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Mary B. Daly, MD, PhD, FACP

Department of Clinical Genetics

Clinical Locations

Primary Location

Fox Chase Cancer Center
333 Cottman Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19111

About

Chair, Department of Clinical Genetics

Professor, Department of Clinical Genetics

Director, Risk Assessment Program

TRDG Member, Breast Cancer; Kidney, Bladder, and Prostate Cancer; Ovarian and Gynecologic Cancer

Timothy R. Talbot Jr. Chair in Cancer Research

NCCN, Breast Cancer Risk Reduction Panel Member

NCCN, Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis Panel Member

NCCN, Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Breast and Ovarian Panel Member

Specialties

Breast Cancer;  Endometrial (Uterine) Cancer;  Ovarian & Primary Peritoneal Cancer

Treatment Focus

Clinical Genetics; breast cancer; Risk Assessment; chemoprevention research; family risk assessment and genetic testing; epidemiology; gynecologic cancers

Research Program

Key Awards

  • America’s Top Doctors®, 2015-2017
  • Philadelphia Magazine Top Docs, 2009-2017
  • Susan G. Komen Light of Life Award, 2014
  • Women of Distinction Award, Philadelphia Business Journal, 2011
  • Cancer Control Award, American Cancer Society, 1996, 2004

Treatment Philosophy

I consider it an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to accompany my patients on their cancer journey. I am allowed to witness their strength and courage, to be exposed to the devotion of their families and friends, and to become part of their lives in a very special way.

By extending this care to family members through the risk assessment program, we can work together towards the reduction of risk and prevention of cancer. I like to approach every patient encounter as a mutual learning experience. It is an opportunity for me to share with each patient the latest information about their cancer and treatment or their cancer risk, and give them the tools they need to make informed decisions.

It is also an opportunity for them to teach me something about themselves, about their lives and families, and how they cope with illness and promote their own health. I always feel both drained and enriched after a day in clinic.

Chair, Department of Clinical Genetics

Dr. Daly is a national leader in the field of clinical cancer genetics, and is the founder and director of one of the first cancer risk assessment and counseling programs in the country, established in 1991.

Dr. Daly is the founder and director of Fox Chase Cancer Center’s Risk Assessment Program, which is heavily grounded in research. The program has contributed to early observations regarding risk perception and risk-reducing behavior among women with a family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer, and has been instrumental in the development of state-of-the-art cancer risk counseling interventions... Expand

Education, Training & Credentials

Educational Background

  • Fellow, Oncology, University of Texas Health Center, Austin, TX
  • Resident, Internal Medicine, University of Texas Health Center, Austin, TX
  • MD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 1978
  • PhD, Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 1973
  • MSPH, Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 1971
  • BA, Biology, College of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, NY, 1965

Certifications

  • Board Certified in Medical Oncology
  • Board Certified in Internal Medicine
  • Pennsylvania Medical License
  • New Jersey Medical License
  • Texas Medical License

Memberships

  • National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)
    • Breast Cancer Risk Reducation Panel
    • Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis Panel
    • Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Breast and Ovarian Panel
    • JNCCN Editorial Board
  • International Gynecologic Cancer Society
  • American Society of Clinical Oncology
  • American Association for Cancer Research
  • American Society for Preventive Oncology
  • American Public Health Association

Honors & Awards

  • Philadelphia Magazine Top Doctors, 2009-2017
  • America’s Top Doctors® 2015-2017
  • Susan G. Komen Light of Life Award, 2014
  • Women of Distinction Award, Philadelphia Business Journal, 2011
  • Cancer Control Award, American Cancer Society, 1996, 2004
Patient Stories

Linda Snow

Breast Cancer

Linda Snow

Breast Cancer

Linda Snow had done more than most women to decrease her risk of getting cancer.  

And yet, there it was.

Denise Portner

Breast Cancer

Denise Portner

Breast Cancer

Both Denise Portner's mother and aunt are breast cancer survivors who were diagnosed at age 60. Both underwent genetic testing and learned they carried the BRCA2 genetic mutation, that indicates an increased risk of breast cancer. In May of 2008, Denise and her sister underwent genetic testing, and it was determined that Denise was also a carrier.

Linda Stockman-Vines

Linda Stockman-Vines

Linda Stockman-Vines considers herself lucky. She has been closely monitored by the doctors at Fox Chase Cancer Center since 1993, but does not have cancer. Instead, Linda has a strong family history of cancer and wants to do all she can to avoid getting cancer if she can.

Jane Tervooren

Breast Cancer

Jane Tervooren

Breast Cancer

Jane Tervooren knows all too well how precious life can be. As the marketing director of one of the largest fertility practices in New Jersey, she watches women who struggle with getting pregnant and who want nothing more than to experience the miracle of childbirth. She also knows how fragile life can be after losing her mother and grandmother too soon to ovarian cancer.

Jane's mother was successfully treated for breast cancer when she was 49, but 14 years later lost her life to ovarian cancer. Jane's grandmother also lost her battle with ovarian cancer at the age of 53.

