The Helene Blum Assistant Professorship

helene blumThe Professorship was established in 2007 through the generosity of Elaine and Melvin Merians to honor Elaine Merians’ mother, Helene Blum. The chair supports the research mission of an expert clinician in the field of sarcoma in the Department of Radiation Oncology.

In gratitude for the excellent care Elaine Merians and other family members have received, the Merians have supported research at the Abramson Cancer Center. Melvin Merians (1928–2009) was a graduate of the University of the Class of 1951. The family has also given to many arts and educational organizations, and the Professorship represents one of their many contributions to the advancement of medical care.

 

Current Chairholder
Emily Lebow, MD

Emily Lebow, MD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Perelman School of Medicine. Dr. Lebow earned her BA at the University of Pennsylvania and MD with Honors at Harvard Medical School. She completed her residency training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center where she served as Chief Resident. Dr. Lebow joined the University of Pennsylvania following completion of her residency in 2023. Dr. Lebow is actively engaged in clinical and translational research. Her research has focused on integration of novel biomarkers and personalization of cancer therapy, and her work has been published in numerous high impact journals including Nature Medicine and JAMA Oncology. 

Dr. Lebow’s focus on the integration of novel biomarkers and the personalization of cancer therapy reflects a deep commitment to transforming how sarcomas and other rare cancers are treated. Her approach leverages cutting-edge technologies such as advanced imaging and blood-based biomarkers to monitor tumors in real time, allowing her to adapt treatment strategies based on the tumor’s evolving behavior. This dynamic model enables more precise targeting of cancer cells while minimizing harm to healthy tissue, ultimately improving both efficacy and tolerability of therapy.
 

Previous Chairholders

  • Michelle Alonso-Basanta, MD, PhD 2014–2018
  • Jacob Shabason, MD, MS 2019-2023