Martin D. Abeloff, M.D., the chief oncologist and director of the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center for the past 15 years, died Sept. 14 of leukemia. Abeloff, 65, was an international authority on the treatment of breast cancer.
He is remembered by his colleagues and friends across the globe for his characteristic humility, wry sense of humour and extraordinary devotion to his patients, students and the collaborative spirit he nurtured in his long tenure at Johns Hopkins, where he spent most of his career."Marty was that iconic Hopkins physician, scientist, educator, leader and good citizen rolled into one," said Edward D. Miller, M.D., Dean/CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine. "He was there for his patients, his residents and fellows, his colleagues and at so many challenging times, the institution he graced for so long."
"All of the Johns Hopkins Medicine family will miss his presence and his wisdom," said Ronald R. Peterson, president of The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System. "He was the consummate quiet man who worked tirelessly to achieve greatness in his field."
In typical Abeloff fashion, he recently credited the Cancer Center's growth and advances against malignant disease to the faculty and staff, counting himself lucky to work among individuals whose intellect and values made coming to work an absolute joy.
"He was the ultimate role model," said friend and Hopkins colleague Stephen Baylin, M.D., Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Professor of Oncology and Medicine, and deputy director of the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. "What he didn't know, he took the time to learn. And with a combination of qualities best summarized as wisdom, he helped transform both the treatment of cancer and the way that Johns Hopkins delivers that care. These are his legacies."
During his 15-year tenure as Cancer Center director, Abeloff doubled the size of the center's faculty, increased research funding sixfold since 1992, and saw it consistently ranked among the nation's top three cancer centers in U.S. News & World Report surveys.
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Under Abeloff's direction, the cancer complex at Johns Hopkins expanded to include nearly 1 million square feet of treatment and research space. Inside the Center's Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Building, Abeloff revealed his passion for the arts, where he established the Art of Healing program, which includes a performing arts series and a collection of more than 100 works of museum-quality art by Maryland and other nationally known artists for the enjoyment of patients, visitors and staff.
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Abeloff received his medical degree from Johns Hopkins in 1966. After residency and fellowship training in Boston's Beth Israel Hospital and Tufts-New England Medical Center, he returned to Baltimore for an oncology fellowship at Johns Hopkins. He joined the Hopkins oncology faculty in 1972, focusing on lung and breast cancer research, then heading the medical oncology department before directing the entire cancer center.
Abeloff served as president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and chairman of the FDA Oncology Drug Advisory Committee. He also had been the chairperson of the Board of Scientific Counselors to the Intramural Division of Clinical Science at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and a member of the NCI Executive Committee.
Martin David Abeloff was born in Shenandoah, Pa. He is survived by his wife, Diane, a medical illustrator; daughters Elisa Abeloff and her husband, George Landau, and Jennifer Abeloff and her husband, Howard Wasserman; three grandchildren; and his sister and brother-in-law, Marilyn and Morrell Fox.
The Abeloff family has requested that in lieu of flowers or gifts, donations be sent to the Martin D. Abeloff, M.D., Scholars Program in Cancer Prevention and Control at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, Suite 234,100 N. Charles St., Baltimore MD 21201.
Source-John Hopkins
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