Fox Chase Cancer Center and Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University Surgeons Elected to Education Committee of the Association for Academic Surgery

Press Release
Anthony Villano, MD, and Joceline Vu, MD, were recently elected members of the Education Committee of the Association for Academic Surgery.

PHILADELPHIA (March 13, 2024) — Anthony Villano, MD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgical Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center, and Joceline Vu, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, were recently elected members of the Education Committee of the Association for Academic Surgery (AAS).

The AAS is an organization comprised of surgeons with faculty appointments, as well as some senior/chief residents and fellows at recognized academic centers. The mission of the AAS is to drive innovation and change in the field of surgical care by supporting professional development, networking, and inclusivity within the area of academic surgery.

Elected members of the Education Committee serve two-year terms, during which they work to expand the education of medical students, residents, and faculty in the field of surgery.

As part of the Education Committee, Vu and Villano will take part in planning and moderating the education research programming offered by the AAS, which is known as the Fundamentals of Surgical Research Course.

They will also contribute to developing programs that highlight issues in surgical education and research at the Academic Surgical Congress. Additionally, they will promote the development of surgical educators and coordinate and match faculty mentors with resident and student mentees.

Villano’s treatment focuses are in robotic surgery and minimally invasive surgery. He specializes in multiple cancers, including appendix, colorectal, pancreatic, skin, and stomach. He also specializes in neuroendocrine tumors, melanoma, sarcoma, as well as liver, gallbladder, and bile duct cancers.

He is a member of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), the ACS Commission on Cancer’s Cancer Surgery Standards Program, the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, and the Society of Surgical Oncology.

Vu’s clinical interests include colorectal surgery, inflammatory bowel disease, colon and rectal cancer, pelvic floor disorders, and anorectal disease. Her research interests are in quality improvement of surgical care, patient-reported outcomes, and leadership development in surgical residency and practice.

In addition to AAS membership, Vu is also a member of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons, the Association of Women’s Surgeons, and the Society of Asian Academic Surgeons.

Fox Chase Cancer Center (Fox Chase), which includes the Institute for Cancer Research and the American Oncologic Hospital and is a part of Temple Health, is one of the leading comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. Founded in 1904 in Philadelphia as one of the nation’s first cancer hospitals, Fox Chase was also among the first institutions to be designated a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center in 1974. Fox Chase is also one of just 10 members of the Alliance of Dedicated Cancer Centers. Fox Chase researchers have won the highest awards in their fields, including two Nobel Prizes. Fox Chase physicians are also routinely recognized in national rankings, and the Center’s nursing program has received the Magnet recognition for excellence six consecutive times. Today, Fox Chase conducts a broad array of nationally competitive basic, translational, and clinical research, with special programs in cancer prevention, detection, survivorship, and community outreach. It is the policy of Fox Chase Cancer Center that there shall be no exclusion from, or participation in, and no one denied the benefits of, the delivery of quality medical care on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, disability, age, ancestry, color, national origin, physical ability, level of education, or source of payment.

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