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Jeffrey L. Tokar, MD, FASGE, AGAF
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- Clinical Locations
- About
- Education and Training
- Patient Stories
- Research Profile
- Publications
- Ratings
Clinical Locations
Primary Location
Fox Chase Cancer Center
333 Cottman Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19111
About
Director, Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine
Director, Advanced Endoscopy Training Program
Specialties
Treatment Focus
Interventional/Advanced Endoscopy
- Medical and endoscopic management of pancreatic and biliary disorders (e.g., ERCP)
- Endoscopic oncology, including endoscopic resection of gastrointestinal neoplasia and endoscopic stenting
- Diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)
- Management of complex colorectal polyps
- Small bowel endoscopy (enteroscopy)
- Endoscopic management of gastrointestinal strictures and fistulae
Key Awards
Gastroenterology
Treatment Philosophy
Fox Chase Cancer Center is a multidisciplinary center with a thriving academic Gastroenterology group of board-certified gastroenterologists, each with his/her own areas of expertise and unique training backgrounds. During my gastroenterology and hepatology fellowship at the University of Virginia, I became interested in advanced endoscopic procedures, or a subspecialty of gastroenterology that is sometimes referred to as “interventional endoscopy” or “therapeutic endoscopy”. I therefore completed an additional year of training to learn how to perform these more advanced endoscopic procedures. Since completion of my formal training, I have continually strived to adopt new techniques and technologies, allowing me to provide outstanding, cutting-edge care to my patients. For example, I was one of the first physicians in the United States to perform a group of procedures known as “device-assisted enteroscopy”, and have since treated patients from throughout the entire east coast of the United States as well as taught physicians throughout the United States so that they could offer similar expertise to their patients.
The gastroenterology team at Fox Chase Cancer Center is regionally and nationally recognized for its expertise in high-end endoscopic procedures, working with innovative biotechnology companies to develop novel endoscopic approaches to complex gastrointestinal disorders. This enables us to offer patients endoscopic procedures that are frequently not available at other medical centers. We also have the privilege of working with, on a daily basis, nationally-recognized experts in the fields of Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Pathology, and Radiology and to collaborate with scientists and researchers, all of whom have the shared goals of providing top-notch, personalized patient care and identifying new and better ways to prevent, treat and cure cancer.
Education and Training
Educational Background
- Fellow, Interventional Endoscopy, University of Virginia Health System, Digestive Health Center of Excellence, Charlottesville, VA
- Fellow, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Virginia Health System, Digestive Health Center of Excellence, Charlottesville, VA
- Resident, Internal Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA
- MD, State University of New York at Syracuse School of Medicine, Syracuse, NY, 1997
Certifications
- American Board of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, Hepatology
Memberships
- American Gastroenterological Association
- The American College of Gastroenterology
- American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
- Delaware Valley Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
- President, Delaware Valley Society for GI Endoscopy
- Chairman of the ASGE Publications Committee
- Fellow, American Gastroenterological Association
- Fellow, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Honors & Awards
- Best Doctors in America® , 2013-14, 2019-2020, Gastroenterology
- Philadelphia Magazine Top Doctors, 2018, 2019
- America's Top Doctors®, 2015-17
Patient Stories
Alan Zlatkin
Pancreatic Cancer
Alan Zlatkin
Pancreatic Cancer
Being defeated is a matter of perspective and will. I feel that no matter how serious the illness is, I can overcome it with the right help and the right attitude.
Mahmood Saeed
Kidney Cancer
Mahmood Saeed
Kidney Cancer
After being diagnosed with Stage 4 renal cell carcinoma, Mahmood Saeed sought treatment at Fox Chase Cancer Center. Prior to Fox Chase, other doctors only gave him a 5 percent chance of survival, but Fox Chase gave him hope. Today he takes a daily targeted therapy to keep the tumors from spreading; this treatment has greatly improved his quality of life. "I wouldn’t be here today without Dr. Reddy, my wife, and my faith," Mahmood said. "For my family, it wasn’t just one procedure or one doctor that led to healing—rather, it was the culmination of a healthy diet, support from family and friends, a positive attitude, and doctors working together as a team."
