By Julia Cooper

Dr. Richard T. Hoppe

It may not be the Olympics, but a Los Altos resident will be bringing home a gold medal this fall.

Richard T. Hoppe, M.D., is one of two recipients of the 2006 Gold Medal from the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO).

“There are a lot of deserving individuals in our specialty who have made significant contributions to the field,” Hoppe said. “To actually be picked is a tremendous honor, and I am on cloud nine.”

Hoppe is chairman of the department of radiation oncology and the Henry S. Kaplan-Harry Lebeson Professor of Cancer Biology at Stanford University.

The ASTRO Gold Medal recognizes distinguished contributions in treating cancer with radiation therapies. Hoppe received the organization’s highest honor for leading Stanford to implement progressive radiation therapy techniques, supporting research and education, and cultivating successful Hodgkin’s disease and other lymphoma treatments in his department.

“Many of the treatments that we have developed have become the standard of care,” Hoppe said. “The cure rates have become extraordinarily high and a lot of that is because of our work at Stanford.”

Hoppe, a Cornell University Medical College graduate, was drawn to radiation oncology while a senior in medical school.

“I was quite intrigued by the specialty because I saw a number of patients who benefited from treatment,” Hoppe said.

Nationally, Hoppe has played a prominent role in education and training through his positions on the American Board of Radiology, the Residency Review Committee and within ASTRO, where he served as both president and chairman of the board of directors.

Hoppe has lived in Los Altos since 1981 with his wife Bebe.They enjoy Giants baseball, traveling, wine and friends.

He will receive his award Nov. 7 during ASTRO’s 48th annual meeting held in Philadelphia. With more than 8,500 members, ASTRO is the largest radiation oncology society in the world.