Clothing sales
The Classroom Thrift Shop, 4301 Tyson Ave., sponsored by the women of Temple Menorah Keneseth Chai, will have a half-price clothing sale through Feb. 20, followed by a $5 clothing bag sale from Feb. 21-26. Hours are weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The shop is closed Saturdays. Call 215-624-9130. ••
College/career fair at Judge
Father Judge, 3301 Solly Ave., will be hosting a College/Career Fair on Thursday, March 6, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Fox Gym. Area colleges, trade schools, unions and military representatives will be in attendance to provide information and answer questions. ••
Apply for Pre-K to 8 scholarship by March 1
The deadline is March 1 to apply for Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia 2025-26 Pre-K to 8th-grade scholarships. CSFP’s need-based scholarships enable Philadelphia families to choose the right school for their children, regardless of their ZIP code or income. Last year, CSFP awarded more than 6,500 scholarships to families across 150-plus schools. CSFP has been providing scholarships since 2001. Its mission is to provide scholarships for quality, tuition-based schools. Scholarships are awarded via random lottery. Scholarship dollars follow the student should they choose to transfer to another CSFP partner school. Families contribute a minimum of $500 toward their child(ren)’s tuition. Up to three children in a family may receive a scholarship at one time. Here is the application link. ••
Senior softball needs players
The Philadelphia Senior Softball League is looking for experienced softball players for its 58 & over and 68 & over leagues. The 58 & over league plays Tuesday and Thursday, while 68 & over plays Monday and Friday. All games are played at Crispin Field, at Holme and Convent avenues. Games start at 10 a.m. The season starts in mid-April and runs through September. For more information, call or text Mike Bojanowski at 215-801-4869 or Marty King at 215-409-5021. ••
Learn about Brazilian music
Welsh Road Library, 9233 Roosevelt Blvd., will host Brazilian Music Adventure on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 4 p.m. Minas will introduce the music, history and culture of Brazil, including Samba, Bossa Nova and percussion music. The program is interactive and for all ages. ••
Upcoming operas
Amici Opera Company will present several upcoming performances.
Offenbach’s Tales of Hoffmann on Sunday, Feb. 23, at 2:30 p.m. at Dock Woods, 275 Dock Drive, Lansdale, and Saturday, March 1, at 3 p.m. at United Methodist Church of the Redeemer, 1128 Cottman Ave.
Tales of Hoffmann will also be presented on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at 6 p.m. at La Piovra, 7901 High School Road, Elkins Park. The cost for dinner and the show is $54.95, tips and tax not included. Call 215-606-3800 for reservations.
Call 215-224-0257 or visit the Amici Opera Company page on Facebook. ••
St. Hubert trip to Lancaster
St. Hubert is holding a trip to Lancaster County on Thursday, April 17. Guests will see a production of Noah at Sight & Sound and have a buffet meal at Shady Maple Smorgasbord. A bus will leave the school at 8 a.m. and return at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $215, due by March 1. Proceeds benefit the faculty scholarship fund. To reserve a seat, contact Mary Clifford at 267-231-7367 or mclifford@huberts.org. ••
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The website northeasttimes.com is not affiliated with the Northeast Times. ••
Dougherty ’75 reunion
Cardinal Dougherty Class of 1975 will hold its 50th class reunion on Saturday, April 5, from 6-10 p.m. at Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, 11630 Caroline Road. The cost is $75 and includes open bar, buffet dinner, dessert, DJ, pictures, glassware and lanyard keepsakes and a tribute to deceased alumni. Tickets are available in advance through March 10. Payments are being taken on Venmo at JimGallagher1975CDREUNION or by check payable to 1975 Cardinal Dougherty 50th Reunion, c/o John Lennon, 861 Beverly Road, Rydal, PA 19046. No tickets will be sold at the door. Email 1975cdreunion@gmail.com. ••
Learn to save and budget
Holmesburg Library, 7810 Holmesburg Ave., will host Saving and Budgeting on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at 5 p.m. Learn how to get your financial house in order from creating a budget to saving for goals like retirement. ••
Presentation on Harriet Beecher Stowe
On Sunday, Feb. 23, at 2 p.m., in the headquarters of the Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation, 321 Cedar St., Kim Hanley, of the American Historical Theatre of Philadelphia, will give a first-person portrayal of Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Light refreshment will be served. A donation of $5 per adult attendee is suggested. There is no fee for students. The public is invited. Snow date is Sunday, March 2. Call 215-788-9408. ••
Book club discussion at Bustleton Library
Bustleton Library, 10199 Bustleton Ave., will host a book club discussion on The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins on Thursday, Feb. 20, at 11 a.m. The book is a sophisticated and stylish thriller set on a remote Scottish island. For a copy, stop in the library or call 215-685-0472. ••
Events at Ryerss
Ryerss Museum & Library, 7370 Central Ave. (Burholme Park), will host a number of upcoming events. The schedule is below.
