H.O. West and J.R. Wike Chair in Cancer Research

Created in 2005 and named for Herman O. West and Jesse R. Wike, University of Pennsylvania classmates who founded West Pharmaceuticals in the 1920s, this chair recognizes and supports and outstanding leader in cancer science and medicine who represents the highest standards of excellence.

J. Robert Beck, MD 

Senior Vice President
Deputy Director
Chief Administrative Officer 
Chief Medical Officer
Special Assistant to the President for Academic and Professional Affairs

J. Robert Beck, MD serves as Chief Academic and Administrative Officer of Fox Chase Cancer Center. Dr. Beck was recruited to Fox Chase in 2001 as Vice President and Chief Information Officer.  He has served in several roles at Fox Chase, becoming Deputy Director of the Division of Population Sciences in 2006, Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer in 2007, Chief Medical Officer in 2009, and Deputy Director of the Center in 2013.  In his current role Bob supervises Academic and Faculty Affairs, Community Outreach and Health Disparities, Corporate Alliances, Informatics and Information Technology, Strategic Planning, and the Chief Medical Officer.

Bob’s scholarship centers on medical decision making, where as a trainee and junior faculty member he developed the Markov health outcomes model that is now a standard tool of the field. His research is funded by the National Cancer Institute and philanthropy, and is currently working to develop Centers of Excellence in Cancer Health Disparities and Cancer Research in the Caribbean.

Bob is a true visionary, able to identify and successfully implement novel ideas in medicine, information technology and educational outreach. His service at Fox Chase as Chief Medical Officer, Chief Academic Officer, and Chief Information Officer underscore the scope and depth of his expertise; in all of these responsibilities, he has nimbly combined an incisive logic, open-minded perspective, and a willingness to tackle complex institutional challenges. He is a vocal and tireless champion for young scientists, spearheading efforts to mentor junior faculty and diversify the pool of scientists and students that work at Fox Chase. Finally, that he accomplishes all of these things, while remaining a mentor, advocate, and friend to so many of us, makes him a truly invaluable ally in achieving the mission of the Center. "