Carol Hobson
Liver, Gall Bladder & Bile Duct Cancer
Carol Hobson
Liver, Gall Bladder & Bile Duct Cancer
After a doctor suspected she had bile duct cancer, Carol Hobson sought the help of specialists at Fox Chase Cancer Center, where a diagnosis of bile duct cancer was finally confirmed after extensive testing. In 2011, she underwent a bile duct resection, followed by chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The treatment was successul, and today Carol has extensive CAT scans and blood work done every three months to check for a possible recurrence. "I can tell you that if you decide to go to Fox Chase, you will get the most knowledgeable people taking care of you. Just as important, you will become part of the Fox Chase family and will be treated like a family member," she said. "That is one of the most outstanding features of Fox Chase Cancer Center."
Barbara Cremean
Stomach (Gastric) Cancer
Barbara Cremean
Stomach (Gastric) Cancer
Beating the odds is old hat to Barbara Cremean. In 1998, after dropping her daughters off at school, she was hit head on by a drunk driver. "I was on my way to the most important meeting of my career—and my life changed in an instant," recalls Barbara. She underwent spinal fusion surgery and started the long road to recovery. Little did she know, her serious health problems had just begun – and she was only 37 years old.
Beth Brendlinger
Colorectal Cancer; Liver, Gall Bladder & Bile Duct Cancer
Beth Brendlinger
Colorectal Cancer; Liver, Gall Bladder & Bile Duct Cancer
In 2007, eight years after a precancerous lesion in her colon had to be removed, Beth Brendlinger learned she had a mass on the right lobe of her liver, and a biopsy confirmed that cancer that had originated in her colon had spread to her liver. She was referred to Dr. John Hoffman at Fox Chase Cancer Center, where she underwent months of chemotherapy at a Fox Chase partner hospital that was closer to where she lived. After 21 months of chemotherapy, Beth was finally ready for surgery, which she received at the Center. Today she is cancer free. "Everyone I met at Fox Chase was kind and treated me with respect. It is easy to see that they care about their patients and that patient comfort and peace of mind are a top priority," she said. "I felt that both hospitals were partnering in my care and so I got the best of both. The doctors and nurses never gave up hope and neither did I. We made a great team."
Research Profile
Research Interests
- Pancreatic cysts
- Endoscopic oncology (endoscopic diagnosis, evaluation, treatment of gastrointestinal neoplasms)
- Small bowel enteroscopy
Publications
Selected Publications
Tokar JL, Allen JI, Kochman ML. “Getting to Zero: Reducing the Risk for Duodenoscope-Related Infections”. Ann Intern Med. 2015. PMID 26390309
Lieberman D, Brill J, Canto M, DeMarco D, Fennerty B, Gupta N, Laine L, Lightdale C, Montgomery E, Odze R, Rex D, Sharma P, Kochman M, Tokar J. “Management of Diminutive Colon Polyps Based on Endoluminal Imaging”. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2015. PMID26192139.
Tokar JL. Gastric Carcinoids: Ask-The-Expert, ASGE Connection, June 2015; 3(2):1-7.
Wani S, Wallace MB, Pike IM, Adler DG, Kochman ML, Lieb JG 2nd, Park WG, Rizk ML, Sawhney MS, Shaheen NJ, Tokar JL. Quality indicators for EUS. American Journal of Gastroenterology 2015; 110(1):102-13. PubMed
Chen KT, Kim PD, Jones KA, Devarajan K, Patel BB, Hoffman JP, Ehya H, Huang M, Watson JC, Tokar JL, Yeung AT. Potential prognostic biomarkers of pancreatic cancer. Pancreas. 2014 Jan;43(1):22-7. doi: 10.1097/MPA.0b013e3182a6867e
Konda V, Banarjee S, Barth BA, Bhat YM, Chauhan SS, Gottlieb KT, Maple JT, Murad FM, Pfau PR, Pleskow DK, Siddiqui UD, Tokar JL, Wang A, Rodriguez SA. “Enhanced imaging in the GI tract: spectroscopy and optical coherence tomography.” ASGE Technology Committee. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 2013 Oct; 78(4):568-73. PMID 24054739.
Tokar JL, Walia R. “Diagnostic evaluation of solid pancreatic masses.” Curr Gastroenterol Rep 2013 Oct;15(10):347. PMID 23996593.
Prasad Kerlin M, Tokar JL. “Acute gastrointestinal bleeding.” Ann Intern Med 2013 Aug 6;159(3):ITC2-1. PMID 23922080.
