Award-Winning Nolan the Recipient of Distinguished Professorship in Oncology

Dr. Mike Nolan, professor of radiation oncology and biology at the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine, has been awarded the Randall B. Terry Jr. Distinguished Professorship in Oncology.

The endowed professorship is the result of a $1 million donation from the R.B. Terry Charitable Foundation along with $500,000 from the college’s Distinguished Professors Endowment Trust Fund.

At the NC State Veterinary Hospital, Nolan oversees the division of radiation oncology and is a principal investigator for several clinical trials focused on reducing the risk of severe cancer treatment-associated toxicity, with a focus on peripheral neuropathy and pain. He was honored Tuesday with a reception on campus attended by his family, colleagues, students, members of the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Foundation Board and a member of the Terry Foundation. 

“Dr. Nolan’s accomplishments are truly remarkable,” said Dr. Kate Meurs, dean of the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine, as she presented Nolan with a clock commemorating the new distinction. “He has a major clinical service responsibility but has still generated an incredible portfolio of research and mentoring and is a national leader in comparative and translation radiation oncology. I believe that Mr. Terry, who loved his dogs dearly, would be proud to have his name associated with someone as talented and dedicated to veterinary medicine as Dr. Nolan.”

Terry, a businessman, newspaper publisher, philanthropist and owner of nine beloved golden retrievers, became passionate about helping the college train the next generations of healers after one of his dogs was treated at the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine.

An endowed professorship generates an annual award that the recipient can use in a variety of ways. Nolan said he’s looking forward to leveraging his new resources to accelerate advances in the college’s cancer program. 

“The funding available through these endowment professorships provides some flexibility that’s not otherwise available,” Nolan said in an interview. “So when you get a crazy idea, there’s resources to be able to test those ideas, to pursue the crazy. Sometimes that’s where the coolest things come out of, the biggest innovations.”

Nolan’s expertise and excellence in life-changing research, student mentoring and patient care have been honored numerous times. In 2022, he was named an NC State University Faculty Scholar, an award that recognizes outstanding academic achievements and teaching, service and scholarship contributions. 

The same year, he was the recipient of the American Veterinary Medical Foundation/Every Cat Health Foundation Research Award, which recognized Nolan’s contributions to advancing feline health through his research in translational and comparative oncology.

In 2021, grateful clients Kelly and Charlie Warner awarded Nolan a Coat of Excellence for his compassionate care of their dog Emma, who had cancer. The coats come with a $10,000 donation to the college to help provide more advanced medical care.

Nolan, 40, was hired at NC State in 2013 primarily to rebuild the college’s radiation oncology department after its two leaders retired. His goal now, he said during his reception remarks, is to build a cancer program that allows the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine to be nationally recognized for veterinary oncology.

“It is a huge, huge debt that we all carry to make sure that we make the most of the support that the State of North Carolina provides this college, and it’s more funding than most vet schools get from their state,” Nolan said in his remarks. “But North Carolina provides us the ability to be good, and it’s philanthropy that allows us to be great.”