Department News
General Updates
Over the summer months, our department has been growing rapidly as we continue to expand our programs and strengthen our commitment to providing exceptional, patient-centered cancer care.
We are thrilled to welcome several outstanding new faculty members who bring a wealth of expertise and energy to our team. Dr. Hoda Badr, PhD, joined us on July 1, 2025, as Division Director of Population Science and Associate Director of SKCCC Population Science, where she will lead research initiatives focused on improving outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients and their families. Dr. Steven Manobianco, MD, became part of our Solid Tumor Division as a Breast Oncology Attending on August 1, 2025, bringing specialized experience in comprehensive breast cancer treatment. Dr. Joseph Van Galen, MD, MS, joined the Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Division on August 17, 2025, as a BMT Attending, where he will enhance our transplant and cellular therapy programs. On September 1, 2025, Dr. Angela Kuehn, DO, joined the Supportive Oncology Division as a Palliative Care Attending, strengthening our integrated model of symptom management and quality-of-life care. Finally, we look forward to welcoming Dr. Kathleen (Casey) Degen, MD, on October 1, 2025, as a Jefferson Northeast (JNE) Attending, who will also be seeing breast cancer patients at the Honickman Center. Khvaramze (Khako) Shaverdashvili, MD., PhD. She will be joining the Solid Tumor Division, Head/Neck/Lung groups on December 1, 2025. Dr. Shaverdashvili is a physician-scientist with dual qualifications (MD and PhD) who practices oncology. Her training spans internal medicine, oncology, and biochemical research. She is active in both patient care and research, focusing on complex oncologic conditions and contributing to translational science. We are excited about the expertise and leadership these new faculty members bring, as they help advance our mission of delivering cutting-edge oncology care, innovative research, and compassionate support to our patients and community.
Medical Oncology Symposium
The inaugural updates in Medical Oncology Symposium, held on November 3, 2025, was an outstanding success, marking an important milestone for the Department of Medical Oncology. The event brought together a multidisciplinary audience of physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and allied health professionals for a day of highly engaging and informative sessions focused on the latest advances in cancer care. Participants gained valuable insights into emerging treatment strategies and innovations across multiple tumor types, and the feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, underscoring the symposium’s educational impact and clinical relevance.
At the conclusion of the activity, healthcare team members reported increased confidence in their ability to analyze recent advances in gastrointestinal malignancy treatments and assess their implications for patient management. They were able to evaluate the role of minimal residual disease (MRD) testing in clinical oncology by integrating current evidence into decision-making strategies, and describe the use of radiation oncology therapies for oligometastatic disease using updated therapeutic approaches. Participants also enhanced their ability to formulate treatment plans for multiple myeloma, applying new standards of care and recent clinical trial data, and to summarize the use of tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy in metastatic melanoma, recognizing both benefits and potential toxicities. In addition, they were able to apply updated treatment paradigms for genitourinary (GU) malignancies, incorporating advances from recent clinical trials into their daily practice.
Physicians who participated in the full symposium were eligible to receive AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™, recognizing their engagement in a program specifically designed to improve knowledge, competence, and clinical performance in oncology. Overall, the symposium served as a powerful platform for collaboration, innovation, and education, demonstrating the Department’s continued commitment to advancing clinical excellence, fostering professional growth, and ensuring that patients benefit from the most current, evidence-based cancer care available.