Friday, Feb. 21., 1-3 p.m.: Book Club
Saturday, Feb. 22, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.: Storytime: Cowboys and Cowgirls.
Friday, Feb. 28, 1-3 p.m.: Fibercraft Friends ••
Preschool storytime and play
Katharine Drexel Library, 11099 Knights Road, will host Preschool Storytime & Play at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27. Stories and songs will be followed by creative play. The program is for children ages 3-5 accompanied by an adult. Call 215-685-9383. ••
St. Jerome Seniors to meet
The next St. Jerome Seniors meeting is on Thursday, Feb. 27, in the school hall, 3031 Stamford St. Arrive by 10 a.m. The meeting begins promptly at 11. ••
Senior luncheons at Fox Chase church
Memorial Presbyterian Church of Fox Chase, 7902 Oxford Ave., hosts a monthly Senior Luncheon at noon on the third Wednesday of each month. Upcoming dates are Feb. 19, March 19 and April 16. ••
Travel with Maternity BVM Seniors
Maternity BVM Seniors have announced their 2025 group trip schedule. People are invited to join them on the following trips: Mt. Hope Winery – Murder Mystery, Thursday, March 6, $130; Tropicana – Joey Arminio and Family, Monday, April 14, $80; Sight and Sound – Noah, Thursday, Sept. 25, $180; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Sea Watch Resort, Oct. 6-10; Tropicana – Blockbuster Broadway, Monday, Nov. 17, $80. For information, call Connie at 215-338-9141. ••
GWHS class of ‘65 reunion
George Washington High School’s class of 1965 will hold its 60th class reunion on May 17 at Maggio’s Restaurant, 400 Second Street Pike, in Southampton. The 900-plus members of the class of ‘65 entered Washington as sophomores when it opened in September 1962. For more information, email Marie McCann at marie.mccann4@gmail.com. ••
Free tax preparation
People who need help with preparing their federal and state income tax returns can take advantage of the free assistance program being offered by KleinLife, 10100 Jamison Ave. The program will run through April 15 and will be available to everyone with annual incomes of up to $79,000, whether filling single or joint returns. All of the volunteer tax helpers are qualified with extensive experience to help prepare federal and state tax returns as well as PA Rent/Real Estate tax rebate forms. Call 215-698-7300, Ext. 194 to make an appointment. ••
A retreat for moms
Mother Boniface Spirituality Center (3501 Solly Ave.) will present The Paschal Mystery and Everyday Life on Saturday, March 1, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The speaker will be Stephanie McCarthy, a Catholic wife, mother and spiritual director. The retreat is open to mothers of all ages for faith sharing and reflection with other mothers. The retreat costs $55 and includes continental breakfast and lunch. To register or for more information, call 267-350-1830 or visit msbt.org. ••
Bingo on March 2 at Oxley Post
William D. Oxley Post 133, 7900 Torresdale Ave., will host bingo on Sunday, March 2, at 3 p.m. Bring your own daubers or buy them at Oxley. Light snacks will be provided, and guests can bring their own food. There will be a cash bar and door prizes. The cost is $20. Oxley is now 100 percent smoke free. ••
Chair fitness for seniors
Holmesburg Library, 7810 Frankford Ave., will host a chair fitness class for senior citizens on Tuesday, March 4, at 2 p.m. Yoga instructor Megan Do Nascimento will instruct the class for seniors centered around bone health, movement, breath, mindfulness and staying strong. ••
Irish singalong
