The Division of Hematology/Oncology at the University of Cincinnati was founded in 1948 by Richard Vilter, MD, as the Hematology Division of the Department of Internal Medicine when there were few similar divisions in the United States.

In 1976, the division was combined to include both disciplines of hematology and medical oncology. The division works in close affiliation with other units within the medical center including: pathology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, the Hoxworth Blood Bank, the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (Hematology/Oncology Unit), the Barrett Cancer Center, several basic science departments of the College of Medicine, the hematology/oncology section of the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit of the Cincinnati Health Alliance.