Martin Edelman, MD, Chair of the Department of Hematology/Oncology and Deputy Cancer Center Director for Clinical Research at Fox Chase Cancer Center, has been appointed inaugural Chair of the Department of Medical Oncology at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine (LKSOM) at Temple University.

“Collaboration and integration among our faculty and staff at Fox Chase Cancer Center and the larger Temple Health community is critical to our growth and ongoing success. This is why we are so pleased to announce this appointment,” said Lewis Katz School of Medicine Marjorie Joy Katz Dean Amy J. Goldberg, MD, FACS. 

Edelman joined Fox Chase in 2017 and will continue in his present roles there, as well as continuing to hold the G. Morris Dorrance Jr. Chair in Medical Oncology, said Robert Uzzo, MD, MBA, FACS, President and CEO of Fox Chase.

“Throughout his tenure, he has collaborated effectively with our clinical, scientific, and administrative leadership to grow robust therapeutic, clinical research, and translational research programs in hematology and medical oncology while leading the department in aligning emerging national trends with the delivery of care to cancer patients,” said Uzzo.

In his new role, Edelman will develop a strategic vision for the department, considering the tripartite mission of LKSOM and Temple University Health System: clinical care, education, and research. This plan will guide the new department’s growth in medical oncology over the coming years to advance patient care; the cultivation of the next generation of physicians and other healthcare professionals; and achievement in grant awards, scholarly publications, and annual presentations.

In his day-to-day duties, Edelman will oversee faculty with responsibility for the recruitment, management, and retention of diverse professionals. He will provide ongoing mentorship to help steward the careers of faculty members. He will oversee training programs, both for the medical school and for continuing education of faculty, to promote academic excellence.

He will also oversee research programs to enhance performance; to provide input on research strengths and recommendations on research program directions; and to promote a culture of scholarship that encourages residents, fellows, and postdoctoral fellows to engage in research.

As hospital license chief of service for Fox Chase and Temple University Hospital, Edelman will uphold the highest standards of excellence in patient care with attention to compliance with medical staff bylaws and codes of professional practice. He will provide support for all hospital regulatory, quality, efficiency, safety, and infection control measures, as well as strategic planning, capital allocation, and fiscal, budgetary, and hospital operations.

A nationally recognized expert in the treatment and research of lung cancer, Edelman developed one of the most commonly used regimens for treating advanced lung cancer and has focused on the development of new agents and biomarkers to personalize lung cancer therapy.

He received his medical degree from Albany Medical College and completed residency training in internal medicine and a hematology/oncology fellowship, both at the Naval Hospital in San Diego. His professional experience includes more than 20 years of military service in the United States Navy Reserve, from which he retired with the rank of Captain.