Dr. Bill West with one of his first patients at West Clinic in 1979.

William H. West, MD, was a nationally respected oncologist and lead investigator for the National Institutes of Health in Washington, D.C. After losing his mother to breast cancer, Dr. West was inspired by a clear and deeply personal mission: to bring world-class cancer care and research to his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee.

In 1979, that vision became a reality when the doors of what would become West Clinic officially opened. Soon after, a chance meeting helped shape the future of the organization. Kurt Tauer was a resident at a Memphis hospital when he was assigned to care for a colon cancer patient of Dr. West’s. The two quickly formed a partnership and friendship that would eventually bring Dr. Tauer back to Memphis after completing his fellowship in Medical Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.

As fate would have it, Dr. Tauer’s across-the-hall neighbor in New York City and fellow resident at Memorial Sloan Kettering, Lee Schwartzberg, would also become part of the growing vision. Together, Drs. West, Tauer, and Schwartzberg formed a powerful partnership of physicians committed to advancing cancer care and improving the health of the Memphis community.

More than 40 years later, we continue to carry forward Dr. West’s original goal: bringing exceptional cancer care, innovative research, and hope to the people of Memphis and the communities we serve.