Stanford Medicine Mourns the Loss of Cancer Center President Sridhar Seshadri

The Stanford Medicine community is deeply saddened by the passing of Sridhar Seshadri, president of the Stanford Medicine Cancer Center, who died at Stanford Hospital on November 26, 2025, at the age of 66. A leader known for his wisdom, kindness, and dedication, Seshadri left an indelible mark on cancer care and research at Stanford and beyond.

A Legacy of Leadership and Innovation

Over more than two decades of service to Stanford Health Care, Seshadri united research, clinical care, and innovation in service of the communities served. David Entwistle, president and chief executive officer of Stanford Health Care, described him as “a remarkable leader who brought together the rigor of an engineer, the vision of a strategist, and a deep compassion for patients and families.”

Lloyd Minor, MD, the Carl and Elizabeth Naumann Professor for the Dean of the School of Medicine and vice president for medical affairs at Stanford University, emphasized Seshadri’s broad impact, stating, “Sri’s contributions to the Stanford Medicine mission over the past two decades were vast… He had an outsized impact, and his loss is tremendous.”

Key Accomplishments at Stanford Health Care

Seshadri’s tenure at Stanford Health Care, beginning in July 2003, was marked by significant achievements. He initially served as the Vice President of the Process Excellence Department, focusing on improving quality, patient experience, and operational efficiencies [2]. He also spearheaded the creation of the SHC Leadership Academy, designed to cultivate empowered leaders within the organization.

His leadership extended to oversight of Destination Service Lines, including Cancer, Cardiovascular, Radiology, and Transplant programs [2]. He also co-chaired the Funds Flow Workgroup, responsible for financial coordination between Stanford Health Care and the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Seshadri was instrumental in several landmark initiatives, including a joint venture with Sutter Health to establish a cancer center in the East Bay, the creation of the Stanford Cancer Institute, the opening of the Stanford Medicine Cancer Center on Blake Wilbur Drive, and the planning of a new, comprehensive Stanford Medicine cancer center campus [1].

A Career Rooted in Engineering and Innovation

Before joining Stanford Health Care, Seshadri held leadership positions at General Electric’s Medical Systems division and Eastman Kodak Company’s Health Imaging Division. He began his career at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where he led the development of a hospital-wide picture archiving and communications system (PACS) to digitize X-rays [2].

Seshadri held a bachelor of science in electrical engineering from Visvesvaraya College of Engineering of Bangalore University and a master of science in electrical engineering from Drexel University. He also completed a doctor of management from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University [1].

A People-Focused Leader

Colleagues consistently highlighted Seshadri’s ability to unite people and foster collaboration. Rick Shumway, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Stanford Health Care, noted his talent for navigating complex situations and building consensus. “He didn’t like to just sit around and relax,” said his wife, Sushma Hegde, “He was always looking for projects to complete, problems to solve.”

Steven Artandi, MD, PhD, the Laurie Kraus Lacob Director of the Stanford Cancer Institute, praised Seshadri’s approach: “Listen intently and act big.”

Remembering Sridhar Seshadri

Sridhar Seshadri is survived by his wife, Sushma Hegde, and daughters, Apurva and Aadhya Seshadri. Donations in his memory can be made to Stanford Health Care to support cancer research initiatives [1]. Donations to the Sridhar B. Seshadri Memorial Fund may be made online or by contacting Wendy Keefe at wkeefe@stanford.edu.