Rachna Shroff, Leading Cancer Researcher, Dies at 47

Dr. Shroff served as the chief of the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the University of Arizona, where she was also the inaugural John F. and Valli S. Duval Endowed Professor for Gastrointestinal Oncology. Her expertise in pancreatic and biliary tract cancers made her a leading voice in the medical community, with colleagues at the American Society of Clinical Oncology remembering her as a pioneer in translational research. Before her 2018 move to Tucson, she spent eight years at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Her own health crisis began earlier this year after she discovered a swollen lymph node. While initial assessments suggested lymphoma, subsequent testing confirmed a diagnosis of terminal adenocarcinoma. Beyond her academic and clinical contributions, Dr. Shroff was a mother to two children, Sachin and Simran, and is survived by her husband, Dr. Puneet Shroff. Her work in spearheading clinical trials remains a cornerstone of her professional impact, providing hope for patients facing rare and complex diagnoses.