Dynamic New Leader Shapes Vision For Fox Chase

Michael V. Seiden,
MD, PhD

On June 1, Michael V. Seiden, MD, PhD, became the fifth president and CEO of Fox Chase Cancer Center. He has a commanding vision for the Center's future, bringing with him extensive clinical, scientific and administrative expertise. Seiden is prepared to lead the institution to a great future but realizes achieving that goal will require contributions from the entire Fox Chase community.

"Clearly, I think my biggest job is articulating a vision for the integration of emerging technologies into a team-based science with the aim of reducing the burden of human cancer."

Part of this vision includes a strong focus on philanthropy. Seiden values the support that comes from altruism. With his ambitious goals, Seiden knows cancer research is a vital part of Fox Chase's mission, which many will continue to support.

"There are few bigger problems than cancer," Seiden comments. "The post-genome era will provide unbelievable opportunities to find new and better ways to treat a devastating disease. With the vision and mission coupled with a strong development team, there is great potential."

21st Century Plan

Seiden believes Fox Chase has a "spectacular opportunity" to become greater than it is by accelerating the growth of "big science and expanding cancer biology research."

Therefore, one of his top goals is to implement the next generation of techniques for cancer diagnosis and treatment.

"I strongly believe that there will be a totally different way to treat cancer patients in the next 10 years," says Seiden. "I think tumors will be removed and analyzed in a much more molecularly based way." This is already being done at the research level, but in 10 years, every tumor will be analyzed this way, he adds.

"Therapies will be selected for people based on the molecular characterization of their tumors. And how these therapies are working will be dissected in a much more sophisticated way using techniques like molecular imaging. And with the 'tsunami of new drugs' coming around the corner, researchers will require many more patients to participate in clinical trials.

"To get there first, you need a unified comprehensive cancer center, ideally on a single campus—a place that is the right size to conduct groundbreaking studies but not so unwieldy that you can't get your arms around it. Fox Chase is perfectly positioned to accomplish this."

About the New President

At the young age of five, Seiden knew he'd be a doctor, initially interested in pediatric surgery.

"While I was in medical school, I fell in love with science," Seiden says. "I entered a combined MD/PhD program because I wanted research to be an important part of my life. I realized that it would be hard to be a surgeon and have a lot of time for research."

In 1986, Seiden settled in Boston where he remained until his recent move to Philadelphia. He completed his medical training at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and has served in several capacities there and at Dana-Farber Harvard Cancer Center. During this time, Seiden discovered and pursued his two passions, cancer research and teaching.

"I knew I wanted to work on a hard problem that was not going to be solved easily or quickly." Seiden explains. "It had to be important, affect a lot of people and cover a wide swath of biology. Oncology was a natural choice."

As chief of the gynecologic cancer research program at MGH, he participated in building an academic program in ovarian cancer, one of many jobs he has enjoyed.

"I love research, taking care of patients, organizing teams, fundraising and strategy."

Professional & Personal Journey

Seiden believes making goals is essential to success. He consistently sets five- and 10-year goals.

"In 2006, I hit my tenth year [at Mass General]. Things were going well. But I was thinking, 'Do I need a new challenge?'"

Contemplating a new professional challenge was soon set aside for a more personal one. Seiden's wife, Jean, who developed breast cancer in 2002, experienced a recurrence in September 2004. She died in October 2006.

Now he's doing what he can to "see cancer therapy change dramatically during [his] professional career." He's chosen Fox Chase to be a vehicle for this change.

As he embarks on a new professional journey, he's also very busy as a father to Stanley, a sophomore at Yale, and Stephanie, a high-school sophomore at Germantown Academy. He describes them as "spectacular," noting that "their mother was a special person who did a really good job raising them."

Carrying with him the experiences of a medical oncologist, administrator and caregiver to his wife, Seiden has all the necessary tools and motivation to begin his next journey as president of Fox Chase Cancer Center.