In a recent ceremony, Fox Chase Cancer Center celebrated the appointment of Jeffrey Farma, MD, FACS, Chair and Professor in the Department of Surgery, as the Paul Grotzinger and Wilbur Raab Chair in Surgical Oncology.
Friends, family, and colleagues of Farma were welcomed into the Leidy Auditorium at Fox Chase to celebrate his investiture. Attendees heard from esteemed colleagues, mentors, and mentees who have helped shape his illustrious career.
“I can’t express the immense gratitude I feel to be recognized with the Paul Grotzinger and Wilbur Raab Chair in Surgical Oncology. It’s an incredible honor and deeply humbling experience,” said Farma. “I’m grateful and privileged every day to work with some of the most brilliant, compassionate, and committed individuals in medicine here at Fox Chase.”
Endowed chairs represent one of the highest honors in academic medicine. They not only memorialize pioneering figures but also empower future leaders who embody those same standards of excellence.
“As an institution, we ask our chairholders to not only be the best in their field, but to be the best for their patients and the best for our mission,” said Robert Uzzo, MD, MBA, FACS, President and CEO of Fox Chase. “With this latest milestone in Dr. Farma’s career, we look forward to seeing where he takes us with his future achievements.”
Established in 2001, Farma’s endowed chair commemorates the legacy of Paul J. Grotzinger, MD, a foundational figure in Fox Chase’s history. As the first Chief of Surgery at Fox Chase and a pivotal force behind the Center’s 1974 National Cancer Institute designation, Grotzinger laid the groundwork for the excellence that Fox Chase continues to pursue today. The chair was made possible through a generous bequest from G. Wilbur Raab, a grateful patient of Fox Chase, along with contributions from Grotzinger’s family and friends.
“The impact Jeff has made on all of us is enduring. His work, his ideas, his compassion, they ripple through the walls of the institution. He’s a phenomenal surgeon, a mentor, and a calm, steady presence in the chaos of cancer care,” said Sanjay S. Reddy, MD, FACS, Division Chief of Surgical Oncology and the Marvin S. Greenberg, MD, Chair in Pancreatic Cancer Surgery at Fox Chase.
Farma graduated from Tufts University in Boston and earned his medical degree from the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. He completed his surgical residency at Temple University Hospital and surgical oncology fellowships at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Md., and the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla.— two of the nation’s leading cancer programs — before joining Fox Chase in 2009 as an Assistant Professor.
Since then, Farma has built a nationally respected surgical career. In addition to his other roles, he is the Surgical Director of the Melanoma and Skin Cancer Program. His clinical expertise spans colorectal cancers, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, sarcomas, melanoma, and other complex skin malignancies.
“Jeff is a bright, motivated, academic surgeon who has the respect of his peers and colleagues. But what makes Jeff Farma special is his integrity, his core values, his personality, and his emotional intelligence,” said Daniel Dempsey, MD, MBA, an early mentor of Farma’s and Emeritus Professor of Surgery at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Farma has helped make Fox Chase a destination for patients in need of expert care in complex and rare cancers. As a thought leader and dedicated educator to learners across all levels, he serves on numerous boards and committees for surgical and cancer society's nationally.
In addition to his career achievements, Farma is deeply engaged in community service. He is a regular supporter of advocacy and awareness events, such as the Melanoma Research Foundation’s Miles for Melanoma, at which he leads a Fox Chase team, and the Kicks for Cancer fundraiser at Abington Friends School.