Penn State Cancer Institute director resigns following investigation into chemotherapy errors and allegations of toxic leadership.

Raymond Hohl has resigned from his position as the director of the Penn State Cancer Institute, a notable leadership change following a thorough investigation conducted by Spotlight PA. The resignation, effective immediately, is part of a broader response to serious concerns regarding patient care and leadership within the institute.

According to an internal communication, the decision to step down was described as one made with the best interests of the institute in mind. Even as he departs from his role, Hohl will retain his status as a faculty member at Penn State’s College of Medicine.

Assuming leadership of the cancer center in 2014, Hohl was tasked with the ambitious goal of obtaining National Cancer Institute designation, a prestigious acknowledgment that would signify excellence in cancer care. To support this initiative, the university allocated significant financial resources, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars over the years. However, an investigation published recently by Spotlight PA has revealed troubling issues regarding Hohl’s management and patient care practices, casting doubt on these efforts.

The investigation highlighted a series of internal reviews conducted between early 2022 and mid-2023, which uncovered numerous failures in patient care under Hohl’s leadership. Specific allegations included inadequate recordkeeping that led to medication errors, such as patients inadvertently receiving excess doses of chemotherapy. Furthermore, many patients experienced delays in critical treatments and diagnostic scans.

Additionally, the reviews pointed to a toxic workplace environment characterized by fear and mistrust, resulting in high turnover among staff. Despite significant investments and nearly a decade of leadership, the institute remained far from achieving its goals, as documented in a December 2022 review. This environment has raised serious questions about the efficacy of Hohl’s leadership and the operational strategy of the cancer institute.

Amid these revelations, previous executives and medical leaders at Penn State Health were aware of Hohl’s contentious leadership practices. Considerations to remove him as director surfaced in 2023, although he ultimately remained in his position, albeit under a performance improvement plan that stipulated adherence to national oncology guidelines and collaborative team behavior.

In May 2024, Hohl’s responsibilities regarding clinical care were removed, although he continued to see patients into early 2025. Following the publication of the investigation, Penn State Health defended its current operations, claiming that the issues cited were largely historical and that significant improvements have since been made.

In the wake of Hohl’s resignation, Jeff Peters, the deputy director, has been appointed as the interim director of the Penn State Cancer Institute. This transition marks a pivotal moment for the institute as it seeks to rebuild trust and improve patient care standards moving forward.

As the Penn State Cancer Institute embarks on this new chapter, stakeholders within the health community will be monitoring developments closely to ensure that patient welfare remains the top priority.