New Chief of Oncology Named by The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
--Stephen P. Hunger, M.D., Has Joined CHOP--
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) announces the selection of Stephen P. Hunger, M.D., a nationally prominent specialist in children's cancer, as its new chief of the Division of Oncology and the director of the Center for Childhood Cancer Research.
Dr. Hunger assumed his new position on Nov. 1. He joins a premier, comprehensive program, staffed by internationally recognized experts in pediatric cancer who rely on the most current advances in research and treatment. CHOP Oncology treats 600 newly diagnosed patients each year, and follows thousands of patients through its Cancer Survivorship Program, established 30 years ago as the first such program of its kind.
"We are delighted to welcome this internationally renowned pediatric oncologist to CHOP to lead our pediatric cancer program, advancing the treatment of children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer and overseeing pediatric oncology research. Dr. Hunger has an impressive background as a clinician, investigator, teacher, and leader in pediatric oncology and will undoubtedly have a major impact at CHOP," said Joseph St. Geme, M.D., physician-in-chief and chair of the Department of Pediatrics. Dr. St. Geme led a national search for candidates to fill this position.
Dr. Hunger arrived from Children's Hospital Colorado, where he was most recently director of the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders and holder of the Ergen Family Chair in Pediatric Cancer. He also was a professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the chief of the Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplantation.
He has a particular research interest in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common childhood cancer.
A leading member of the Children's Oncology Group (COG), the national cooperative organization of pediatric cancer centers, Dr. Hunger has served on scores of COG study committees, and as chair of the organization's ALL Committee since 2008. He also has served on NIH study sections and committees of the National Cancer Institute, the American Society of Hematology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and numerous charitable foundations and medical groups.
He has received dozens of research grants from the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute, the St. Baldrick's Foundation, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, among many other funding organizations. He has published hundreds of scientific articles, reviews and book chapters, and has made invited presentations throughout the world on pediatric oncology.
Dr. Hunger earned his B.S. in Applied Biology from M.I.T., and his M.D. at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. He then trained at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, and served as a postdoctoral fellow and postdoctoral research scholar at Stanford University School of Medicine. He held faculty appointments in Pediatrics and Molecular Genetics and Microbiology at the University of Florida College of Medicine before moving to the University of Colorado and Children's Hospital Colorado in 2007.
"I am tremendously excited by this opportunity to join one of the premier pediatric cancer programs in the world and to help CHOP develop more and better therapies toward our eventual goal of curing all pediatric cancers," said Dr. Hunger.
About The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals and pioneering major research initiatives, Children's Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the 535-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit http://www.chop.edu.
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia has one of the largest pediatric cancer programs in the United States, which has been top ranked by U.S.News & World Report and Parents Magazine. Its large basic and clinical research programs are particularly strong in pediatric neuro-oncology, neuroblastoma, leukemia and lymphoma, and sarcomas. Of all pediatric institutions, Children's Hospital enrolls the most patients in national clinical trials, working in close collaboration with national organizations such as the Children's Oncology Group. Physicians at Children's Hospital have had pioneering roles in developing international standards for diagnosing and treating neuroblastoma, and in developing programs for survivors of childhood cancer. For more information, visit http://www.chop.edu/cancer.
Contact: Rachel Salis-Silverman
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Phone: (267) 426-6063
[email protected]
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141107/157347
SOURCE The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
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