Jeffrey M. Farma, MD, FACS

Jeffrey Farma, MD, FACS

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Clinical Locations

  • Fox Chase Cancer Center
    333 Cottman Avenue
    Philadelphia, PA 19111
    Phone: 888-369-2427
  • Fox Chase Cancer Center - Chestnut Hill
    8835 Germantown Avenue
    Philadelphia, PA 19118
    Phone: 888-369-2427

Chair and Professor, Department of Surgery

Paul Grotzinger and Wilbur Raab Chair in Surgical Oncology

Surgical Director, Melanoma and Skin Cancer Program

NCCN, Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Panel Member

Specialties

  • Surgical Oncology

Areas of Expertise

Neuroendocrine Tumors, Stomach (Gastric) Cancer, Melanoma, Skin Cancer, GIST (Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor), Sarcoma, Colorectal Cancer

Treatment Focus

Colorectal cancer, melanoma, sarcoma, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, isolated limb infusion for in-transit melanoma and extremity sarcomas.

Research Program

Distinctions

Treatment Philosophy

It is an honor to be part of the staff of the Fox Chase Cancer Center. My initial exposure occurred during a rotation as a Temple University Medical School student at Fox Chase that led me down the path of Surgical Oncology. As a native Philadelphian, I am privileged to work at such an esteemed institution. I was enthralled then by the dedicated care of the staff in dealing with all aspects of treating patients diagnosed with cancer, and I hope to continue this throughout my career at Fox Chase... Expand

I trained in general surgery at Temple University Hospital. During my fellowship at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, I learned from experts in the field of surgical oncology about clinical trial design, experimental therapeutics and the importance of bench-to-bedside research to progress the fight against cancer. I encountered patients with very complex problems, and the greatest lesson I learned was there are always treatment options, utilizing all different types of techniques including radiation, chemotherapy and surgery.

My clinical surgical oncology fellowship at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida has provided me with an extensive understanding of the multidisciplinary approach to treating patients with cancer. One of the greatest benefits of a cancer center like Fox Chase is the close knit group of expert physicians from all specialties that are constantly interacting and providing the highest level of care using the most innovative strategies to treat all aspects of cancer. I have developed a particularly strong interest in the surgical and multimodal treatment of patients with Melanoma, Sarcoma and Colorectal cancers, using traditional surgery, regional therapies, and minimally invasive techniques. I have the operative expertise to perform many of these complex procedures using laparoscopic, robotic, and TAMIS (transanal minimally invasive surgery) techniques and have had advanced training in using newest techniques.  I am an expert in the treatment of colorectal cancer including; sphincter sparing and nerve sparing resections, and treating patients with hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes.  

For melanoma and sarcoma that has regional spread in the extremities I offer a minimally invasive technique call Isolated Limb Infusion, and perform minimally invasive inguinal lymph node dissections.

Most importantly, I hold my patients as my number one priority. I will spend as much time as necessary educating, answering questions and providing guidance for each individual patient to help them throughout each stage of treatment. I believe in candid discussions, where both the patients and families goals and expectations are openly communicated. We will work together as a team to formulate a treatment plan. My personal goal is to treat and care for every patient with the same compassion and honesty as if they were a friend or family member. Collapse

Educational Background

  • Fellow, Surgical Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, 2009
  • Administrative Chief Resident, Department of Surgery, Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, 2007
  • Chief Resident, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 2006
  • Fellow, Surgical Oncology, Surgery Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 2005
  • Resident, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 2003
  • MD, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 2000

Certifications

  • American Board of Surgery - Surgery (General Surgery)

Memberships

  • National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)
    • Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Panel
  • Academy of Master Surgeon Educators - Associate Member
  • American College of Surgeons
  • American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG)
  • American Radium Society
  • American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
  • Association of Academic Surgery - Candidate Member
  • College of Physicians of Philadelphia
  • Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS)
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group
  • Metropolitan Philadelphia American College of Surgeons
  • Midwest Melanoma Partnership (MMP)
  • North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society
  • Pennsylvania Medical Society
  • Philadelphia Academy of Surgery
  • Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons
  • Society of Surgical Oncology,  vice chair of the Complex General Surgical Oncology Program Directors Committee
  • Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract
  • Society of University Surgeon
  • Surgical Biology Club III

Honors & Awards

  • Philadelphia Magazine Top Doctors, 2018-24
  • 2020 AAS/Colombian Surgical Association International Visiting Professorship Award, 2019
  • Society of Surgical Oncology European Society of Surgical Oncology Observership, 2019
  • Castle Connelly national list of Top Doctors®, Regional Top Doctor 2014-17
  • Humanitarian Award, Melanoma Research Foundation, 2016
  • 2015 American College of Surgeons Traveling Fellowship to Germany, 2014
  • Alpha Omega Alpha, National Medical Honor Society, Epsilon Chapter- Honorary Member, 2014
  • H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center 2008 Fellow’ Education Research Symposium, Best Clinical Poster Presentation, 2008
  • Temple University Surgery Resident Research Symposium Award, 2007
  • H. Taylor Caswell Award, Department of Surgery Teaching Award  for outstanding Chief Surgical Resident, 2007
  • ASCO Foundation Merit Award, 2005
Christen Sheroff

Christen Sheroff

  • Sarcoma

I’ve always done my best to take care of my body. Wellness is very important to me, and it’s something I put a lot of time and care into.