Holmesburg Library, 7810 Frankford Ave., welcomes the public to prepare for St. Patrick’s Day by singing favorite Irish tunes on Tuesday, March 11, at 5:30 p.m. Jessica Carroll will lead the crowd in song. The program is sponsored by Friends of Holmesburg Library. ••
Trip to see Noah
St. Katherine of Siena Primrose Club is running a bus trip on Thursday, Sept. 11, to Lancaster’s Sight & Sound Theatre to see Noah. The cost is $174 and includes a buffet lunch at Hershey Farm & Inn Restaurant. For reservations, call Catherine Murphy at 215-919-4399. ••
Presentation on Shroud of Turin
St. Martha Church, 11301 Academy Road, will host Shroud Encounter on Wednesday, March 12, at 7 p.m. Admission is free. The big-screen experience uses more than 200 images. The program is a production of the Shroud of Turin Education Project Inc. and will be presented by international expert and author Russ Breault. The Shroud of Turin is the most analyzed artifact in the world yet remains a mystery. The 14-foot-long linen cloth that has been in Turin, Italy for more than 400 years bears the faint front and back image of a bearded, crucified man with apparent wounds and bloodstains that match the crucifixion account as recorded in the Bible. For more information, visit ShroudEncounter.com. ••
Bingo at Marian Hall
Catholic Daughters of America Court St. Francis de Sales #2617 will hold bingo on Saturday, March 22, at St. Dominic’s Marian Hall, 8532 Frankford Ave. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Games begin at 6:15. Tickets are $40 in advance and $45 at the door (if available) and include beer, wine, soda, water and tea. Light snacks will be available. The event is for people 21 or older. Food can be brought in, but not liquor. There will be raffle baskets and a 50-50. Nonperishable food items will be collected for a food cupboard. For tickets, contact Maryann Morley at 215-288-8691 or chachisfo@aol.com or mail a check to CDA/St. Francis de Sales #2617, 2565 Exton Road, Hatboro, PA 19040. ••
Bereavement support group
Lambie Funeral Home, 8000 Rowland Ave. (at Rhawn Street), sponsors a Bereavement Support group for all who have lost loved ones on the first Wednesday of the month, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., through June 4. There is no fee. Call 215-332-6110. ••
Jazz festival fundraiser
The Germantown Jazz Jamm, with a performance by Austin Wagner, will take place on Wednesday, March 26, at 7 p.m. at Attic Brewing Company, 137 Berkley St. Proceeds will benefit the Germantown Jazz Festival. ••
Fundraiser for cancer research, care
The Marlyn Chakov Fein Chapter, Board of Associates, Fox Chase Cancer Center is holding a High Tea/Mini Bingo (five games) on Friday, March 28. It will be held at Maggio’s Banquet Hall, 400 2nd Street Pike, Southampton, starting at noon. Participants will be playing to win baskets. The cost is $55. Call Lorraine Braverman at 610-277-3631. The event supports cancer research and compassionate patient care at Fox Chase Cancer Center. ••
Parkinson’s support group at Jeanes
Temple University Hospital – Jeanes Campus, 7604 Central Ave., will host meetings of a Parkinson’s disease support group in its Cheltenham Friends Meetinghouse. The meetings, from 5-6 p.m. on the second Wednesday of every other month, are open to people diagnosed with Parkinson’s and their families, and are led by nurse practitioner June Ro. The schedule, with guest speakers, is April 9 (Dr. Willard Kasoff, neurosurgeon), June 11 (speech therapist Marissa Rock), Aug. 13 (Dr. Molly Cincotta, neurologist), Oct. 8 (social worker Luisa Enriquez) and Dec. 10 (Dr. Teodora Schellato, urologist, and physical therapist Sonia Williams-Joseph).
