The 2015 Healthcare Leadership Awards winner for Physician of the Year was killed by a hit-and-run driver Monday morning in Scottsdale.

Phoenix Children’s Hospital confirmed Dr. Robert Arceci was fatally injured while on his way to work.

The hospital issued this statement: “Phoenix Children’s physician Dr. Robert Arceci was fatally injured after being hit by another vehicle in Scottsdale this morning while on his way to work. His family has asked that we make no further statement and provide them privacy at this very difficult time.”

Arceci’s innovative research and treatment of children with cancer earned him AZ Business magazine’s Healthcare Leadership Award for Physician of the Year in April.

Arceci concentrated his work on basic and translational research in pediatric hematology and oncology, Dr. Arceci’s focus was on discovery and implementation of basic science to improve the comprehensive care for children and adolescents with cancer. He was particularly involved in the development of novel therapeutic targets and immunotherapies to improve outcomes while reducing adverse side effects in patients with cancer. A large part of his focus was to bring together teams of multidisciplinary groups of investigators to develop scientifically robust and interactive environments for molecularly based, individualized treatment.