Elizabeth Wagar's Biography

Elizabeth Wagar, Professor, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Elizabeth A. Wagar MD is Professor and Chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. She was previously the Laboratory Medical Director of University of California, Los Angeles Clinical Laboratories for over 10 years and served as the Residency Program Director for the UCLA Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine for 5 years. She has extensive experience in academic medicine and laboratory administration at two major academic medical centers.

Dr. Wagar has been on numerous CAP and ASCP commissions and committees with a special emphasis on quality programs, laboratory management and clinical microbiology. In her current academic appointment, she is a Distinguished Professor for the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and holds the Jose M. Trujillo Endowed Chair in Laboratory Medicine.

Dr. Wagar received her MD from Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, and performed anatomic pathology and laboratory medicine residency training at the University of California, San Francisco, where she was Chief Resident of Laboratory Medicine. She is board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology and has publications ranging from basic molecular microbiology research to quality and administrative topics with her most recent publication being the 2011 book entitled, Laboratory Administration for Pathologists.