
PHILADELPHIA (April 28, 2025) — Fox Chase Cancer Center’s Jonathan Chernoff, MD, PhD, Cancer Center Director, was recently elected to one of the nation’s most prestigious medical organizations, the Association of American Physicians (AAP).
“It is an honor to be elected to such an esteemed organization,” said Chernoff. “The AAP has long been a hub for great scientists and medical professionals to learn from one another and develop meaningful relationships within the scientific community. I am eager to be in the company of so many esteemed colleagues and look forward to contributing to the improvement of patient care and health.”
Founded in 1885 by Sir William Osler, who is considered the father of modern medicine, the AAP is an honorary medical society that fosters physician-led research across fields related to medicine and health. It is a nonprofit professional organization with over 1,900 active members and approximately 900 emeritus and honorary members from the United States, Canada, and other countries.
Members of the AAP have included Nobel laureates, Lasker Award recipients, and members of the National Academy of Science and the National Academy of Medicine. The association brings together some of the best minds in science and medicine to create and disseminate critical knowledge and to provide role models for upcoming generations of physicians and medical scientists.
In order to be selected for election to the AAP, physicians must have outstanding credentials in basic or translational biomedical research. Those selected must “exemplify the pinnacle of pioneering and enduring,” as well as make “impactful contributions to improve health.” They must also receive a nomination from a current member as well as a second member for the nomination to be complete and submitted. Chernoff is one of 70 individuals elected to the society this year.
In addition to his role as Cancer Center Director, Chernoff is a molecular oncologist and board-certified medical oncologist. Since joining Fox Chase in 1991, he has helped define the strategic direction for Fox Chase research, making fundamental contributions in his own laboratory, which focuses on factors that control cell growth and movement.
He currently holds the Stanley P. Reimann Chair in Oncology Research and is a member of the Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment Research Program at Fox Chase, where he has trained dozens of postdoctoral and graduate students. He also serves as an adjunct professor at the Drexel University School of Medicine and the University of Pennsylvania.