N. Simon Tchekmedyian, M.D.
N. Simon Tchekmedyian, M.D., has personally cared for over 15,000 patients throughout his 40-plus-year medical career and has produced research that improved both the treatment and the well-being of patients who have cancer. His philosophy is to do anything and everything to care for patients and to always follow up and follow through. He considers his most significant professional recognitions to be the warmth, trust and gratitude of his patients.
Dr. Tchekmedyian's scientific achievements include the first comprehensive publication on the subject of quality of life in oncology, the discovery of the appetite-enhancing effects of the medication megestrol acetate and a first-in-human clinical study of the CTLA4 antibody, which launched the era of immunotherapy in oncology. He remains active in immunotherapy research, leading clinical studies on the leading edge of medicine.
He earned his degree from the University of Medicine in Montevideo, Uruguay, and completed internal medicine residency and chief residency at the Brooklyn Hospital in New York, as well as a fellowship in oncology and hematology at the University of Maryland Cancer Center in Baltimore.
1985, Board Eligible, American Board of Hematology
1985, Diplomate, American Board of Medical Oncology
1982 Diplomate, American Board of Internal Medicine
1979 Federation Licensing Examination
1978 Visa Qualifying Examination
1978, M.D., University School of Medicine Montevideo, Uruguay
1982-1985, Hematology/Oncology, University of Maryland Cancer Center, University of Maryland Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
1980-1982, Internal Medicine, The Brooklyn Hospital, Affiliate of University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York
1979-1980, Internal Medicine, The Brooklyn Hospital, Affiliate of University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York
2021-present, Clinical Professor, Department of Medical Oncology
& Therapeutics Research, City of Hope, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Long Beach and Torrance, California2019-2021, CEO and Medical Director, Pacific Shores Medical Group, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Long Beach and Torrance, California
2002-2019, Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
1993-2002, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
1986-1993, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
1985-1986, Instructor, Medicine and Oncology, University of Maryland Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland
2011, Armenian American Medical Association Life Achievement Award
2007-2010, Best Doctors of America
2005-2010, Orange County Medical Oncology Association Physician of Excellence-Oncology
2009, Life Achievement Award, St. Mary Medical Center Foundation
2004, United States Senate Certificate of Commendation, State of California, in recognition of phenomenal work done in the area of cancer research
Fellow, American College of Physicians
Member, American Society of Clinical Oncology
Member, American Association for the Advancement of Science
Member, American Medical Association
Member, California Medical Association
Member, Medical Oncology Association of Southern California
Member, Armenian American Medical Society of California
Member, European Society for Medical Oncology
- Quality of Life in Current Oncology Practice and Research. 17 Chapters. 250 pages. Oncology (U.S.), May 1990 issue. Guest Editors: NS Tchekmedyian, M.D., David Cella, Ph.D.
- Quality of Life in Current Oncology Practice and Research. 21 Chapters. Editors: NS Tchekmedyian, M.D., David Cella, Ph.D. Huntington, New York: Dominus Publishing Company, 1991.
- New Options in the Management of Cancer Malnutrition: The Role of Megestrol Acetate. Editors: R. Hartenstein, NS Tchekmedyian. 8 chapters. W. Zuckschwendt, Verlag, GMBH. Bern, Wien, San Francisco, 1990.
- R. Hartenstein R, N.S. Tchekmedyian NS. Munchen; Hormonbehandlung von Anorexia und Kachexie bei malignen Erkrankungen: Megestrolacetat (Aktuelle Onkologie; 58). Hrsg. Munchen, Bern, Wien, San Francisco: Zuckschwerdt, 1990.
- Care of the Older Cancer Patient: Clinical and Quality of Life Issues. 23 Chapters. Oncology (U.S.), February 1992 issue. Guest Editors: N.S. Tchekmedyian, M.D., David F. Cella, Ph.D., Arshag D. Mooradian, M.D.
- New Strategies in Cancer Prevention and Therapy: The Role of Nutrition. 18 Chapters. Oncology (U.S.), November 1993 issue. Guest Editors: N.S. Tchekmedyian, M.D., David Heber, Ph.D., M.D., David F. Cella, Ph.D.
- Economic and Quality of Life Outcomes in Oncology. 24 Articles. Oncology (U.S.) November 1995 issue. Guest Editors: N.S. Tchekmedyian, M.D., David F. Cella, Ph.D., Rodger J. Winn, M.D.
- ASCO 1999 Update. Notes from the American Society of Clinical Oncology 1999 Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. Author: N. Simon Tchekmedyian, M.D., May 1999.
- ASCO 2000 Update. Notes from the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2000 Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. Authors: N. Simon Tchekmedyian, M.D., Howard Cheng, M.D., André Liem, M.D., May 2000.
- ASCO 2001 Update. Notes from the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2001 Annual Meeting in San Francisco, California, May 2001.
- Management of Anemia in Patients With Cancer. 18 articles. Oncology (U.S.), September 2002 issue. Guest Editors: N. Simon Tchekmedyian, M.D., David F. Cella, Ph.D., John A. Glaspy, M.D.
- Trends in the Use of Hematopoietic Growth Factors in Neutropenia and Anemia. Selected Abstracts fom ASCO 2004 and MASCC/ISOO 2004. Oncology (U.S.), Supplement, Volume 18, Number 13, November 2004. Guest Editors: Jeffrey Crawford, M.D., N. Simon Tchekmedyian, M.D.