Thomas Schwaab, M.D., Ph.D., Appointed Bank of America Endowed Medical Director, Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute

Thomas Schwaab, M.D., Ph.D., has been named the new Bank of America Endowed Medical Director of ChristianaCare’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute and leader of the Cancer Service Line.

Schwaab comes to ChristianaCare from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in upstate New York where he served for over 15 years as a highly accomplished urologic surgeon. While at Roswell Park, he served in a number of physician leadership roles, most recently as chief of strategy, business development and outreach. He was also associate professor of urologic oncology and The William and Nancy Gacioch Family Endowed Chair in Translational Research.

Schwaab succeeds Nicholas Petrelli, M.D., who announced last year that he is retiring from his leadership position after 23 years at the Graham Cancer Center. Petrelli will remain as director of the Cawley Center for Translational Cancer Research.

“I am excited to join the cancer program at ChristianaCare and am eager to provide hope and healing to those affected by cancer,” said Schwaab.

“Together with the extraordinary team at ChristianaCare, we will strive to achieve new milestones in patient care and clinical research.”

Schwaab will provide overall direction and leadership for the Graham Cancer Center and cancer care activities. He will direct community outreach and research and work to reduce the incidence, prevalence and mortality of cancer in the state of Delaware and the region. He will oversee quality and safety, value-based outcomes, workforce stability, financial vitality and strategic direction of cancer services.

“The cancer program at ChristianaCare will be in very capable hands under the leadership of Dr. Schwaab,” said Janice Nevin, M.D., MPH, president and chief executive officer of ChristianaCare.

“He brings a wealth of experience from one of the premier cancer programs in the nation, an unwavering commitment to excellence and the desire to expand access to high quality cancer services in Delaware and the region.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Petrelli for his leadership of the Graham Cancer Center. He leaves a lasting legacy for the many accomplishments he achieved for our cancer program.”

The Graham Cancer Center serves a majority of the cancer patients who live in Delaware.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have Dr. Schwaab lead our cancer program,” said Kert Anzilotti, M.D., MBA, system chief medical officer and interim president of The Medical Group.

“Dr. Schwaab’s visionary approach and commitment to our values of love and excellence will inspire confidence and hope in our patients and among colleagues at ChristianaCare.”

Among his numerous accomplishments while at Roswell Park, Schwaab expanded access to high quality cancer care from 1.2 million to over 8 million residents in upstate New York via innovative business concepts and clinical pathways. In addition, he grew a multi-specialty group practice from four providers and two locations to over 35 providers at eight locations.

He also established and raised start-up funds for the Innovative Immunotherapy Alliance, a joint venture between Roswell Park and the Center for Molecular Immunology in Cuba, the first biotech joint venture between the U.S. and a Cuban entity.

Schwaab earned his medical degree and doctorate from Medizinische Hochschule in Hannover, Germany. He completed his residency and fellowship program at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and is board certified in urology. He has published nearly 50 manuscripts in peer-reviewed publications.