Deena Dell

Breast Cancer

Deena Dell

Breast Cancer

If you think breast cancer is only diagnosed in stages I, II, III or IV, think again. Deena Damsky Dell, MSN, RN-BC, AOCN(R), can tell you, "Stage 0 breast cancer is really cancer."

After an extensive career in nursing education and oncology critical care, Fox Chase recruited Deena in 2000 as a full-time clinical nurse specialist and director of the RN Graduate Transition Program, where she trains new nurses in oncology.

Pages

Research Profile

Research Program

Research Interests

  • Risk Assessment Program Registry
  • Philadelphia Breast Cancer Family Registry
  • Improving the Estimation and Communication of Ovarian Cancer Risk among BRCA1/2 and Lynch Syndrome Carriers to Optimize Decision Making [Ovarian SPORE]
  • Translation of Genomics into Improvements in Cancer Prevention and Treatment
  • COGENT (Communicating Genetic Test Results by Telephone)
  • LEGACY (A cohort of youth in families from the Breast Cancer Family Registry)

People

Michael Hall, MD, MS

Director, Gastrointestinal Risk Assessment

Elias Obeid, MD, MPH

Breast, Ovarian, Prostate Risk Assessment

Agnes Masny, RN, MSN, CRNP

Nurse Practitioner

Sharon Schwartz, RN, MSN, CRNP

Nurse Practitioner

Susan Montgomery, RN, BSN, OCN

Clinical Genetics Nurse Navigator

Andrea Forman, MS, LCGC

Cancer Genetic Counselor

Kim Rainey, MS, MEd, LCGC

Cancer Genetic Counselor

Michelle Savage, MS, LCGC

Cancer Genetic Counselor

Ruth Bingler, BS

Health Educator

Lisa Bealin, BS

Research Study Assistant

Yana Chertock, MA

Research Study Assistant

Honey Salador

Research Study Assistant

Joann Sicilia

Research Study Assistant

The Risk Assessment Program at Fox Chase looks at your personal and possible inherited genetic factors that may put you at higher possibility for getting cancer. We comprehensively examine your profile for all cancer types, including — but not limited to — breast cancer, ovarian cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, prostate cancer, and melanoma. Knowing your risk helps you learn what you can do to lower your chances of getting cancer.

The Department of Clinical Genetics is built on the success of Fox Chase's Margaret Dyson Family Risk Assessment Program (now Risk Assessment Program), which Dr. Mary Daly began in 1991. A high-risk screening clinic was developed for individuals with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer. In addition to the clinic, genetic counseling was provided for both high risk and breast and ovarian cancer patients. As the clinic developed, it became clear that it was important to provide consultations for biopsy findings that put women at increased risk. Since then, Fox Chase has expanded risk assessment services to those at high risk for all cancers.

Publications

Selected Publications

Daly, M., Dresher, C.W., Yates, M.S., Jeter, J.M., Karlan, B.Y., Alberts, D.S., Lu, K. “Salpingectomy as a Means to Reduce Ovarian Cancer Risk,” Cancer Prev Res 8(5):342-348, 2015. (PMCID: PMC4417454) PubMed

Hall, M.J., Forman, A.D., Montgomery, S.V., Rainey, K.L., Daly, M.B. “Understanding Patient and Provider Perceptions and Expectations of Genomic Medicine,” J Surg Oncol 111(1):9-17, 2015. (PMCID: PMC4286413) PubMed

Hall, M.J., Herda, M.M., Handorf, E.A., Rybak, C.C., Keleher, C.A., Siemon, M., Daly, M.B. “Direct-to-patient Disclosure of Results of Mismatch Repair Screening for Lynch Syndrome via Electronic Personal Health Record: a Feasibility Study,” Genet Med, 16(11):854-61, 2014. (PMCID: PMC4216634) PubMed

Ferris, J.S., Daly, M.B., Buys, S.S., Genkinger, J.M., Liao, Y., Terry, M.B. “Oral Contraceptive and Reproductive Risk Factors for Ovarian Cancer Within Sisters in the Breast Cancer Family Registry,” British Journal of Cancer, 110(4):1074-80, 2014. (PMCID: PMC3929882). PubMed

Chai, X., Friebel, T.M., Singer, C.F., Evans, D.G., Lynch, H.T., Isaacs, C., Garber, J.E., Neuhausen, S.L., Matloff, E., Eeles, R., Tung, N., Weitzel, J.N., Couch, F.J., Hulick, P.J., Ganz, P.A., Daly, M.B., Olopade, O.I., Tomlinson, G., Blum, J.L., Domchek, S.M., Chen, J., Rebbeck, T.R. “Use of Risk-reducing Surgeries in a Prospective Cohort of 1,499 BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutation Carriers,” Breast Cancer Res Treat 148(2):397:406, 2014. (PMCID: PMC4224991) PubMed ... Expand

Additional Publications

My NCBI

This Fox Chase professor participates in the Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship. 
Learn more about Research Volunteering.

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