Morristown, NJ – Mountain Lakes resident Eric Whitman, MD, medical director, Atlantic Health System Cancer Care in Morristown, NJ was one of four distinguished honorees at this year's 12th annual American Cancer Society Starry Night Gala at Hamilton Farm Golf Club in Gladstone on May 18.
Dr. Whitman oversees oncology services for Atlantic Health System Cancer Care, which offers an unparalleled network of cancer specialists and resources for more than 6,000 patients annually through its flagship Carol G. Simon Cancer Center at Morristown and Overlook medical centers, as well as its comprehensive oncology programs at Chilton, Hackettstown and Newton medical centers. With more than 250 cancer specialists, all five hospitals and Atlantic Medical Group are designated Blue Cross Blue Shield ‘Blue Distinction Centers’ and have been recognized nationally for the role in advancing the fight against cancer.
Dr. Whitman is a board-certified general surgeon, fellowship-trained in surgical research and surgical oncology. Dr. Whitman is also trained and credentialed in chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy and gene therapy administration, with extensive experience treating patients with metastatic melanoma. He is a certified physician investigator and is widely published, known internationally for his melanoma clinical and research work.
Dr. Whitman is founding director of the Atlantic Melanoma Center, a clinical and research center of excellence. Each year, the Atlantic Melanoma Center treats more than 400 newly diagnosed patients with malignant melanoma or other advanced skin cancers. The Center participates in multiple national and international clinical research trials for advanced melanoma involving a variety of novel treatment agents, and initiates its own clinical research.
Under the leadership of Dr. Whitman, Atlantic Health System Cancer Care entered an affiliation with the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) of Phoenix, Arizona, and together they have launched the Breakthrough Oncology Accelerator, a pioneering research and clinical collaboration designed to improve patient access to the most innovative and sophisticated therapies for cancer.
Nominated for his leadership and innovation, professional and personal commitment to the community of patients in cancer treatment and recovery, Dr. Whitman enthusiastically supports this year's Starry Night Gala theme of “An Enchanted Evening of Hopes and Dreams.” Over the last 12 years, the event has raised more than $2.6 million for the American Cancer Society’s programs and services.
“It is a great honor to be selected for this award, as the American Cancer Society does such important work that helps enable people with cancer and their loved ones to have hopes and dreams,” said Dr. Whitman. “There is still so much to be done before we finally conquer cancer, and I am proud of the work we are doing at Atlantic Health System Cancer Care to help make these hopes and dreams possible.”
In addition to Dr. Eric Whitman, the other three honorees at this year's Starry Night Gala were Sanjeev Luther, President and CEO, Rafael Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Ron Sharpe, Broadway Performer and Producer, Russell-Sharpe Theatrical Productions, Inc.; and Karen D. Schupak, MD, Former Chief, External Beam Radiotherapy, Central Jersey – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
All proceeds from the Starry Night Gala go to support the American Cancer Society's mission of eliminating cancer as a major health concern.
About Atlantic Health System Cancer Care
Atlantic Health System Cancer Care offers an unparalleled network of cancer specialists and resources for more than 6000 patients annually through its flagship Carol G. Simon Cancer Center at Morristown and Overlook medical centers, as well as its comprehensive oncology programs at Chilton, Hackettstown and Newton medical centers. With more than 250 cancer specialists, all five hospitals and Atlantic Medical Group are designated Blue Cross Blue Shield ‘Blue Distinction Centers’ and have been recognized nationally for the role in advancing the fight against cancer. Morristown, Overlook, Chilton and Newton medical centers earned the coveted American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer Outstanding Achievement Award and earned Three-Year Approval with Commendation. U.S. News & World Report has ranked Atlantic Health System hospitals as high performing in colon cancer surgery, lung cancer surgery, neurology and neurosurgery, and pulmonology. Atlantic Health System Cancer Care is affiliated with the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) of Phoenix, Arizona, and together they have launched the Breakthrough Oncology Accelerator, a pioneering research and clinical collaboration designed to improve patient access to the most innovative and sophisticated therapies for cancer.
About Atlantic Health System
Atlantic Health System is at the forefront of medicine, setting standards for quality health care in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the New York metropolitan area. Powered by a workforce of 17,000 team members and 4,800 affiliated physicians dedicated to building healthier communities, Atlantic Health System serves more than half of the state of New Jersey including 11 counties and 4.9 million people. The system offers 400 sites of care, including six hospitals: Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ, Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ, Newton Medical Center in Newton NJ, Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, NJ, Hackettstown Medical Center in Hackettstown, NJ and Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, NJ.
In addition to the employed workforce, Atlantic Alliance, a Clinically Integrated Network represents more than 2,500 health care providers throughout northern and central NJ. This network includes 1,000 physicians and providers comprising one of the largest multi-specialty practices in New Jersey - Atlantic Medical Group, as well as members of the Atlantic Accountable Care Organization and Optimus Healthcare Partners, which work to enhance patient care delivery.
Atlantic Health System provides care for the full continuum of health needs, including 12 urgent care centers, Atlantic Rehabilitation and Atlantic Home Care and Hospice. Facilitating the connection between these services on both land and air is the transportation fleet of Atlantic Mobile Health.
Atlantic Health System leads the Healthcare Transformation Consortium, a partnership of seven regional hospitals and health systems dedicated to improving access and affordability, and is a founding member of the PIER Consortium – Partners in Innovation, Education, and Research – a streamlined clinical trial system expanding access to groundbreaking research across seven health systems in New Jersey.
Atlantic Health System has a medical school affiliation with Thomas Jefferson University and is home to the regional campus of the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Morristown and Overlook Medical Centers and is the official health care partner of the New York Jets.