Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Jefferson

03/17/2026

We are pleased to share that the Radiation Oncology program at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center has successfully achieved reaccreditation by the American Society for Radiation Oncology through APEx - Accreditation Program for Excellence!

APEx accreditation represents the highest standard in radiation oncology practice. Through the process, we demonstrated our continued focus on safety, quality, and our commitment to patient-centered care.

ASTRO awarded reaccreditation to Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals and Jefferson's Abington, Torresdale, and Washington Township hospitals, while Jefferson's Einstein Philadelphia, Einstein Montgomery, and Cherry Hill hospitals achieved initial accreditation.

Additionally, ASTRO recognized the Bodine Department of Radiation Oncology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals with the specialized Radiopharmaceutical Therapy (RPT)-specific designation for our advanced theranostics program.

Thank you to everyone in our amazing radiation oncology program across the Jefferson Health enterprise who helped make this achievement possible!

Jefferson Health - New Jersey
Jefferson Health - Abington
Jefferson Health - Northeast
Jefferson Health – Einstein

03/17/2026

What’s your name and role and how long have you worked here?
My name is Mackenzie, and I’ve been with the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement as an Outreach Coordinator for about 6 months! I started here this past September and have been loving it.

What's your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of the job has been connecting with so many different people. We get to work with so many community members and organizations all throughout Greater Philly, and I love learning about people’s different experiences, backgrounds, and points of view.

If you weren't in this field, what career would you have chosen?
I’d probably still be doing something in healthcare, but I loved my math and law classes in college so maybe something in those fields.

What is your favorite hobby or activity outside of work?
Outside of work, I like to read, bake, hike, and explore new restaurants with friends.

What’s one country you would love to visit and why?
I’d love to visit Peru! The food, history and nature look amazing, and Machu Picchu is on my bucket list.

03/16/2026

03/12/2026

Did you know that March is also Kidney Cancer Awareness Month and that March 12 is World Kidney Day? 🧡

Kidney cancer is one of the 10 most common cancers diagnosed in both men and women in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates more than 80,000 new cases of kidney cancer will be diagnosed this year. There is currently no routine screening for kidney cancer, so it is important to be aware of your risk factors and to talk to your healthcare provider about any signs or symptoms you may be experiencing.

Learn more about kidney cancer, including treatment options, innovative clinical trials, and our multidisciplinary team of experts here at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center: https://www.jeffersonhealth.org/conditions-and-treatments/kidney-cancer

03/12/2026

Thank you to the Food Bank of South Jersey for inviting us to participate in the Resource Fair that they hosted onsite in Pennsauken!

As March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, we brought our Strollin' Colon to help raise awareness.

Tangela Thompson, a Project Manager for Community Outreach & Engagement at the cancer center, talks about the inflatable colon and offers more information on colorectal cancer screening, early detection, and prevention.

As a member of our Community Advisory Board, the Food Bank of South Jersey is a valued partner in our New Jersey outreach. 💙

03/10/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Tamara LaCouture, Chief of Cancer Services for the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Jefferson Health - New Jersey, for this well-deserved honor! 🎉

03/08/2026

Happy International Women’s Day! Today we are celebrating the amazing women of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center. Whether in the clinic, laboratories, or out in the community, they are making a difference and we are grateful for their expertise, compassion, and leadership.

03/06/2026

The Geriatric Oncology Center of Excellence, led by Dr. Andrew Chapman, studies how to improve the lives of older adults with cancer. Older adults with cancer are more likely to experience other health conditions like memory problems, physical weakness, and depression, and they may take many different medications. Through research, Dr. Chapman developed a method to understand whether an older adult’s cancer care is meaningful and valuable to them and their family. This is important because the risk of cancer increases with age and the majority of cancer survivors are over the age of 65.

Learn more about senior adult oncology care at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center: https://www.jeffersonhealth.org/clinical-specialties/senior-adult-oncology-center

03/04/2026

Experts from Jefferson's Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center discuss head & neck cancer and human papillomavirus (HPV) during a live conversation and Q&A.

03/02/2026

MEET THE TEAM MONDAY:

What’s your name and role and how long have you worked here?
My name is Andrea. My role is mammogram scheduler for the Mobile Screening Van. I have been in this position for a little over a year now, but I have been with Jefferson Health since 2021.

What's your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is helping to ensure that women in the community are getting the care that they need!

If you weren't in this field, what career would you have chosen?
I think if I was not in this field, I would still be in the healthcare field. I would still like to be involved in women’s health to some capacity, possibly more focused on psychology.

What is your favorite hobby or activity outside of work?
My favorite hobbies outside of work include doing various crafts (journaling, embroidery & making jewelry) & watching movies.

What’s one country you would love to visit and why?
I would love to go to Italy to do sightseeing & try all their wonderful food!

03/01/2026

Although diet and nutrition can play an important role during cancer treatment, it can be challenging for patients to change their diet.

“It’s difficult to advise patients on what to eat. While we provide support from oncology dietitians, that adds another appointment, and patients often have questions when they’re cooking at home and can’t easily reach a dietitian,” the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center's Dr. Nicole Simone recently told Becker's Hospital Review.

Dr. Simone is leading a clinical trial evaluating the use of AI chatbots to help support dietary plans and offer tailored guidance for cancer patients.

She and her colleagues set about to determine whether AI could provide personalized advice across different budgets and cuisine types.

“We wanted to see if thoughtful prompt design could generate accurate, supportive diet plans tailored to cancer patients, including considerations like calorie targets and socioeconomic factors. It was important to us that the tool could suggest options across different budgets, whether that’s $10 a day or $100 a day,” Dr. Simone explained.

Read more about the trial: https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/healthcare-information-technology/ai/can-ai-bridge-a-cancer-care-gap/

02/28/2026

GI cancers present complex challenges for patients and care teams alike. For Rare Disease Day, we’re highlighting insights from Dr. Babar Bashir, Medical Director of Early Phase Research at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, which offers early phase clinical research through the Sarah Cannon Research Institute.

Dr. Bashir’s article underscores the importance of coordinated, multidisciplinary care and precision-guided decision-making for patients with appendiceal and small bowel cancers, where standardized treatment pathways are limited.

That progress should not be limited to the most common diagnoses. Patients facing rare cancer deserve to feel seen and to benefit from continued innovation in research and care.

Read more: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/shining-light-rare-gi-cancers-5-things-you-didnt-know-babar-bashir-jlqse/?trackingId=1%2FkzjBzVQiS2grc6aFKxsA%3D%3D

Rare Disease Day shines a light on patients diagnosed with conditions that are often overlooked or underserved. This is especially true for rare gastrointestinal (GI) cancers such as appendiceal cancer and small bowel cancer.