Four Fox Chase Physicians Inducted Into Philadelphia Academy of Surgery

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The election of four physicians to the Philadelphia Academy of Surgery underscores Fox Chase’s role as a leader in academic surgery and cancer care.
  • The inductions reflect Fox Chase’s strength in academic surgery and cancer-focused clinical care.
  • Fellowship is elective and awarded through a rigorous nomination and review process.
  • The Philadelphia Academy of Surgery recognizes surgeons for excellence in clinical practice, scholarship, and leadership.

PHILADELPHIA (February 9, 2026) — Four Fox Chase Cancer Center physicians have been elected as Fellows of the Philadelphia Academy of Surgery (PAS), the oldest continuously meeting surgical society in the United States. 

The Philadelphia Academy of Surgery was founded in 1879 and recognizes surgeons for excellence in clinical practice, scholarship, and leadership. Fellowship with the Academy is considered a significant professional honor within academic medicine.

Honoring Clinical Excellence

“We are incredibly proud to see our surgeons honored with this distinguished fellowship,” said Jeffrey Farma, MD, FACS, Chair of the Department of Surgery at Fox Chase and the Paul Grotzinger and Wilbur Raab Chair in Surgical Oncology.

“In addition to delivering outstanding, compassionate care to our patients, these physicians also advance surgical science through research, education, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Their induction reflects Fox Chase’s enduring mission to lead in clinical excellence and to train the next generation of surgical leaders,” he added.

Four Physicians Honored

  • Lisa A. Bevilacqua, MD, is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Thoracic Surgery at Fox Chase. She specializes in minimally invasive and robotic surgery, with a focus on lung and esophageal cancers, neuroendocrine tumors, and complex thoracic conditions. Her induction reflects both her technical expertise and her commitment to advancing thoracic surgical care within a comprehensive cancer center.
  • Louis F. Chai, MD, is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Thoracic Surgery at Fox Chase and Temple Health specializing in minimally invasive and robotic techniques. His clinical work supports multidisciplinary cancer care for patients with complex thoracic diseases, reinforcing the role of surgery as a critical component of modern oncologic treatment.
  • Walker Lyons, MD, is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Breast Surgery at Fox Chase, where he completed the Breast Oncology Fellowship. He is recognized for technical excellence, dedication to teaching, and scholarly contributions focused on optimizing surgical care for patients with breast cancer.
  • Maureen V. Hill, MD, is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Surgical Oncology specializing in colorectal cancer, melanoma, and complex oncologic conditions. With more than 30 peer-reviewed publications and invited national presentations, she is recognized for leadership in patient education, quality improvement, and surgical innovation.

Advancing Fox Chase’s Academic and Clinical Mission

The election of these four physicians to the Philadelphia Academy of Surgery underscores Fox Chase’s role as a leader in academic surgery and cancer care. Their collective achievements reflect a shared commitment to innovation, education, and excellence in patient-centered surgical oncology that advances both the institution’s mission and the broader surgical community.

A Legacy of Surgical Leadership

The Philadelphia Academy of Surgery was established by pioneering surgeon Samuel D. Gross, MD, Chair of Jefferson Medical College, and is deeply rooted in Philadelphia’s long tradition of advancing surgical science and education. As outlined in its constitution, the academy’s mission is the “cultivation and improvement of the science and art of surgery, the elevation of the medical profession, and the promotion of public health.”

Fox Chase Cancer Center (Fox Chase), which includes the Institute for Cancer Research and the American Oncologic Hospital and is a part of Temple Health, is one of the leading comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. Founded in 1904 in Philadelphia as one of the nation’s first cancer hospitals, Fox Chase was also among the first institutions to be designated a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center in 1974. Fox Chase is also one of just 10 members of the Alliance of Dedicated Cancer Centers. Fox Chase researchers have won the highest awards in their fields, including two Nobel Prizes. Fox Chase physicians are also routinely recognized in national rankings, and the Center’s nursing program has received the Magnet recognition for excellence six consecutive times. Today, Fox Chase conducts a broad array of nationally competitive basic, translational, and clinical research, with special programs in cancer prevention, detection, survivorship, and community outreach. It is the policy of Fox Chase Cancer Center that there shall be no exclusion from, or participation in, and no one denied the benefits of, the delivery of quality medical care on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, disability, age, ancestry, color, national origin, physical ability, level of education, or source of payment.

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