Matthew Ringel, MD, professor in the College of Medicine, has earned The Ohio State University 2026 Distinguished Scholar Award. Senior leadership in the Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge recently surprised Ringel with the honor.
“It's really an incredible honor to be nominated for this, and even more incredible to be selected by our college and the university,” said Ringel.
“Anything that I've accomplished is only because of surrounding myself with superb people, colleagues, students, staff, and other trainees, who are incredibly talented and work really hard.”
As a specialist in thyroid cancer, Ringel’s research focuses on molecular mechanisms involved in thyroid cancer invasion and metastasis, with an interest in new drug testing for thyroid cancer therapy.
“For more than two decades, your work has bridged disciplines – integrating engineering, informatics and oncology to develop novel models and personalized therapeutic approaches,” said John M. Horack, vice president for research. “You have helped us better understand how thyroid cancer spreads and identified genetic risk factors and syndromes linked to thyroid cancer and set new standards for how thyroid cancer is understood and managed.”
“You really embody the distinguished scholar spirit,” added Dana McTigue, College of Medicine vice dean for research. “You are a renowned clinician locally and internationally. You're mentoring many students. Working with faculty from six different departments, three different colleges. You publish incredible papers. You're a great leader. And now, you took on the challenge of creating a new department. You're not leading a department someone else makes. You're making this department.”
A special part of the surprise was the fact that Ringel’s brother, Steve – professor and vice president in ERIK – was able to attend. “First off, the hardest thing I've had to do is keep this secret for how many weeks?” he joked. “Honestly, it's my privilege to see you get this honor. We’ve come a long way from listening to New York Knicks basketball games at night after our parents told us to go to bed.”
In addition to serving as the founding Chair for the Department of Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics in the College of Medicine, Ringel is the deputy director for basic research of the Comprehensive Cancer Center and co-director of the Center for Cancer Engineering – Curing Cancer Through Research in Engineering and Sciences and holds the Ralph W. Kurtz Chair in Hormonology. His National Institutes of Health-funded laboratory for more than two decades has defined signaling pathways that regulate thyroid cancer progression and therapeutic resistance and has identified predisposing genes for thyroid cancer. Ringel maintains an active clinical practice focused on thyroid cancer. He has received the two highest international awards in his primary field for both early career and full career impactful research (van Meter and Ingbar Awards from the American Thyroid Association, respectively), is one of a select group at Ohio State who have been recognized with elected memberships in both the American Society of Clinical Investigation and the American Association of Physicians. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine-Endocrinology in Diabetes & Metabolism. He earned his medical degree from Pennsylvania State University, completed his residency at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and a fellowship at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
The Distinguished Scholar Award is among the highest annual honors awarded at Ohio State. The university-level award annually honors six faculty members who demonstrate scholarly activity, conduct research or creative works that represent exceptional achievements in their fields and garner distinction for the university.
Award recipients are nominated by their departments and chosen by a committee of senior faculty, including past award recipients. Distinguished Scholars receive an honorarium and a research grant to be used over the next three years.
Quotes from Ringel’s nomination:
“Dr. Ringel has made extraordinary accomplishments in the field of thyroid cancer on multiple levels. The scientific accomplishments of his laboratory have been superb and widely disseminated. His leadership has allowed for the development of interdisciplinary programs at OSU that have advanced the field both in his lab but also nationally and internationally. Finally, because of his strengths as a clinical leader Dr. Ringel has been able to push the field therapeutically to ensure that all patients will have access to the best care.” Anthony Hollenberg, Boston University.
“Simply put, Dr. Ringel is one of the most accomplished, influential, and respected physician-scientists in thyroid cancer today. His record represents the rare combination of depth, breadth, and sustained excellence that embodies the ideal of the quadruple threat. Dr. Ringel’s contributions to thyroid cancer science have reshaped the modern framework through which we understand this disease. Julie Ann Sosa, University of California at San Francisco.
“I have known Professor Ringel for around a decade, having previously been aware of his work via his reputation for high level science, his award winning talks and his leading publications. More recently, via my role as Chief Operating Officer and Secretary of the American Thyroid Association, I have witnessed Professor Ringel’s Herculean efforts in overseeing construction of the new thyroid cancer guidelines, which represent a landmark state-of-the-nation document that will guide worldwide treatment of patients for many years to come. This is arguably the most prominent guideline in our field and will be cited intensively. Professor Ringel’s pivotal role in this initiative reflected the incredibly high esteem he is held in by educators, scientists, researchers, clinicians and surgeons across the world.” Christopher McCabe, American Thyroid Association.