Katy Beckermann, M.D., Ph.D.
Medical Director of Genitourinary Cancer Research
Contact
📞 615-460-3803
📧 scheduling@tnoncology.com
About Dr. Beckermann
Katy Beckermann, MD, PhD, is a medical oncologist who treats kidney, bladder, prostate, and testicular cancers. She is Medical Director of Genitourinary Research at Tennessee Oncology and founding physician lead of the GU Center of Excellence, where specialists plan each patient’s care together from diagnosis through survivorship.
Dr. Beckermann chairs the GU Disease Group at OneOncology, which connects community oncology practices across the country on research and complex cases. Her team has more than a dozen clinical trials open in kidney, bladder, and prostate cancer. She earned her MD and PhD at Vanderbilt and spent years studying why some kidney cancers stop responding to immunotherapy. She has helped write national treatment guidelines and serves on the program committee for the ASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium.
Board Certifications & Education
Certifications
- ✓ Board Certified – Medical Oncology
- ✓ Board Certified – Internal Medicine
- ✓ American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
Education & Training
- MD, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
- PhD, Vanderbilt University
- Residency – Internal Medicine, Vanderbilt University
- Fellowship – Hematology/Oncology, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
Leadership & National Roles
- ✓ Founding Physician Lead, GU Center of Excellence, Tennessee Oncology
- ✓ Chair, OneOncology GU Disease Group
- ✓ Program Committee, ASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium (renal track, 2027 meeting)
- ✓ Oral Discussant, GU ASCO 2026 (LITESPARK-011 and LITESPARK-022); Session Chair, GU ASCO 2022 and 2024
- ✓ Panel Member, NCCN Kidney Cancer Guidelines, 2020–2024
- ✓ Scientific Review Committee, AACR Renal Cell Carcinoma Research Grants, 2025–2027
- ✓ National Principal Investigator, first interventional trial of the Kidney Cancer Research Consortium
Selected Publications
- Systemic Therapy in Patients With Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: ASCO Guideline Update. J Clin Oncol, 2025.
Dr. Beckermann served on the expert panel for these national treatment recommendations for prostate cancer that has stopped responding to hormone therapy. Read the paper → - Advanced Urologic Cancer Consensus Conference (AUC3) 2025. CA Cancer J Clin, 2026.
A panel of 51 specialists reached expert consensus on kidney and bladder cancer care. Read the paper → - Tivozanib plus nivolumab versus tivozanib monotherapy in renal cell carcinoma following an immune checkpoint inhibitor: the phase 3 TiNivo-2 study. Lancet, 2024.
Adding nivolumab did not extend the time before the cancer grew, and tivozanib alone held up as an option. Dr. Beckermann served on the steering committee. Read the paper → - Belzutifan for von Hippel-Lindau disease-associated renal cell carcinoma and other neoplasms (LITESPARK-004): 50 months follow-up. Lancet Oncol, 2025.
Nearly 4 years of follow-up in an inherited condition that causes kidney tumors. Tumors shrank in 67% of patients.           Read the paper → - Obesity induces PD-1 on macrophages to suppress anti-tumour immunity. Nature, 2024.
The laboratory work looked at how obesity changes the immune response to tumors. Read the paper →
Areas of Expertise
Prostate Cancer
Bladder Cancer
Kidney Cancer
Testicular Cancer
My Approach to Patient Care
I believe every patient deserves to be heard, understood, and treated as an individual. A cancer diagnosis is complex, and the medical side is only part of the picture. My goal is to combine evidence-based medicine with a deep commitment to your wellbeing—explaining your options clearly, answering your questions, and working with you to build a treatment plan that aligns with your values and goals.
I’m also passionate about making sure my patients have access to the latest advances. That’s why I’m committed to screening every patient for clinical trial eligibility, ensuring that emerging therapies are available when they may benefit you.
Schedule a Consultation
Ready to discuss your GU cancer care? Contact our team to schedule an appointment with Dr. Beckermann.
