By Kathleen O'Neil
Joanne Mortimer, M.D., a recognized expert in breast cancer, has joined City of Hope.
Mortimer joined the faculty as a professor in the Division of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research and has been named administrative director of phase 1 programs and associate director for affiliate programs for City of Hope’s Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Besides running the operation of phase 1 clinical trials and leading her own research into breast cancer treatment, Mortimer also will oversee collaborations with offsite affiliated clinical programs that enroll their cancer patients in clinical trials based at City of Hope.
Mortimer previously served as deputy director for clinical oncology at the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego. She and her husband, Matt Loscalzo — administrative director of the Sheri & Les Biller Patient and Family Resource Center — moved from San Diego earlier this summer.
Her research interests involve the impact of hormonal therapies on normal tissues. In a recent paper in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, for example, she and colleagues analyzed breast cancer survivors who took the anti-estrogen drug tamoxifen after surgery and found that women who experienced hot flashes were more likely to stay free of cancer than those without hot flashes.
In addition, she has studied the use of functional imaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography, or PET, to predict which patients will respond to breast cancer therapies. Mortimer also has investigated new agents against advanced breast cancer.
“Dr. Mortimer has a wealth of experience in breast cancer research, and we are delighted to have her join us at City of Hope to further our commitment to scientific excellence and compassionate care,” said Alexandra Levine, M.D., chief medical officer. “She will strengthen our relationships with other treatment sites, and we are enthusiastic about her potential to expand our affiliates program, which will give more cancer patients the opportunity to participate in medical research even when they are treated outside of City of Hope.”
Some of City of Hope’s affiliate programs include City of Hope-Banner Bone Marrow Transplant Program and partnerships with Kaiser Permanente and Tower Cancer Research Foundation.
As administrative director of phase 1 programs, Mortimer will oversee administration of early stage research, including establishing new relationships with industries, unaffiliated physicians and others to smoothly move City of Hope’s clinical trials into new therapies.
Robert A. Figlin, M.D., the Arthur and Rosalie Kaplan Professor of Medical Oncology and associate director for clinical research in the cancer center, said Mortimer’s skills in developing clinical programs will help City of Hope reach more patients — as well as boost the search for better therapies.
“Dr. Mortimer is an outstanding clinical investigator and national authority in breast cancer outcomes research. She is a great addition as we continue to build our breast cancer expertise from basic biology to outcomes and survivorship,” said Figlin, who also leads the Division of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research.
Mortimer received her medical degree from the Stritch College of Medicine at Loyola University and completed her internal medicine residency and an oncology fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. She has held several posts at independent and academic medical centers, including medical director of the Sentara Cancer Institute, head of hematology and medical oncology and professor of internal medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School, director of clinical oncology and professor of medicine at the Washington University School of Medicine, research associate at the Fred Hutchison Cancer Center and assistant professor in oncology at University of Washington’s School of Medicine.
She also is a member of the Oncologic Drug Advisory Committee of the United States Food and Drug Administration.
