Shaji K. Kumar MD

Shaji K. Kumar, MD, is Consultant in the Division of Hematology and Mark and Judy Mullins Professor of Hematological Malignancies at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He is the Chair of the Myeloma, Amyloidosis and Dysproteinemia Disease Group at Mayo Clinic, Research Chair for Division of Hematology, and Chair for Research in the Department of Medicine.

Dr. Kumar received his medical degree from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, India. His postdoctoral training included a residency in Internal Medicine from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, followed by an Internal Medicine residency and a hematology/oncology fellowship at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota. He then completed a Mayo Foundation Scholar at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

Dr. Kumar's research focuses on the development of novel drugs and drug combinations for the treatment of myeloma. He is the Principal Investigator of several phase 1, 2 and 3 clinical trials. He also focuses on the mechanisms of disease progression from precursor conditions and risk stratification of plasma cell disorders. His laboratory focuses on understanding the role of bone marrow microenvironment in the development and progression of myeloma.

Dr. Kumar is Chair of the NCCN Multiple Myeloma/Systemic Light Chain Amyloidosis/Waldenström Macroglobulinemia Panel and serves on the panel's Value Pathways Task Force. He also is an editorial board member for JNCCN - Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and a member of the NCCN Quality and Outcomes Committee. He is the President Elect of the International Society of Amyloidosis and the President Elect of the International Myeloma Society. He is the current Editor in Chief of The Hematologist.

In 2024, Dr. Kumar was recognized with the NCCN Excellence in Engagement Award for his leadership, drive, and commitment to his role in significantly expanding the NCCN Guidelines that he oversees, as well as his involvement with NCCN’s Global Continuing Education Programs.