image: Edith Mitchell, M.D., clinical professor of Medicine and Medical Oncology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, receives 2011 "Practitioner of the Year" Award from the Philadelphia County Medical Society. view more
Credit: TJUH
PHILADELPHIA—Edith Mitchell, M.D., clinical professor of Medicine and Medical Oncology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, is the recipient of the 2011 "Practitioner of the Year Award" from the Philadelphia County Medical Society (PCMS).
For her excellence in clinical care and community service, Dr. Mitchell will be presented the award on Saturday, June 11, during the PCMS President's Ball at the Ace Conference Center in Lafayette Hill, Pa., celebrating the installation of its 150th president.
"For over 165 years, this society has been advocating for the best in healthcare for all the citizens of Philadelphia," said Dr. Mitchell, who is also Associate Director for Diversity Programs at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson. "It's a great honor to be part of those efforts and recognized for it with this award."
Dr. Mitchell has spent her medical career helping individuals in medically underserved areas to realize that simple changes in lifestyle can have a dramatic impact on cancer care. Through her work, Dr. Mitchell has demonstrated the importance of community service and outreach especially to those individuals who may not have the means to seek out more conventional medical advice.
She received a bachelor of science in Biochemistry "With Distinction" from Tennessee State University and her medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. Dr. Mitchell entered active duty after completion of her internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Meharry Medical College and a fellowship in Medical Oncology at Georgetown University. She is now a retired Brigadier General from the United States Air Force.
Dr. Mitchell's research in pancreatic cancer and other gastrointestinal malignancies involves new drug evaluation and chemotherapy, development of new therapeutic regimens, chemoradiation strategies for combined modality therapy, patient selection criteria and supportive care for patients with gastrointestinal cancer.
She travels nationally and internationally teaching and lecturing on the treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies.
As a distinguished researcher, she has received numerous Cancer Research and Principal Investigator Awards, and serves on the National Cancer Institute Review Panel and the Cancer Investigations Review Committee. She has also authored and co-authored more than 100 articles, book chapters, and abstracts on cancer treatment, prevention, and cancer control.