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Stephen Rubin, MD
Clinical Locations
- Fox Chase Cancer Center
Primary Location
Professor, Department of Surgical Oncology
Specialties
Treatment Focus
Surgery and chemotherapy for all gynecologic cancers; minimally invasive surgery for gynecologic cancers, precancerous conditions and benign gynecologic conditions
Key Awards
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| Gynecologic Oncology |
Treatment Philosophy
I joined Fox Chase Cancer Center in 2014 as chief of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology. I spent the early part of my medical career at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where I was chief of gynecologic oncology. As a gynecologic oncologist, I have extensive training and experience in surgery (including minimally invasive) for gynecologic cancers and for complex benign gynecologic conditions. I also provide the full range of chemotherapy options for gynecologic cancers, giving my patients the continuity of care that comes with multimodal cancer care.
I am delighted to be practicing at Fox Chase, where I offer patients state-of-the-art care, including innovative clinical trials, in a caring, compassionate environment, with all the support services that come from an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Educational Background
- Fellow, Gynecologic Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 1982
- Resident, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 1980
- MD, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 1976
Certifications
- American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology
Memberships
- American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
- American College of Surgeons
- American Federation for Clinical Research
- American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society
- American Radium Society
- American Society of Clinical Oncology
- American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Cytology
- Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics
- Society of Gynecologic Oncologists
- Society for Gynecologic Investigation
- Society of Pelvic Surgeons
- Society of Surgical Oncology
- International Gynecologic Cancer Society
- European Society of Gynecological Oncology
- Felix Rutledge Society
- New York Academy of Sciences
- New York Obstetrical Society
- New York Gynecological Society
- Obstetrical Society of Philadelphia
- Philadelphia Colposcopy Society
- Philadelphia College of Physicians
- Mid-Atlantic Gynecologic Oncology Society
Honors & Awards
- Philadelphia Magazine Top Doctors, 1993-2022
- Best Doctors in America® , 2014, 2019-2020
- America’s Top Doctors®, 2015-17
- MA honoris causa, University of Pennsylvania, 1994
- Presidential Award, Society of Gynecologic Oncologists, 1993
- Boyer Award for Clinical Investigation, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1990
- Clinical Oncology Career Development Award, American Cancer Society, 1987-90
- Chief Resident's Teaching Award, Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1983
- Clinical Fellow, American Cancer Society, 1980-82
Miriam Lieberman
- Breast Cancer
- Uterine Sarcoma
For decades, my healthcare routine was the same: When I scheduled my annual mammogram to screen for breast cancer, I also booked an appointment for a preventative transvaginal ultrasound. That’s because my sister survived a bout with uterine cancer 40 years ago, and our family history could put me at risk of developing the same cancer.
Mary Schwarzenberger
- Ovarian & Primary Peritoneal Cancer
“My doctor told me Dr. Rubin ‘wrote the book’ on gynecologic surgery and was at the top of his class. This was someone he would send his loved ones to, if needed. That was all the endorsement I needed to hear.”
Joan Foley
- Ovarian & Primary Peritoneal Cancer
When Joan Foley learned she had ovarian cancer, she did her research and read great things about Dr. Stephen Rubin at Fox Chase Cancer Center. At Fox Chase, Joan underwent surgery less than a week after her initial consultation with Dr. Rubin. Following surgery, she also underwent chemotherapy for 18 weeks. Today, Joan is feeling goos and is back to working as a researcher at a university in Philadelphia. "I recommend that anyone diagnosed with cancer should do their homework and research well-regarded oncologists who have expertise in a specific diagnostic area of cancer," she said. "My family now contributes to a research fellowship program led by Dr. Rubin to train research fellows in the field of gynecologic cancers...Because Fox Chase is a research institution, it offers patients a treatment edge, and research at Fox Chase can inform existing treatment protocols to yield better outcomes now and in the future."
Mary Haspel
- Ovarian & Primary Peritoneal Cancer
Mary Haspel received several false diagnoses for what was first diagnosed as a urinary tract infection. Eventually, after a number of tests, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Mary's doctor referred her to Fox Chase Cancer Center, where she underwent a hysterectomy. The next stage of treatment was an 18-week course of chemotherapy, followed by 12 monthly treatments. The treatment was successful, and Mary returned to her normal life, but decided to retire so she could pursue other interests, such as teaching yoga. In March 2017, she was diagnosed with a small recurrence of cancer, but is responding well to the chemotherapy and feels positive about the outcome.
Research Interests
- Clinical trials and innovative therapies for gynecologic cancers
Selected Publications
Resilience, Positive Coping, and Quality of Life Among Women Newly Diagnosed With Gynecological Cancers. Manne SL, Myers-Virtue S, Kashy D, Ozga M, Kissane D, Heckman C, Rubin SC, Rosenblum N. Cancer Nurs. 2015 Sep-Oct;38(5):375-82. doi: 10.1097/NCC.0000000000000215.