To register, contact Ro at 215-707-2619 or Jungyoon.Ro@tuhs.temple.edu. ••
English classes at Bustleton Library
Bustleton Library, 10199 Bustleton Ave., hosts free intermediate English classes on Mondays and Tuesdays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. To register, go to remind.com/join/dbhd4e or call 215-685-0472. ••
Curfew, underage drinking
Curfew in Philadelphia is 9:30 p.m. for anyone 13 and under and 10 p.m. for those ages 14-17. If police pick up someone for a curfew violation in the Northeast, the young person will be taken home, to the Community Evening Resource Center at 4704 Leiper St. in Frankford or to the 2nd, 7th, 8th or 15th police districts. The penalty for a curfew violation can be up to $300.
Under state law, underage drinking is a summary offense with a $500 fine for the first violation. Anyone receiving a citation for underage drinking can be asked about it on applications for jobs, college applications and appointments to military service academies. ••
Programs at NE Regional
Northeast Regional Library, 2228 Cottman Ave., offers the following recurring programs:
• Crochet Club, Fridays at 11 a.m. in the second-floor Humanities Department. Bring your own materials.
• Mixed Level English Class, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2-4 p.m. Call 215-685-0522.
• PA CareerLink® Job Search Assistance, Wednesdays, 2 to 4:30 p.m. Call 833-750-5627.
• Chess Club for Adults & Teens, Tuesdays, 4-6 p.m.
• One-on-One Basic Computer Help Appointments, Fridays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 215-685-0525.
• Thursday Computer Help: Various Subjects, Thursdays, 1-2 p.m.
• Gadget Help, Mondays and Wednesdays upon request. Call 215-685-0525.
• Computer Skills for Beginners, Tuesdays, 2-4 p.m. Register at 215-474-1235.
• English Conversation Group – Intermediate-plus, Mondays, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Register at 215-474-1235. ••
Join St. Anselm Seniors
St. Anselm has started a senior citizen club that meets most Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Our Lady of Victory Hall, 12650 Dunksferry Road. The club is open to men and women 55 and older, and members don’t have to be St. Anselm parishioners. For more information, visit the St. Anselm Senior Citizens Club page on Facebook. ••
Bingo at Cannstatter’s
Bingo is played every Thursday at Cannstatter’s, 9130 Academy Road. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Bingo starts at 6:30. Call 215-322-0121. ••
Bingo at Loudenslager
Corp. John Loudenslager American Legion Post 366, 7976 Oxford Ave., is offering community bingo every second and fourth Friday evenings. Doors open at 6 p.m. There are dollar hot dogs and free popcorn and refreshments. ••
VFW looking for members
Bustleton-Somerton/CTR1 Michael J. Strange VFW Post 6617 meets on the third Wednesday of every month at American Legion Post 810, 9151 Old Newtown Road. Meetings start at 7:30 p.m. If you are a military veteran who served in a designated combat zone, you are eligible to join the VFW. Call Commander Israel Wolmark at 215-725-0630 if you would like to join the post. ••
Pacific Wine Country tour
The Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation is going on a Pacific Wine Country cruise aboard the Sapphire Princess, May 10-17. Ports-of-call include Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Astoria (Oregon) and Victoria and Vancouver (Canada). Rates range from $3,048 to $3,578 per person, double occupancy, which includes round-trip airfare from Philadelphia, port charges, government fees, taxes and transfers to and from the ship. Call 215-788-9408 for more information. ••
Cruise in July
The Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation is traveling on an Independence Day Celebration cruise, July 1-8. Ports-of-call include New York, Newport, Boston on July 4 and Halifax, Nova Scotia. A passport is required. Rates range from $1,920 to $2,680 per person, double occupancy. For a flyer, call 215-788-9408. ••
Chair yoga at Bustleton Library
Bustleton Library, 10199 Bustleton Ave., hosts chair yoga on Wednesdays at 10:10 a.m. The class is presented by Yoga4Philly and sponsored by Friends of Bustleton Library. ••
Book review and lunch
The Marlyn Chakov Fein Chapter, Fox Chase Cancer Center is having a book review and deli lunch on Friday, April 25, at 10 a.m. The book to be discussed is The Bird Hotel, by Joyce Maynard. The event will be held at Fox Chase Cancer Center, Reimann Conference Room, 4th floor, 333 Cottman Ave. There will be reserved parking off the Burholme Avenue entrance. The cost is $35. For reservations, call Joyce at 215-676-1761. The event supports cancer research and compassionate patient care at Fox Chase Cancer Center. ••
Germantown Jazz Festival in April