Tokar JL, Barth BA, Banerjee S, Chauhan SS, Gottlieb KT, Konda V, Maple JT, Murad FM, Pfau PR, Pleskow DK, Siddiqui UD, , Wang A, Rodriguez SA. ASGE Technology Committee. “Electrosurgical generators.” Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 2013 Aug;78(2):197-208. PMID 23867369.
Verrengia MA and Tokar JL. ‘Post-colonoscopy Decision Making: The Guidelines and Beyond.’ In: Core Concepts in Colonoscopy. Slack, Inc. 2013. [Book Chapter]
Clinical Locations
Primary Location
Fox Chase Cancer Center
333 Cottman Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19111
Director, Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine
Director, Advanced Endoscopy Training Program
Specialties
Treatment Focus
Interventional/Advanced Endoscopy
- Medical and endoscopic management of pancreatic and biliary disorders (e.g., ERCP)
- Endoscopic oncology, including endoscopic resection of gastrointestinal neoplasia and endoscopic stenting
- Diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)
- Management of complex colorectal polyps
- Small bowel endoscopy (enteroscopy)
- Endoscopic management of gastrointestinal strictures and fistulae
Key Awards
Gastroenterology
Treatment Philosophy
Fox Chase Cancer Center is a multidisciplinary center with a thriving academic Gastroenterology group of board-certified gastroenterologists, each with his/her own areas of expertise and unique training backgrounds. During my gastroenterology and hepatology fellowship at the University of Virginia, I became interested in advanced endoscopic procedures, or a subspecialty of gastroenterology that is sometimes referred to as “interventional endoscopy” or “therapeutic endoscopy”. I therefore completed an additional year of training to learn how to perform these more advanced endoscopic procedures. Since completion of my formal training, I have continually strived to adopt new techniques and technologies, allowing me to provide outstanding, cutting-edge care to my patients. For example, I was one of the first physicians in the United States to perform a group of procedures known as “device-assisted enteroscopy”, and have since treated patients from throughout the entire east coast of the United States as well as taught physicians throughout the United States so that they could offer similar expertise to their patients.
The gastroenterology team at Fox Chase Cancer Center is regionally and nationally recognized for its expertise in high-end endoscopic procedures, working with innovative biotechnology companies to develop novel endoscopic approaches to complex gastrointestinal disorders. This enables us to offer patients endoscopic procedures that are frequently not available at other medical centers. We also have the privilege of working with, on a daily basis, nationally-recognized experts in the fields of Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Pathology, and Radiology and to collaborate with scientists and researchers, all of whom have the shared goals of providing top-notch, personalized patient care and identifying new and better ways to prevent, treat and cure cancer.
Education
Educational Background
- Fellow, Interventional Endoscopy, University of Virginia Health System, Digestive Health Center of Excellence, Charlottesville, VA
- Fellow, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Virginia Health System, Digestive Health Center of Excellence, Charlottesville, VA
- Resident, Internal Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA
- MD, State University of New York at Syracuse School of Medicine, Syracuse, NY, 1997
Certifications
- American Board of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, Hepatology
Memberships
- American Gastroenterological Association
- The American College of Gastroenterology
- American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
- Delaware Valley Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
- President, Delaware Valley Society for GI Endoscopy
- Chairman of the ASGE Publications Committee
- Fellow, American Gastroenterological Association
- Fellow, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Honors & Awards
- Best Doctors in America® , 2013-14, 2019-2020, Gastroenterology
- Philadelphia Magazine Top Doctors, 2018, 2019
- America's Top Doctors®, 2015-17
Research Profile
Research Interests
- Pancreatic cysts
- Endoscopic oncology (endoscopic diagnosis, evaluation, treatment of gastrointestinal neoplasms)
- Small bowel enteroscopy
Publications
Selected Publications
Tokar JL, Allen JI, Kochman ML. “Getting to Zero: Reducing the Risk for Duodenoscope-Related Infections”. Ann Intern Med. 2015. PMID 26390309
Lieberman D, Brill J, Canto M, DeMarco D, Fennerty B, Gupta N, Laine L, Lightdale C, Montgomery E, Odze R, Rex D, Sharma P, Kochman M, Tokar J. “Management of Diminutive Colon Polyps Based on Endoluminal Imaging”. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2015. PMID26192139.
Tokar JL. Gastric Carcinoids: Ask-The-Expert, ASGE Connection, June 2015; 3(2):1-7.
