Robert Stone, chief executive officer of City of Hope, a leading cancer research and treatment institution, was honored with a lifetime achievement award at the LA Executive Forum & Leadership Awards held on June 8, 2026, at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows. The event drew hundreds of executives representing a diverse range of industries across Los Angeles.
Stone has led City of Hope since 2013, overseeing its expansion from a single campus in Duarte, California, into a national network that includes clinical care locations across Southern California, a new cancer center in Orange County, and treatment facilities in Atlanta, Chicago, and Phoenix. Despite receiving the award, Stone emphasized that he does not intend to retire or reduce his efforts. “The award is a thank you to our patients, doctors, nurses and our staff. There’s more work to do,” he remarked upon accepting the honor.
City of Hope is recognized as one of only 57 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. Uniquely, Stone is the only CEO among this elite group who is not a trained medical doctor; his background is in law, having originally joined the institution as general counsel. Additionally, City of Hope is notable for being one of the few major comprehensive cancer centers in Southern California not affiliated with a university, yet it maintains a strong research program responsible for the development of several widely used cancer therapies, including Erbitux, Rituxan, and Avastin.
The institution supports nearly 1,000 clinical trials annually across cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and other diseases. Stone aims to further expand access to clinical trials nationwide to extend treatment opportunities to a broader patient population. City of Hope also holds hundreds of patents and regularly submits dozens of investigational therapies to the Food and Drug Administration for approval.
Stone frequently highlights the importance of transforming cancer care from the patient’s perspective. Drawing from conversations with patients facing cancer diagnoses, he identifies three core needs: access to specialists familiar with their specific cancer type, opportunities to participate in relevant clinical trials, and care delivered with dignity. He notes that while 80% of cancer patients receive treatment through community providers rather than academic centers, efforts are underway to bridge gaps in expertise and access. Initiatives such as City of Hope’s expansion into multiple metropolitan regions and AccessHope—a collaboration enabling community physicians, especially in rural areas, to consult with top experts—illustrate this commitment.
While Stone acknowledges advances in therapies driven by precision medicine, immunotherapy, and artificial intelligence, he stresses that innovation alone is insufficient unless it addresses the entire continuum of care, from prevention and early diagnosis through survivorship. He also warns against defining value in healthcare solely by cost reduction, emphasizing patients prioritize survival, treatment experience, and a return to normal life.
Stone underscores the crucial role of compassion alongside expertise, stating that patients should not have to choose between the two. He also cautions that technology should enhance, not replace, the human connection between doctors and patients. Recognizing cancer’s impact extends beyond individuals to their families and support networks, Stone advocates for listening closely to the concerns of both patients and their loved ones to ensure care reflects both scientific progress and humanity.
Under Stone’s leadership, the City of Hope Helford Clinical Research Hospital in Duarte — a 234-bed facility — has become the second-largest hospital in Southern California by net patient revenue, reporting $3.4 billion in 2025. As nearly 40% of Americans will face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, Stone’s vision centers on advancing treatment accessibility and quality nationwide to improve outcomes and experiences for all affected by cancer.