The Germantown Jazz Festival will take place from April 25-27. Venues are Germantown Friends School, Vernon Park, First Presbyterian Church and The Nile Cafe. There will be performances, workshops, food vendors and cultural experiences. For more information, visit GermantownJazzFestival.com or call Sherri Pennington at 267-882-7385. ••
Trip to Hindu temple, lunch, chocolate
The Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation is sponsoring a bus trip to Robbinsville, New Jersey, on Thursday, April 10, featuring a tour of BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, the largest Hindu temple outside of India, a three-course luncheon at The Cranberry Inn and a visit to David Bradley Chocolatier. All-inclusive cost is $130. Reservation deadline is March 15. Call 215-788-2106 or visit bristolhistory.org for a flyer/reservation form. ••
An honor for breast cancer researcher
Emma Guilbaud, a postdoctoral associate at Fox Chase Cancer Center, has been selected as a Forbeck Scholar by the William Guy Forbeck Research Foundation. The appointment recognizes early career cancer researchers for their achievements, research and dedication to the field.
“Being named a Forbeck Scholar is a tremendous honor,” Guilbaud said. “This recognition will support my efforts to improve the immune response of breast cancer when exposed to radiation therapy.”
The Forbeck Scholarship recognizes exceptional young oncologists who are making transformative strides in cancer research. The scholarship was established to foster innovation and collaboration in oncology by supporting studies with the potential to significantly impact patient outcomes.
Guilbaud is currently a postdoctoral associate in the laboratory of Lorenzo Galluzzi, PhD, an Associate Professor in the Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment Research Program at Fox Chase, where she focuses on how breast cancer cells respond to mitochondrial stress during radiation therapy.
The Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment Research Program plays a vital role in advancing the understanding of cancer biology by investigating cancer cell-intrinsic signaling adaptations and their interactions with the microenvironment.
Prior to joining Fox Chase in 2022, Guilbaud completed her doctorate in clinical and therapeutic research at the Mediterranean Center of Molecular Medicine in Nice, France. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in molecular biology and genetics and a Master of Science in genetics, immunology and animal development from the University of Côte d’Azur.
Guilbaud’s current research has shown that combining radiation therapy with specific drugs can activate the immune system, improving its ability to fight cancer. By targeting these processes, she aims to enhance the effectiveness of current cancer treatments.
Being named a Forbeck Scholar will provide Guilbaud with resources to further her research. With these additional tools, she aims to identify more effective treatment strategies that can help overcome immune evasion by cancer cells. ••
Promising treatment for gastroesophageal cancer
The number of patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors and PD-L1 testing for treatment of gastroesophageal cancer increased following Food and Drug Administration approval, according to a new study presented by researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center.
“GEC is a leading cause of cancer-related death, with poor survival rates due to late-stage diagnoses. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown promise in treating advanced GEC, especially for patients with high expression of PD-L1, a protein,” said Jasmeet Kaur, MBBS, MD, lead author on the study and a second-year fellow in the Department of Hematology/Oncology at Fox Chase.
“Recent clinical trials and FDA approvals have made immune checkpoint inhibitors a standard first-line treatment, but their use depends on PD-L1 testing,” she said.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors are used to block proteins called checkpoints, which includes PD-L1, which are made by immune cells such as T cells. PD-L1 helps keep the body’s immune response in check, thus keeping T cells from killing tumors.
The drugs have significantly improved overall survival in patients with high PD-L1 scores, because when these checkpoints are blocked T cells are able to kill cancer cells more effectively. PD-L1 testing is used to determine if a patient will benefit from immunotherapy by measuring levels of the protein in a patient’s cancer cells.
Kaur and other researchers from Fox Chase, Temple University Hospital and Temple Health used real-world data from a large health database from Flatiron Health that contained anonymous electronic health records from cancer patients.