Wani S, Wallace MB, Pike IM, Adler DG, Kochman ML, Lieb JG 2nd, Park WG, Rizk ML, Sawhney MS, Shaheen NJ, Tokar JL. Quality indicators for EUS. American Journal of Gastroenterology 2015; 110(1):102-13. PubMed
Chen KT, Kim PD, Jones KA, Devarajan K, Patel BB, Hoffman JP, Ehya H, Huang M, Watson JC, Tokar JL, Yeung AT. Potential prognostic biomarkers of pancreatic cancer. Pancreas. 2014 Jan;43(1):22-7. doi: 10.1097/MPA.0b013e3182a6867e
Konda V, Banarjee S, Barth BA, Bhat YM, Chauhan SS, Gottlieb KT, Maple JT, Murad FM, Pfau PR, Pleskow DK, Siddiqui UD, Tokar JL, Wang A, Rodriguez SA. “Enhanced imaging in the GI tract: spectroscopy and optical coherence tomography.” ASGE Technology Committee. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 2013 Oct; 78(4):568-73. PMID 24054739.
Tokar JL, Walia R. “Diagnostic evaluation of solid pancreatic masses.” Curr Gastroenterol Rep 2013 Oct;15(10):347. PMID 23996593.
Prasad Kerlin M, Tokar JL. “Acute gastrointestinal bleeding.” Ann Intern Med 2013 Aug 6;159(3):ITC2-1. PMID 23922080.
Tokar JL, Barth BA, Banerjee S, Chauhan SS, Gottlieb KT, Konda V, Maple JT, Murad FM, Pfau PR, Pleskow DK, Siddiqui UD, , Wang A, Rodriguez SA. ASGE Technology Committee. “Electrosurgical generators.” Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 2013 Aug;78(2):197-208. PMID 23867369.
Verrengia MA and Tokar JL. ‘Post-colonoscopy Decision Making: The Guidelines and Beyond.’ In: Core Concepts in Colonoscopy. Slack, Inc. 2013. [Book Chapter]
Related Articles
25 PATIENT COMMENTS
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5.0
July 01, 2020
I really appreciated the appt with Dr. Tokar. I was very nervous about my symptoms and he calmed me down and put things in perspective. He totally included me in the decision making about the next step and that helped me a lot.
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4.1
July 01, 2020
Dr. Tokar is very personable and knowledgeable.
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5.0
July 01, 2020
The doctor and his team are true professional.
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5.0
June 01, 2020
This was a very different experience. Meeting the doctor about procedure via video for the 1st time was interesting. Doctor appeared very friendly & informative.
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5.0
May 12, 2020
Going through the diagnosis of cancer, Fox Chase & Dr. Tokar made the the experience easier on the news of the outcome.
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5.0
May 11, 2020
Dr. Jeffrey Tokar is my hero! [...] I owe him my new life!
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5.0
March 18, 2020
Dr. Tokar is wonderful - professional, intelligent - informative.
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5.0
March 05, 2020
It was a very good visit. Both doctor and staff are exceptional.
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5.0
February 24, 2020
Had a good experience.
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5.0
February 23, 2020
Always professional, courteous, comfortable, never feel rushed, I always feel at ease.
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5.0
February 18, 2020
very good i felt very comfortable with everything
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5.0
January 28, 2020
Very good.
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5.0
January 20, 2020
Dr. Tokar was very thorough and gave great explanations. He even made me a drawing to explain my condition.
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4.0
January 13, 2020
Very good experience on time.
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5.0
November 17, 2019
Though my cancer experience/treatments were 14 years ago, I continue to go to Fox Chase for certain check ups and lingering radiation side effects (digestive issues). Dr. Tokar makes me feel comfortable sharing embarrassing digestive issues and helps address my concerns in a respectful and helpful way.
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5.0
October 28, 2019
Dr. Tokar has been my dr. for many years. Excellent dr. and is kind and caring.
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5.0
October 16, 2019
I had an excellent experience. [...]
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5.0
October 02, 2019
Seeing Dr. Tokar was, and is always, a very positive experience because he addresses my immediate health concerns in a relaxed, informative and reassuring manner.
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5.0
September 30, 2019
Very congenial & courtesy good.
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5.0
September 19, 2019
It was a good visit at a scary time. [...]
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