Correlation of pelvic magnetic resonance imaging diagnosis with pathology for indeterminate adnexal masses. Haggerty AF, Hagemann AR, Chu C, Siegelman ES, Rubin SC. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2014 Sep;24(7):1215-21. doi: 10.1097/IGC.0000000000000203. PMID: 25153677
Risk factors for GI adverse events in a phase III randomized trial of bevacizumab in first-line therapy of advanced ovarian cancer: A Gynecologic Oncology Group Study. Burger RA, Brady MF, Bookman MA, Monk BJ, Walker JL, Homesley HD, Fowler J, Greer BE, Boente M, Fleming GF, Lim PC, Rubin SC, Katsumata N, Liang SX. J Clin Oncol. 2014 Apr 20;32(12):1210-7. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2013.53.6524. Epub 2014 Mar 17. PMID: 24637999
Paget Cells in Endometrial and Endocervical Curettings in a Patient With Recurrent Vulvar Paget's Disease. Clayton EF, Rubin SC, Dumoff KL. Int J Surg Pathol. 2014 Jun;22(4):374-7. doi: 10.1177/1066896913498819. Epub 2013 Aug 5. PMID: 23918905
Phase I/II randomized trial of dendritic cell vaccination with or without cyclophosphamide for consolidation therapy of advanced ovarian cancer in first or second remission. Chu CS, Boyer J, Schullery DS, Gimotty PA, Gamerman V, Bender J, Levine BL, Coukos G, Rubin SC, Morgan MA, Vonderheide RH, June CH. Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2012 May;61(5):629-41. doi: 10.1007/s00262-011-1081-8. Epub 2011 Oct 22. PMID: 22021066
A high response rate to liposomal doxorubicin is seen among women with BRCA mutations treated for recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer. Adams SF, Marsh EB, Elmasri W, Halberstadt S, Vandecker S, Sammel MD, Bradbury AR, Daly M, Karlan B, Rubin SC. Gynecol Oncol. 2011 Dec;123(3):486-91. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2011.08.032. Epub 2011 Sep 25. PMID: 21945552
Tissue-based immune monitoring II: multiple tumor sites reveal immunologic homogeneity in serous ovarian carcinoma. Hagemann AR, Hagemann IS, Cadungog M, Hwang WT, Patel P, Lal P, Hammond R, Gimotty PA, Chu CS, Rubin SC, Birrer MJ, Powell DJ Jr, Feldman MD, Coukos G. Cancer Biol Ther. 2011 Aug 15;12(4):367-77. Epub 2011 Aug 15. PMID: 21785280
Tissue-based immune monitoring I: tumor core needle biopsies allow in-depth interrogation of the tumor microenvironment. Hagemann AR, Cadungog M, Hagemann IS, Hammond R, Adams SF, Chu CS, Rubin SC, Zhang L, Addya K, Birrer MJ, Gimotty PA, Coukos G. Cancer Biol Ther. 2011 Aug 15;12(4):357-66. Epub 2011 Aug 15. PMID: 21785264
Clinical predictors of bevacizumab-associated gastrointestinal perforation. Tanyi JL, McCann G, Hagemann AR, Coukos G, Rubin SC, Liao JB, Chu CS. Gynecol Oncol. 2011 Mar;120(3):464-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2010.11.009. Epub 2010 Dec 17. PMID: 21168199
Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN) after radiation therapy for gynecologic malignancies: a clinically recalcitrant entity. Liao JB, Jean S, Wilkinson-Ryan I, Ford AE, Tanyi JL, Hagemann AR, Lin LL, McGrath CM, Rubin SC. Gynecol Oncol. 2011 Jan;120(1):108-12. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2010.09.005. PMID: 20937524
I have never had a bad experience only good.
I always have a professional and informative with Dr. Rubin.
Excellent professional and compassionate care.
My health care team is always professional and explains things in a way that I understand. Always patient with any questions I may have
Dr Rubin and staff are very professional and caring medical people.
Dr. Rubin is the best doctor I have ever seen. I trust him with my life. I can say that about any other doctor.
Staff & physician very professional Well organized office
Dr. Stephen Rubin is the best and wonderful doctor.
Everything was good and in and out before my appointment time. Very happy.
Great visit all around from Dr. Rubin to staff.
Dr. Rubin is the very best doctor in every way and his nurse [...] is an angel of mercy. I love, appreciate and respect them both.
My care at this visit was fine. It was a follow-up visit to surgery 1 year ago ([...]). I would like to state here that the care I have received from Dr. Rubin has been just what I felt I needed all along. Thank you. [...]
My PCP ordered an ultra sound and mri of my pelvic area which showed a mass on my left ovary. I spoke to my PCP and GYN on a Monday. The GYN suggested I contact a GYN oncology surgeon with the results. My first thought and choice is FCCC (husband is a patient). I called FCCC right after my call with my GYN and spoke to a GYN nurse. Within 2-3 hours, I heard back from a nurse navigator who made an appointment with Dr. Rubin for the next day. Dr. Rubin scheduled surgery for 2 weeks in future. I could not have asked for more.
Excellent service and concerned of my issues
Always a great experience with Dr. Rubin & his team!
Always very good experience. I am very lucky to have Dr. Rubin as my oncologist.
very satisfied with my care.
I feel satisfied with the assistance of services that I receive with you.
Dr. Rubin is an excellent doctor. [...] is wonderful. would recommend both highly!
Always a pleasant experience. Dr. Rubin and his staff are the best! They are all truly appreciated!
Dr. Rubin is an exceptional, caring, and empathetic physician and an expert in his field.
Dr. Rubin [...] & [...] were very concerned that I was sick from my medication. Sent me for additional fluids & potassium. When I came home I felt better.
Only negative experience was length of time it took to get test results.
Thank you.
Dr. Rubin & nurse [...] are the best!
Dr. Rubin and his team are simply the best! Top notch care with access to multiple treatment plans, compassion, kindness and honesty. If you need a gynecological oncologist, this is the doctor and team!
[...] very good.