In 1942, Louis S. Goodman, M.D., and Alfred Gilman, Ph.D., in the Yale Department of Pharmacology were the first scientists to use nitrogen mustard, the first alkylating anticancer agent,[3] as chemotherapy to treat cancer in a patient.

[4][5] During a talk for the Beaumont Medical Club in March 2005, David S. Fischer, M.D.

"[5] This initial success led to the development of the world's first multi-center clinical trials in cancer chemotherapy.

[5] Clinical care is led by Roy S. Herbst, Chief of Medical Oncology and Associate Director for Translational Research, Yale medical oncologists care for patients in Smilow Cancer Hospital.

[citation needed] Yale School of Medicine was home to the country’s first university-based Medical Oncology Section, and its faculty has since pioneered many breakthrough cancer treatments.