Martin Abeloff, International Breast Cancer Authority, Dies Of Leukemia

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Main Category: Breast Cancer
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology;  Lung Cancer;  Medical Students / Training
Article Date: 15 Sep 2007 - 9:00 PDT

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Martin Abeloff, head of oncology and director of the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center since 1992, an international authority on breast cancer, died of leukemia yesterday. The John Hopkins Center says Abeloff will be remembered by his friends and colleagues worldwide for his distinctive humility, humor and astonishing dedication to his patients and students.

During his decade-and-a-half at the Cancer Center, Abeloff doubled the size of the faculty, raised research funding six fold, the cancer complex grew to almost 1 million square feet of treatment and research space. He also pushed it up among the country's top three cancer centers.

At the Center's Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Building, Abeloff set up the Art of Healing program - consisting of performing arts series and 100 works of museum-quality art by Maryland and USA born artists for patients, visitors and staff to enjoy. Abeloff is also thanked for bringing to John Hopkins its largest single gift - $150 million from fashion magnate Signey Kimmel, after whom the cancer center is now named.

Edward D. Miller, M.D., Dean/CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine, said "Marty was that iconic Hopkins physician, scientist, educator, leader and good citizen rolled into one. He was there for his patients, his residents and fellows, his colleagues and at so many challenging times, the institution he graced for so long. Marty built an impressive and unparalleled team of cancer experts and a world-class reputation for the Kimmel Cancer Center."

Ronald R. Peterson, president of The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System, said "All of the Johns Hopkins Medicine family will miss his presence and his wisdom. He was the consummate quiet man who worked tirelessly to achieve greatness in his field."

Abeloff had recently said the recent development and progress against malignant diseases was due to the faculty and its staff - he counted himself fortunate to be working among individuals whose intelligence and values made coming to work "an absolute joy".

Friend and colleague, Stephen Baylin, M.D., Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Professor of Oncology and Medicine, and deputy director of the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, said "What he didn't know, he took the time to learn. And with a combination of qualities best summarized as wisdom, he helped transform both the treatment of cancer and the way that Johns Hopkins delivers that care. These are his legacies."

In 1966, Abeloff obtained his medical degree from Johns Hopkins. He did his residency and fellowship training in Beth Israel Hospital, Boston and Tufts-New England Medical Center. He then returned to Johns Hopkins for an oncology fellowship. In 1972 he joined the Hopkins oncology faculty, where he specialized in lung and breast cancer research - he then became head of the medical oncology department before leading the whole cancer center.

Abeloff had been:

-- President of ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology)
-- Chairman of the FDA Oncology Drug Advisory Committee
-- Chairperson of the Board of Scientific Counselors to the Intramural Division of Clinical Science at the National Cancer Institute (NCI)
-- A member of the NCI Executive Committee

A funeral service will be held at:

Sol Levinson and Brothers funeral home - 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 16
8900 Reisterstown Road (corner of Mt. Wilson Lane)
Pikesville, Md.
Interment will be at
Oheb Shalom Cemetery
318 Berrymans Lane
Reisterstown, Md

Abeloff is survived by Diane, his wife, daughters Elisa and Jennifer, and three grandchildren.

The Abeloffs request that rather than flowers or gifts, donations be sent to the Martin D. Abeloff, M.D., Scholars Program in Cancer Prevention and Control at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, Suite 234,100 N. Charles St., Baltimore MD 21201

Tributes/sympathy may be submitted to kpr@jhmi.edu, which will be posted on the Kimmel Cancer Center Web site .

-- About Martin Abeloff
-- The Abeloff Scholars Program
-- Messages of tribute
-- The Abeloff Era: Building a Tradition of Excellence

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
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