They focused on 9,573 adults who were diagnosed with advanced GEC from 2011 to 2021. The study compared how many patients received immune checkpoint inhibitors and had PD-L1 testing at four different times: before new treatment data was presented at a medical meeting in 2020, after that data came out, when the FDA approved new guidelines for immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment in early 2021, and later in 2021 after those guidelines were widely adopted.
The results showed that the number of patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors went up significantly after the FDA approved the drugs as a treatment for advanced GEC. Before FDA approval, about 11% of patients were receiving these inhibitors, but by the second half of 2021, that number jumped to 37%.
At the same time, the percentage of patients getting PD-L1 testing increased from 68% to 77.4%. This trend showed that as more patients were tested for PD-L1, more of them were able to get the immune checkpoint inhibitor treatments that could potentially help them.
“The approval of immune checkpoint inhibitors for advanced GEC led to more patients getting the right treatments and tests, but there are still gaps,” Kaur said. “Some patients, especially those from minority backgrounds, still face barriers to accessing these treatments and tests. It is important that policies and programs exist to ensure all patients, regardless of their background, have equal access to the latest cancer treatments.”
The study, “Patterns of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Utilization and PD-L1 Testing in Advanced Gastroesophageal Cancers Using Real-World Data,” was presented in a poster session at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Gastrointestinal Cancer Symposium, which was held Jan. 23-25 in San Francisco. ••
Folk music concert
The Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation, 321 Cedar St. in Bristol, will welcome folksinger Mary Roth to perform “Enchanting Appalachia,” an interactive program of music and history with a focus on the rich culture of Appalachia and its people, on Sunday, March 30, at 2 p.m. Light refreshment will be served. A donation of $5 per attendee is suggested. The public is invited. Call 215-788-9408 or go to www.bristolhistory.org. ••
Meeting in Fox Chase on March 12
The Fox Chase Town Watch and Fox Chase Civic Association meet on the second Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at American Legion Loudenslager Post 366, 7976 Oxford Ave. The group will meet on the following dates: March 12, April 9, May 14, June 11, July 9, Sept. 10, Oct. 8 and Nov. 12. ••
O’Neill events
City Councilman Brian O’Neill will hold three events on upcoming Saturdays at his offices, all from 9-11 a.m. There will be an e-cycling event on May 3 at Bustleton Avenue and Bowler Street. A recycling bucket giveaway will take place on May 17 at 432 Rhawn St. A free shredding event, sponsored by Philadelphia Federal Credit Union, is set for June 7 at 11630 Caroline Road. ••
Cruise to Italy, Greece, Turkey
The Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation is sponsoring an “Antiquity to Anatolia” cruise, Oct. 29 to Nov. 9, aboard Oceania Cruises’ “Oceania Vista,” sailing from Rome and visiting Cinque Terre, Naples/Pompeii and Taormina (Sicily), Italy; Cephalonia, Katakolon, Athens and Santorini, Greece; and Ephesus and Istanbul, Turkey. Rates per person, including round-trip air from Philadelphia, range from $6,150 to $6,450. For flyers, call 215-788-9408 or go to https://www.bristolhistory.org. ••
Fox Chase has new hematology/oncology professor
Fox Chase Cancer Center announced the hiring of Jason A. Damsker, MD, FACP, as a professor in the Department of Hematology/Oncology.
Damsker is board certified in medical oncology, hematology and internal medicine. He earned bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and classical studies from Cornell University. He then received his medical degree from Hahnemann University School of Medicine. He also completed an internal medicine residency at Temple University Hospital and a fellowship in hematology/oncology at Fox Chase.
Prior to joining Fox Chase, Damsker dedicated more than 20 years to caring for patients in private practice. As an attending hematologist/oncologist for Abington Hematology Oncology Associates, he has diagnosed and treated every type of cancer. Most recently, he treated patients at Alliance Cancer Specialists as an attending hematologist/oncologist, where he served as chair of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and as a member of the Finance Committee.
