Nerses Simon Tchekmedyian, M.D., F.A.C.P.
- Prostate Cancer
- Early Therapeutics Disease
- Clinical Professor, Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research
Nerses Simon Tchekmedyian, M.D., F.A.C.P., 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
Long Beach Elm
Suite 104
Long Beach, CA 90813
Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Center
Irvine, CA 92618
Seacliff
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Education & Experience
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, Doctor of Medicine, Montevideo Faculty of Medicine, University of the Republic, 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, 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