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
Neuroendocrine Tumors, Stomach (Gastric) Cancer, Melanoma, Skin Cancer, GIST (Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor), Sarcoma, Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer, melanoma, sarcoma, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, isolated limb infusion for in-transit melanoma and extremity sarcomas.
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
I’m 62 and I live in Bristol, Pa., with my wife Maryann. Between the two of us, we have four children and eight grandchildren (with another on the way). I also have a large extended family, and I work full time as a contractor. Needless to say, I’m a pretty busy guy!
Fox Chase saved my life, and they’ve given me many more years to live.
In 2014, I had just retired and was looking forward to traveling with my husband, Leonard. I had been dealing with a multiday headache that just kept getting worse, and at one point, I passed out. I woke up four days later to learn that I had suffered a massive brain bleed. As a result of this, my doctors ordered a complete CT scan to get an idea of what was going on.
I have been an EMT and a firefighter for 35 years. It started out as a hobby when I volunteered in high school, and it turned into a career. Thankfully, the job has kept me in good health and helped me remain in shape.
However, through my job, I had seen people at the end stage of their cancer journey. Whenever I saw a case like that, a little thought popped up in the back of my mind that it could be me one day. So, when I was diagnosed with colon cancer, I was nervous.
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.
Dr. Jeffery Farma on PubMed
Patient comments
Dr Farma is superb. Hold on to him !
Your the best what more is there to say
Excellent response with a good outcome. It was thought by my husband physician that I might need has another melanoma surgery which was not the case.
The team that supports Dr. Farma is stellar; Dr. Farma is an attentive physician that exudes confidence. I am very pleased with my care so far.
Took me very quickly as almost a walk-in patient and scheduled all CT Scans, Anesthesia check in and surgical consultation for colectomy in a few days. Very accommodating and helpful.