December 14, 2017, Morristown, NJ – Award-winning physician-researcher Mohamad Cherry, MD, has joined Atlantic Hematology Oncology, part of Atlantic Health System’s Atlantic Medical Group at the Carol G. Simon Cancer Center. Dr. Cherry, who is board-certified in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology, joins Atlantic Health System Cancer Care from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center’s Stephenson Cancer Center. While at the University of Oklahoma, he held a number of senior appointments, conducted pioneering research on leukemia and lymphoma drugs and investigated whether epigenetics – the study of inheritable changes to our cells that go beyond DNA mutations -- can be used to help track the effectiveness of chemotherapy in osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer.
“Dr. Cherry brings years of knowledge, innovation and expertise with him, and we enthusiastically welcome him to our cancer care team,” said Eric Whitman, MD, medical director, Atlantic Health System Cancer Care. “He will help expand our ability to treat leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, transforming the level of care available in this area for patients with these blood cancers.”
On leaving the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Dr. Cherry held appointments as associate professor of medicine (hematology/oncology), director of the hematology/oncology fellowship program, and co-chair of the Academy of Teaching Scholars Faculty Development, Education and Mentoring Committee. He also co-chaired the Leukemia Working Group at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute Blood Cancer Consortium.
“The leaders of Atlantic Health System have a strong commitment to innovation, clinical research and patient-centered care, and to bringing the latest FDA-approved treatments to cancer patients,” said Dr. Cherry. “I look forward to the opportunity to expand my research and to helping patients with difficult-to-treat blood cancers get the best care possible.”
As principal investigator of multiple clinical trials, Dr. Cherry has performed groundbreaking research in the development of new therapeutics for relapsed and refractory blood cancers. He has also focused his research on studying epigenetics as biomarkers for response to chemotherapy in osteosarcoma. He has led Phase I, II and III clinical trials, funded by the National Cancer Institute and pharmaceutical companies.
Dr. Cherry has developed teaching materials for other physicians, including curricula for new physicians receiving advanced specialized training (fellowships) in hematology/oncology. He has published a number of books and book chapters, and has served as lead author or co-author of more than 20 peer-reviewed papers published in leading scientific journals. He has lectured locally, nationally and internationally, and has presented or published his research at premier hematology/oncology meetings sponsored by the American Society of Hematology (ASH) and American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), among others.
Dr. Cherry is the recipient of numerous awards for his research, clinical and educational pursuits, including ASH HONORS for Hematology Opportunities for the Next Generation of Research Scientists and the Medal of Excellency from the Board of Specialization and Academic Orientation – Lebanese University, Beirut. In 2015, he was selected as Hematology Advocate by the ASH Advocacy Leadership Institute.
With specialty training from some of the nation’s leading medical educators and researchers, Dr. Cherry completed a rotating fellowship in the leukemia department at MD Anderson Cancer Center and a fellowship in hematology/oncology at the Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center Stephenson Cancer Center, where he was elected chief fellow of the Section of Hematology and Oncology. He completed two residencies – an internal medicine residency at Staten Island University Hospital and a laboratory medicine residency at the American University of Beirut Medical Center in Lebanon. Dr. Cherry earned his medical degree from Lebanese University, where he was third in his class, and performed his internship at Sacre Coeur Hospital-Lebanese University. Dr. Cherry also received a Master’s of Science degree in clinical and translational research from Oklahoma University College of Public Health.
Dr. Cherry continues to serve as a mentor and advisor to fellows, residents and medical students. He contributes to continuing education, public health, and professional development.
Dr. Cherry is a physician with Atlantic Hematology Oncology at the Carol G. Simon Cancer Center - Morristown Medical Center campus. He can be reached at 973-971-7960.
About Atlantic Health System
Atlantic Health System, headquartered in Morristown, N.J., is an integrated health care delivery system powered by a workforce of 16,000 team members dedicated to building healthier communities. The system is comprised of 350 sites of care, including six hospitals: Morristown Medical Center, Overlook Medical Center, Newton Medical Center, Chilton Medical Center, Hackettstown Medical Center and Goryeb Children’s Hospital. Atlantic Health System also supports communities through Atlantic Medical Group, Atlantic Rehabilitation, Atlantic Home Care and Hospice, and its subsidiary, Atlantic Ambulance Corporation. Atlantic Health System sponsors the Atlantic Accountable Care Organization, one of the larger ACOs in the nation, and Optimus Healthcare Partners.