Nerses Simon Tchekmedyian, M.D., FACP

800-826-4673
N Simon Tchekmedyian, M.D.
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Medical Oncologist and Hematologist
Clinical Expertise
Prostate Cancer
Research Area
Early Therapeutics Disease
Research Teams
Early Therapeutics Disease
Other Languages Spoken
Armenian
French
Portuguese
Spanish
Appointments
Clinical Professor, Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research
Clinical Teams
Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research

Nerses Simon Tchekmedyian, M.D., FACP, 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 is an active participant in the Early Therapeutics Research Team at City of Hope.

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.

Location
Education & Experience
Board Certifications

  • 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

Degrees

  • 1978, Doctor of Medicine, Montevideo Faculty of Medicine, University of the Republic, Montevideo, Uruguay

Fellowship

  • 1982-1985, Hematology/Oncology, University of Maryland Cancer Center, University of Maryland Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland

Residency

  • 1980-1982, Internal Medicine, The Brooklyn Hospital, Affiliate of University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York

Internship

  • 1979-1980, Internal Medicine, The Brooklyn Hospital, Affiliate of University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York

Professional Experience

  • 2021-present, Clinical Professor, Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, City of Hope, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Long Beach and Torrance, California

  • 1994-2021, CEO and Medical Director, Pacific Shores Medical Group, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Long Beach, Glendale, Newport 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

Awards & Memberships
Awards

  • 2023, Physicians of Excellence Award, Orange County Medical Oncology Association

  • 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

  • 2004, Honoree, Beckstrand Cancer Foundation

  • 2004, Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition, Congress of the United States. For life-long dedication to improving the lives of cancer patients.

  • 2003, International Health Professional of the Year – Oncology

  • 2000, Orange County’s Top Doctors—Oncology

  • 1999-2007, America’s Top-Rated Physicians—Oncology

  • 1998, The First Annual Jan Eick-Swigart Memorial Award, “Y-Me” Breast Cancer Support Program, South Bay and Long Beach Chapter

  • 1997, University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine Certificate of Service, Clinical Professorship Series, Associate Clinical Professor

  • 1990, St. Mary Medical Center, Department of Medical Education Certificate of Recognition for outstanding contributions to house staff education

  • 1986-1987, St. Mary Medical Center, Department of Medical Education Certificate of Recognition for outstanding contributions to house staff education

Memberships

  • 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

Publications
  • Tchekmedyian NS, Tait N, Van Echo D, Aisner J.  High-Dose Chemotherapy without Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation in Melanoma, J Clin Oncol.  1986. Dec;4(12):1811-8. doi: 10.1200/JCO.1986.4.12.1811.  PMID: 3537218
  • Tchekmedyian NS, Tait N, Moody M, Aisner J.  High-Dose Megestrol Acetate:  A Possible Treatment for Cachexia.  JAMA.  1987 Mar 6;257(9):1195-8.  PMID: 3806918
  • Tchekmedyian NS, Zahyna D, Halpert C, Heber D.  Assessment and Maintenance of Nutrition in Older Cancer Patients.  In:  Proceedings of the 2nd Quality of Life Symposium on Care of the Older Cancer Patient:  Clinical and Quality of Life Issues.  Oncology (Williston Park).  1992 Feb;6(2 Suppl): 105-111.  PMID: 1532723
  • Tchekmedyian NS, Hickman M, Siau J, Greco FA, Keller J, Browder H, Aisner J.  Megestrol Acetate in Cancer Anorexia and Weight Loss.  Cancer.  1992 Mar 1; 69(5):1268-74. doi: 10.1002/cncr.2820690532.  PMID:  1739926
  • Tchekmedyian NS.  Pharmacoeconomics of Nutritional Support in Cancer.  Semin Oncol.  1998 Apr;25(2 Suppl6):62-9.  PMID: 9625386
  • Tchekmedyian S.  New Frontiers in Oncology Supportive Care:  Anemia Management.  Primary Care & Cancer, June 2001. PMID: N/A
  • Tchekmedyian NS.  Anemia in Cancer Patients:  Significance, Epidemiology, and Current Therapy.  Oncology (Williston Park).  2002 Sept;16(9 Suppl 10):17-24. PMID: 12380951
  • Tchekmedyian NS, Kallich J, McDermott A, Fayers P, Erder MH.  The Relationship Between Psychological Distress and Cancer-Related Fatigue.  Cancer, 98(1):198-203, July 1, 2003.  PMID: N/A
  • Tchekmedyian NS, Chen YM, Saad F: Disease progression increases the risk of skeletal-related events in patients with bone metastases from castration-resistant prostate cancer, lung cancer, or other solid tumors.  Cancer Invest, 8:849-55, October 28, 2010
  • Tchekmedyian NS. Caring for Patients With Advanced Cancer: The Role of the Chair, and Other Reflections From 3 Decades in the Clinic. Oncology (Williston Park). 2015 Aug;29(8):537. PMID: 26281837