Four Fox Chase Cancer Center Practitioners Recognized as Top Physicians Under 40 by Pennsylvania Medical Society

The Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) released its list of the 2023 Top Physicians Under 40 award recipients. Four Fox Chase Cancer Center physicians were honored:

• Danish Ahmad, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary, Sleep, and Critical Care Medicine;
• Anthony Villano, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Surgical Oncology;
• Austin D. Williams, MD, MSEd, assistant professor in the Department of Surgical Oncology;
• Vanessa Wookey, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Hematology/Oncology, Division of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology.

To be eligible for the award, physicians must practice in Pennsylvania, be under the age of 40, and be nominated by a colleague. Winners were selected by a committee of PAMED members.

Below are the listings for the four Fox Chase winners as they appear on the PAMED website:

Danish Ahmad, MD

“Danish Ahmad, MD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine for the Division of Pulmonary, Sleep, and Critical Care Medicine with Fox Chase Cancer Center. He graduated with his medical degree in 2011 and completed his internal medicine residency at Drexel University College of Medicine.”

“He has trained and practiced in a wide range of Pennsylvania settings, contributing to the care of residents in rural, suburban, and urban environments,” his nominator said. “As such, his impact has extended across all socioeconomic and ethnic groups within the Commonwealth.”

Anthony Villano, MD

“Anthony Villano, MD, is an assistant professor of surgical oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center. He graduated from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and completed a general surgery residency at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital.”

“He is one of our brightest and kindest surgeons at Fox Chase. He is a phenomenal physician and well respected by patients and staff. He provides compassionate care to all of his patients,” his nominator said.

Austin D. Williams, MD, MSEd

“Austin D. Williams, MD, is a surgeon in the breast cancer program and assistant professor in the Department of Surgical Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center. He holds a Master’s of Science in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received his medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine in 2013.”

“Dr. Williams is an outstanding breast surgical oncologist who exemplifies the future of improving quality of care for cancer patients through excellent clinical care, novel treatment options, education, advocacy, and research in Pennsylvania,” his nominator said.

Vanessa Wookey, MD

“Vanessa Wookey, MD, is an assistant professor in the Gastrointestinal Cancer Program at Fox Chase Cancer Center. She earned her medical degree from the Sanford School of Medicine at The University of South Dakota and went on to an internal medicine residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.”

“Dr. Wookey is an outstanding medical oncologist focused on the care of patients with complex GI malignancies,” her nominator said. “However, her work goes beyond simply caring for the patients. She is currently working on a novel treatment regimen for patients with newly diagnosed metastatic pancreatic cancer.”