Rick Hagemeister, MD, Class of 1960

2023 San Antonio Academy Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni

The San Antonio Academy Alumni Association is pleased to honor Houston-based Dr. Rick Hagemeister from the Class of 1960 with the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award. Since 2007, the San Antonio Academy Alumni Association has celebrated accomplished graduates for their professional achievements, contributions to society and loyalty to The Academy. Award recipients exemplify the highest values, traditions, and ideals of San Antonio Academy. 

After high school at TMI, Dr. Hagemeister received his undergraduate degree in chemistry in 1968 from Stanford University, and his degree in medicine from the UT Southwestern Medical School at Dallas in 1972. He completed his residency in medicine at Charity Hospital in Louisiana in 1975. In 1976 and 1977, he served in the United States Air Force. In 1977, Dr. Hagemeister began his Fellowship in Cancer Medicine at MD Anderson, and joined the Department of Hematology in 1979. When this department was divided into three groups, he continued clinical work in the Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma.

His areas of interest have been the clinical care of patients, education of fellows, nurses, and other trainees, and enrollment of patients in clinical trials. His main work has been on the management of Hodgkin and aggressive lymphomas, although he has managed all types of lymphomas throughout his career. Dr. Hagemeister has participated in multiple clinical trials of management of patients with all types of lymphomas.

During his career, he has been instrumental in multiple clinical trials and has authored or co-authored over 200 manuscripts. He has organized local and international meetings on cancer therapy and given presentations at local, national, and international conferences. He continues to support the education of trainees and patients, and in 2016, he was given the Melvin Samuels Award in Clinical Care from the Division of Cancer Medicine.

Prior to the SAA Distinguished Alumni Award, Dr. Hagemeister received the 2013 Best Doctors in America 2013 – 2014 (Best Doctors in America), the 2005 The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Dr. John J. Kenny Award (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society), and the 2004 Service to Mankind Award (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society).

Recently marking his 60 year reunion and reflecting on his time at SAA, Dr. Hagemeister noted that “a good education from the very beginning for everyone is key to our success as a society and nation” and “the keys to happiness are found in helping others and learning something new every day.” His current hobbies include mentoring medical trainees, cultivating plumerias and bromiliads, and being a fountain pen collector.

Congratulations, Dr. Hagemeister, on this well-deserved honor!