Dr. Rachna Shroff dies at 47, University of Arizona announces

Dr. Rachna T. Shroff, an internationally recognized expert in bile duct cancer and a senior physician-scientist who shaped the field of gastrointestinal oncology, has died at the age of 47 following a battle with an aggressive cancer, the University of Arizona announced on Monday.

Key Clinical Takeaways:
• Dr. Rachna Shroff passed away at 47 from a life-limiting illness, as reported by the University of Arizona.
• She served as associate director of clinical investigations at the University of Arizona Cancer Center, chief of hematology and oncology at the College of Medicine–Tucson, and inaugural John F. and Valli S. Duval Endowed Professor for Gastrointestinal Oncology.
• In September, she launched the Conquer Cancer–Rachna Shroff FASCO Endowed Young Investigator Award in Biliary Cancers, which quickly raised over $1.35 million.

Academic Leadership at the University of Arizona Cancer Center

Dr. Shroff built a distinguished career focusing on cholangiocarcinoma, pancreatic cancer, and other hepatobiliary malignancies. She authored more than 80 scientific publications and delivered over 130 professional presentations. She served as associate director of clinical investigations at the cancer center and chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine–Tucson. The university described her as an internationally revered clinician-scientist, mentor, and leader whose work reshaped gastrointestinal oncology.

Before returning to her hometown of Tucson in 2018, Dr. Shroff spent the first eight years of her medical career at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where she completed a fellowship in 2010. Her interest in oncology began as a high school student in Tucson when a research fellowship brought her into a University of Arizona laboratory, where she was awarded the 1993 Osler Fellowship. She earned her undergraduate degree at Brown University and her medical degree from Thomas Jefferson University.

Dr. Shroff Led National Oncology Organizations and Mentored Physicians

Beyond her institutional roles in Arizona, Dr. Shroff held prominent leadership positions within national professional organizations. She chaired the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium (GI ASCO 2024) and co-chaired the Hepatobiliary Subcommittee of the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG). She was deeply engaged with the American Society of Clinical Oncology, participating in its Leadership Development Program, serving on the nominating and cancer communications committees, and mentoring early-career physicians.

In an interview, Dr. Shroff expressed her philosophy on patient care: “It is our role and responsibility to have clinical trials available to the patients that come to see us and to ideally have a trial available to every single patient that walks through the door, to be able to offer them something cutting-edge, different, and innovative.”

Endowing Biliary Cancer Research Initiatives

During the final months of her life while managing her own diagnosis, Dr. Shroff focused on supporting future generations of researchers. In September, she launched the Conquer Cancer–Rachna Shroff FASCO Endowed Young Investigator Award in Biliary Cancers. The campaign surpassed its goal within weeks, raising more than $1.35 million through contributions from over six hundred donors to support early-career investigators studying bile duct cancer.

Colleagues and professional peers shared tributes following her passing. Yan Leyfman, a physician-scientist, noted on LinkedIn that she transformed medicine through her humanity. Tian Zhang shared on social media that her legacy lives on through the Young Investigator Award established in her name.

The University of Arizona did not disclose the specific cause of her death, noting only that she had been living with a life-limiting illness. She is survived by her husband, Puneet Shroff, a physician and professor of medicine; their children, Simran and Sachin; her parents, Devendar and Amita Trivedi; and her sister, Neema Sahni.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.