VIEW PATIENT STORY
Rob Brown

Rob Brown

  • Colorectal Cancer
  • Lung Cancer

My cancer journey began in late 2021 when I began experiencing feelings of sickness, most often after eating. One night in February 2022, however, it became clear food was not the issue.

I’m the kind of guy who can sleep anytime, anywhere, so when the pain in my abdomen got so bad that I couldn’t sleep, I finally told my wife I needed to go to the ER. The doctors there did some testing and scans, but all they found was an infection, so they gave me an IV and antibiotics. After a few days, when I felt better, they sent me home.

VIEW PATIENT STORY
Dan Berdahl

Dan Berdahl

  • Bladder Cancer
  • Colorectal Cancer

I’ve been blessed with good health my entire life and retired in 2016 from a career in manufacturing and sales management. During my retirement, I went in a different direction and wrote two novels.

VIEW PATIENT STORY

Research Interests

  • Melanoma: Molecular profiling, outcomes research, clinical trials, immunotherapy
  • Colorectal: Molecular and imaging profiling for rectal cancer, outcomes research, clinical trials, quality of life
  • Sarcoma

Selected Publications

Miura JT, Kroon HM, Beasley GM, Mullen D, Farrow NE, Mosca PJ, Lowe MC, Farley CR, Kim Y, Naqvi SMH, Potdar A, Daou H, Sun J, Farma JM, Henderson MA, Speakman D, Serpell J, Delman KA, Mark Smithers B, Coventry BJ, Tyler DS, Thompson JF, Zager JS. Long-Term Oncologic Outcomes After Isolated Limb Infusion for Locoregionally Metastatic Melanoma: An International Multicenter Analysis. Annals of surgical oncology, 2019. PubMed

Moten AS, Movva S, von Mehren M, Wu H, Esnaola NF, Reddy SS, Farma JM. Granular cell tumor experience at a comprehensive cancer center. J Surg Res, 226:1-7, 2018. PubMed

Goel N, Manstein SM, Ward WH, DeMora L, Smaldone MC, Farma JM, Uzzo RG, Esnaola NF. Does the Surgical Apgar Score predict serious complications after elective major cancer surgery? Journal of Surgical Research, 231:242-7, 2018. 

Jakub JW, Terando AM, Sarnaik A, Ariyan CE, Faries MB, Zani S Jr, Neuman HB, Wasif N, Farma JM, Averbrook BJ, Bilimoria KY, Jake Allred JB, Suman VJ, Grotz TE, Zendejas B, Wayne JD, Tyler DS. Training High-Volume Melanoma Surgeons to Perform a Novel Minimally Invasive Inguinal Lymphadenectomy: Report of a Prospective Multi-Institutional Trial. Journal of the American College of Surgeons. November 2015.

Schatz TP, Nassif MO, Farma JM. Extensive portal venous gas: Unlikely etiology and outcome. Int J Surg Case Rep. December 2014.

Yeo H, Niland J, Milne D, ter Veer A, Bekail-Saab T, Farma JM,  Lai L,  Skibber JM,  Small W Jr,  Wilkinson N, Schrag D, Weiser MR, Incidence of minimally invasive colorectal cancer surgery at national comprehensive cancer network centers. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. December 2014.

Singla S, Papavasiliou P, Powers B, Gaughan J, von Mehren M, Watson JC, Farma JM. Challenges in Treatment of Angiosarcoma: A Single Institution Experience. The American Journal of Surgery. April 2014.

Johnson ME, Zhu F, Li T, Wu H, Galloway TJ, Farma JM,. Perlis C Turaka A,. Absolute Lymphocyte Count: a Potential Prognostic Factor for Merkel Cell Carcinoma.  Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. March 2014.

Yeo H, Niland J, Milne D, Veer AT, Bekaii-Saab T, Farma JM, Lai L, Skibber J, Small W, Wilkenson N, Schrag D, Weiser M. Incidence of Minimally Invasive Colorectal Cancer Surgery at National Comprehensive Cancer Network Centers. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Accepted for publication. January 2014.

Keller D, Thomay AA, Gaughan J, Wu H, Farma JM. Outcomes in Patients with Mucosal Melanomas. Journal of Surgical Oncology. October 2013.

Chen KT, Papavasiliou P, Edwards K, Zhu F, Perlis C, Wu H, Turaka A, Berger A, Farma JM. A better prognosis for merkel cell carcinoma of unknown primary origin. American Journal of Surgery. July 2013.

Arrangoiz R, Papavasiliou P, Siripuapu V, Li T, Watson JC, Hoffman JP, Farma JM, Partial stomach-partitioning gastrojejunostomy as an alternative for palliation in patients with malignant gastric or duodenal outlet obstruction. American Journal of Surgery. May 2013.

Nitzkorski, James, Willis, A, Farma JM, Zhu F, Nick D, Sigurdson, E. Association of race and socioeconomic status and outcomes with patients with rectal cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. January 2013.

Chen KT, Olszanski A, Farma JM. Donor transmission of melanoma following renal transplant. Case Reports in Transplantation. November 2012.

Farma JM, Zager JS, Barnica-elvir V, Puleo CA, Marzban SS, Rollison DE, Messina JL, Sondak VK. A collision of diseases: chronic lymphocytic leukemia discovered during lymph node biopsy for melanoma. Ann Surg Oncol. November 2012.

Additional Publications

Dr. Jeffery Farma on PubMed

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