The Eli Glatstein, MD Endowed Professorship
In 2018, the Department of Radiation Oncology, friends, colleagues, and students of Eli Glatstein, MD, created the Professorship to honor his pioneering contributions to the field and his accomplishments in educating academic leaders in cancer treatment.
A Professor Emeritus in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Perelman School of Medicine, Dr. Glatstein began his career at his medical alma mater, Stanford University. He served in the Vietnam War and was awarded the Bronze Star. From 1967 to 1982, Dr. Glatstein played a leadership role at the National Cancer Institute as Chief of Radiation Oncology. He next became the first chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. In 1996, he joined Penn as Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology and as the first Morton Kligerman Professor. Dr. Glatstein is noted for his work in lymphoma, sarcomas, lung cancer, radiation biology, and photodynamic therapy, as well as for his outspoken advocacy of multidisciplinary treatment for cancer. More than 25 of his students and trainees have become chairs of academic departments, continuing his legacy of excellence in cancer therapy. Dr. Glatstein was a beloved mentor and educator in the field of radiation oncology and played a critical role in developing its culture of spreading knowledge.
Current Chairholder
Neha Vapiwala, MD
Dr. Vapiwala specializes in the management of patients with genitourinary (GU) cancers, serving as the department's first Chief of GU Oncology. Her research interests focus on biological and technological improvements in radiation therapy, as well as molecular imaging and integrative medicine for disease- and treatment-related symptom management. She is the Principal Investigator of multiple therapeutic trials for prostate cancer patients, including the INDICATE study (EA8191), a national NCI-sponsored randomized phase III cooperative group trial exploring the use of PET-directed systemic and focal therapy in patients with recurrent prostate cancer. She has also served as a Project Leader on a Department of Defense program project grant investigating particle therapy.
Dr. Vapiwala holds leadership positions in multiple national societies and cooperative group committees in GU oncology, presently serving on the NCI Prostate Cancer Task Force, as well as the ECOG-ACRIN GU Early Modality committee in the role of Co-Chair. In her various roles, Dr. Vapiwala has helped to shape national and international treatment guidelines as well as cancer conferences. She was elected to the Board of Directors of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the Nominating Committee of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Clinical Oncology and JAMA Oncology. Dr. Vapiwala is also a member of PSOM’s Academy of Master Clinicians and has consistently been selected with other medical luminaries for Castle Connolly’s Top Docs in America, Exceptional Women in Medicine, and Philadelphia magazine’s Top Docs, among other accolades.
In addition to her work in GU oncology, Dr. Vapiwala is a recognized leader in undergraduate and graduate education, working to establish national standards for high-quality medical training. Prior to her role as Dean of Admissions, she served as Assistant Dean of Student Affairs. Dr. Vapiwala also served a six-year term on the Executive Committee of the Association of Directors of Radiation Oncology Programs and just concluded a three-year term as Chair of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education's Residency Review Committee for Radiation Oncology. A recent paper in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics outlines some of the significant changes to national training standards as a result of Dr. Vapiwala’s leadership, redefining the future of radiation oncology training in the U.S.
Dr. Vapiwala earned her undergraduate degree with a double major in Biology and Hispanic studies from Johns Hopkins University, then taught high school math and algebra for a year prior to matriculating at University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine as a 21st Century Scholar. She completed her internship at Albert Einstein Medical Center and residency at the University of Pennsylvania, serving as chief resident before joining the faculty.
Previous Chairholder
- Edgar Ben-Josef, MD 2018-2024