Penn's Hematology/Oncology Division is a comprehensive program dedicated to the clinical care and research, providing the most advanced treatment for all types of cancers and blood-related disorders. Our faculty members, more than 130, are involved in research to develop new and more effective methods for diagnosing and treating these diseases and for educating the physicians and researchers of the future. The division provides a framework in which basic scientists, translational researchers, clinical investigators and clinicians collaborate advance the understanding of difference cancers and blood disorders, and on designing new therapies. The synergy between basic and clinical research is a fundamental characteristic of the division.
Penn hematologists and medical oncologists are members of multidisciplinary teams. They approach the treatment of cancer and blood disorders by treating the entire individual; not just the disease. Patients benefit by having a team of experts from various specialties working together to determine the best course of treatment in a supportive, compassionate environment.
Our division spans three main clinical areas:
- Hematological Malignancies
- Solid Tumor Oncology
- Benign Hematology
World-class patient care
Penn hematologists and medical oncologists specialize in the diagnosis, treatment and management of cancer and blood disorders. Hematologists and medical oncologists also coordinate overall patient care and direct chemotherapy and related medical treatments. The division’s clinical activities span 15 disease oriented areas and programs each of which focuses on a specific type of cancer or blood disorder. Our division sees approximately 198,000 outpatients per year and 135,000 visits for chemotherapy or immunotherapy infusions.
A multidisciplinary approach
Penn hematologists and medical oncologists work closely with other cancer specialists to provide patients with comprehensive, integrated care. They work side-by-side with other treatment team members including physicians and nurses who specialize in surgical oncology, radiation oncology, gynecologic oncology, urology, radiology and pathology to create a personalized medical treatment plan for every patient. Penn hematologists/oncologists are also a part of Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center, a comprehensive cancer center designated as by the National Cancer Institute and rated "exceptional" during its most recent peer review.
Inpatient care
Our hematologist and oncologist provide in patient care to cancer patients hospitalized at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP), Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Pennsylvania Hospital and Chester County Hospital. For hospitalized patients, our physicians and nurse practitioners provide specialized care, also incorporating palliative care.
Satellite locations and physician practices
The division operates or oversees multiple cancer and benign hematology programs in the region, extending the high quality care in the closer to home.
Comprehensive educational experiences
High volume clinical services allow trainees to gain expertise with all types of cancers. Penn attracts residents and fellows with strong academic and leadership skills, giving trainees the opportunity to learn alongside some of the most talented and accomplished physicians, residents and fellows in the world. Penn's collaborative environment fosters productive interactions among fellow trainees and physicians from other disciplines and faculty. Graduates of Penn's residency and fellowship programs are highly recruited for leadership positions in academic medicine.
State-of-the-art research and technology
Penn researchers in hematology/oncology participate in pioneering research ranging from fundamental cellular investigations to the latest, cutting-edge translational and clinical research. Patients benefit from research being done right here, right now at Penn Medicine.
- Penn's clinical and research programs are closely aligned with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) roadmap initiative emphasizing research that has a direct effect on patient outcomes.
- Penn Medicine has been awarded several highly competitive grants and selected to participate in a number of landmark clinical trials. Penn is the leading national site for several clinical trials.
- As one of the most stimulating academic environments in the world, new researchers at Penn can expect to collaborate and learn from some of the best minds in medicine in an interactive, highly networked and supportive working environment.
- Researchers at Penn Medicine have the opportunity to solve significant problems in their respective fields.
- Penn clinicians are pioneering the most advanced medical treatments, techniques and devices.
The mission of the Hematology/Oncology Division is to provide expert and compassionate care to adults with cancer and blood disorders while turning great science into practical benefits for more people every day.
Values
Exceptionalism
We will continue to reach for exceptionally high levels of performance in everything we do.
Innovation
We will use our creativity and skills to transcend existing limitations in the delivery of care and application of new therapies.
Cohesion
We are inclusive and supportive of each other in thought and perspective.
Compassion
We ensure that our patients and their families feel deeply cared for from the moment they enter our practices.
Humility
We recognize that we are part of a greater mission and are grateful for what we can do for our patients. We value team approaches to patient care and research, and recognize the unique contributions of each team member.
Integrity
We hold ourselves to consistently high moral and ethical standards.
Progressive
We embrace and are responsive to new and pioneering ideas.
