognizing the potential of cellular immunotherapies, he transformed the program into the Cellular Immunotherapies and Transplantation (CIT) Program, propelling it to national recognition and its designation as a Center of Experience in Cellular Therapies as well as a Center for Medical Excellence for insurers who cover transplants in Virginia. Dr. McCarty embraced new technologies and treatments, pioneering the development of the largest CARt program in Virginia and introducing groundbreaking gene therapies for sickle cell anemia and other previously challenging conditions. Drs. Patricia Sime and Curtis Sessler, Chair and Associate Chair, Department of Internal Medicine, credit Dr. McCarty for his active roles in clinical research, clinical trials and leadership in clinical trial networks as important contributions to “the tremendous respect with which the VCU CIT program is held.” Dr. McCarty has been a member of the Transplant Steering Committee of the Alliance for Cancer Clinical Trials and the Bone Marrow Transplant Clinical Trial Network since 2007.

Described by colleagues as a “prodigious investigator,” Dr. McCarty has been involved in designing, developing and implementing numerous phase I, II, and III clinical trials. Dr. Robert Winn, Director of Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, speaks to Dr. McCarty’s “commitment to innovative cancer therapies with a patient-centered approach that represents both the art and science of cancer care.” Dr. Winn references Dr. McCarty’s own definition of a successful physician as one who “must be a compassionate humanist, a consummate clinician, an effective teacher, and a curious researcher.,” and adds “Given that definition, Dr. McCarty truly succeeds as a distinguished clinician.”

While Dr. McCarty’s career is decorated with achievements as a researcher, educator/mentor, and sought-after speaker at international conferences, it’s his empathy, commitment to his patients, and his “genuine, caring, and upbeat personality” that reflect the heart of a physician who goes above and beyond, touching the lives of his patients and colleagues. Dr. McCarty's journey is a powerful reminder that a distinguished clinician is more than just a skilled practitioner; they are a beacon of hope, a source of comfort, and a champion for their patients.

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