As President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Marks led Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for 19 years, beginning in 1980. He remains a vital part of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center as President Emeritus and Member of the Sloan Kettering Institute. Dr. Marks's research in cell biology and cancer genetics has made major contributions toward a new approach to cancer treatment and prevention through the development of new and more potent chemotherapy and chemoprevention agents. He also helped establish the highest standards for research and patient care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and has provided leadership in the national and international medical science community.

Dr. Marks received his AB and MD degrees from Columbia University and postdoctoral training at the National Institutes of Health and the Pasteur Institute. Prior to his tenure at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, he was Professor of Human Genetics and Frode Jensen Professor of Medicine (1968-1980), Dean of the Faculty of Medicine (1970-1973), and Vice President for Health Sciences and Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center (1973-1980) at Columbia University.

Dr. Marks is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine, and is a Fellow at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He has been a recipient of numerous honors. He has published more than 350 scientific articles in various scholarly journals.