A Vision for the Future: Strategic plan
Dear colleagues,
Our Strategic Plan builds upon the successes of the Division and addresses the challenges we face as a result of the significant changes taking place in the health system and in healthcare. Our strategic plan includes four goals related to patient centeredness, engagement, innovation and economic sustainability. Focusing on our goals will advance our Division as a continuing national leader in hematology/oncology patient care, a premiere setting for learning and mentoring, and a global leader in developing highly visible discoveries that truly impact patient’s lives.
Our goals
To promote our mission, the Hematology/Oncology Division has committed to four goals that will serve as the focus of our activities and investments over the next three to five years:
- Patient centeredness
Lead the nation in the delivery of state-of-the-art, compassionate care that optimizes quality of life and patient outcomes. - Engagement
Expand and enhance collaboration, communication, accountability, professional development and ownership. - Innovation
Drive innovation by translating new discoveries into practice. - Economic sustainability
Create a nimble and fiscally sustainable and successful Division.
Patient centeredness
Lead the nation in the delivery of state-of-the-art, compassionate care that optimizes quality of life and patient outcomes.
Rationale
Patient-focused care that leverages our unique strengths as an integrated health system ensures both quality patient care, high value care and provider satisfaction. A core tenet is that the standard of care for our patients always includes state-of-the-art clinical research. Technically sophisticated care and compassionate care are not at odds in our system. We are also experts in thoughtful, empathic end-of-life care when our best treatments and technologies have met their limits.
Supporting Strategies and Tactics:
- Drive excellence in patient care in the out-patient and in-patient settings
- Create networked approach to individualized patient care
- Incorporate research into clinical care at all locations
- Develop infrastructure for patients and providers (internal and external) to identify available clinical trials, assess eligibility and enroll patients quickly and efficiently.
- Develop a process to increase the availability of clinical trials at all locations and thereby realize part of the goal to establish a truly integrated Division.
- Bring new knowledge and new technologies to the delivery of care
Engagement
Expand and enhance collaboration, communication, professional development and ownership.
Rationale
Our people are our greatest asset. Our faculty, nurses and staff who pioneer discoveries, teach our trainees and care for our patients are essential to support and advance our three-part mission (clinical care, research and education). We must be able to recruit and retain top talent. Greater engagement enhances faculty, nurse and staff productivity and retention, improves the patient experience and outcomes, and enables the Division to accelerate research and provide outstanding education. Engagement across practice sites will lead to better coordination of care and improved research collaborations.
Supporting strategies and tactics:
- Refresh Division organizational structure to reflect the current size
- Establish a strong system-wide identity to reinforce our sense of community
- Improve faculty and staff career development
- Optimize ability of faculty to balance research, clinical, and personal time
Innovation
Drive innovation by translating new discoveries into practice.
Rationale
Penn is already a leader in transforming the care of patients with cancer and serious blood disorders. But the stakes are now higher than ever with the insights and promise from recent basic biomedical discoveries in cancer genetics and immunology. Turning this veritable explosion of information into useful therapies for patients will require taking risks in an entrepreneurial, dynamic and competitive research environment. This will almost certainly involve new funding and collaboration models, strategic partnerships and methods for transmitting knowledge to learners, payers, patients and funding agencies. Threats to innovation are everywhere; they’ve always been there. Our campus is different from that of many of our peers, however, and constitutes a uniquely diverse and strong academic ecosystem, including resources we’ve barely tapped in the past. As members of this campus and community, Penn Medicine, the Abramson Cancer Center and the Division are uniquely poised to continue to make new cancer and other biomedical discoveries and bring them to our own patients and patients throughout the rest of the world.
Supporting Strategies and Tactics:
- Expand our deep tradition of conducting the highest impact trials, the ones that change practice.
- Create an environment that allows for new, translatable discoveries.
Economic sustainability
Rationale
Delivering high value services that achieve quality outcomes will strengthen our reputation in the market. Hematology/Oncology has grown rapidly in recent years and achieved a number of key financial and quality goals. However, market and payer changes require a renewed and ongoing focus on sustainability, growth, and ability to support the Division’s mission.
Supporting Strategies and Tactics:
- Grow program volumes
- Deliver highest value care
- Improve long-term financial outlook for the non-clinical missions
Concluding comments
Our work on the Strategic Plan has just begun. With this plan, the Hematology/Oncology Division’s forward looking process builds on the lessons and achievements of our half century as a Division. While no one underestimates the challenges in these goals, there is an overriding belief that over the next 5 years, we can and will transform the outlook for patients with cancer and serious blood disorders. With this plan we will foster inclusion, engagement and professional development of all members of the Division across our practice locations.