Damsker was appointed as chair of Hematology/Oncology at Chestnut Hill Hospital in 2021. During his tenure, he was involved in teaching medical students and residents. Damsker has overseen clinical trials and has published numerous studies over the course of his career in such journals as Clinical Nuclear Medicine, the Journal of Immunotherapy and the European Respiratory Journal.
He is active in several professional organizations, including the American Medical Association, the Pennsylvania Medical Society, the American Society of Hematology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American College of Physicians, where he is a fellow.
Over the course of his career, Damsker has been recognized with multiple honors, including the American Society of Clinical Oncology Merit Award and the I. Ginsberg Award for Teaching Excellence during his residency. He has been named by his peers as a Philadelphia magazine Top Doctor since 2018. ••
4-day work week a positive for Fox Chase nurse managers
A new paper by nurse leaders at Fox Chase Cancer Center makes the case that a four-day work week helps attract and retain nurse managers.
The authors surveyed participants before and after the center implemented an optional four-day work week for nurse managers and found the program reduced stress, increased productivity and improved employee satisfaction.
“It just promotes wellness in a very busy environment,” said first author Jennie Gilliland, Clinical Director of Infusion Services at Fox Chase.
The center implemented the program in 2021, informing nurse managers that they had the option to work a four-day week as long as leadership productivity and visibility were maintained. Nurse managers were expected to be fully accountable for the key performance indicators for their business unit and to switch back to the traditional work week schedule as needed if metrics were trending negatively. They would also need to be available for emergencies when at home.
Gilliland said nurse leaders were both excited and anxious about the change. While some studies have found positive results for such policies in corporate settings, she found no information on whether they had been successful in clinical environments.
“We thought, ‘This is a great opportunity. Let’s use it and survey ourselves to see how people feel about it over a certain timespan,’ ” Gilliland said.
She conducted the study with corresponding author Susan Rux, Associate Vice President, Professional Nursing Practice & Research, and Anna Liza Rodriguez, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Nursing and Patient Care Services at Fox Chase.
Fifteen months after the program was implemented, surveys found a 6% increase in job satisfaction, a 45% increase in satisfaction with work-life balance, a 52% improvement in feeling guilt for taking time off and a 36% increase in confidence in the ability of units to run effectively in their absence. Around 65% of nurse managers reported working 10 or more hours per day, similar to levels before the program started.
Gilliland said a key lesson gleaned from the program was that nurse managers needed to be more productive during the four-day workweek in order to take advantage of time off. They also had to be flexible, as they often found themselves responding to email on their at-home days and were sometimes called into work.
“Yes, it’s a remote day, but one still has to be available,” Gilliland said. “If you prefer to not be contacted about work-related matters, the expectation is to take a vacation or personal day.”
Even with those parameters, the program was popular and helped recruitment. The promise of flexibility and greater work-life balance was especially important in recruiting qualified nurses to leadership roles because those who are used to frontline nursing schedules appreciate flexibility.
“I hired two nurse managers during this time, and they both said one of the top reasons they considered leadership was the availability of the four-day workweek,” Gilliland said.
The research team will conduct another survey once more time has elapsed to measure the ongoing effects of the program.
The study, “A 4-Day Workweek for Nurse Leaders: Unveiling the Lessons Learned,” was published in Nursing Economic$. ••
Fox Chase sponsoring epigenetics symposium at Franklin Institute
Fox Chase Cancer Center’s Cancer Epigenetics Institute will hold its fifth annual free hybrid Cancer Epigenetics Symposium at the Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St., on Thursday, March 6. The annual event welcomes researchers and scientists to share their work and learn more about the latest discoveries that will bring epigenetics to the forefront of patient care.
A major goal of the international symposium is to bring world-class science to a global audience at any educational level. This year’s symposium will discuss topics ranging from gene regulation to 3D genomes to aging and therapeutics.
“We are excited to be bringing back our annual symposium and to be welcoming some of the best minds in academia, pharma and biotech to share the latest scientific discoveries in the field,” said Johnathan Whetstine, PhD, director of the CEI. “These speakers offer a look at some of the most important fundamental findings in epigenetics as well as the potential clinical impact these advancements may have for patients.”
The symposium keynote will be delivered by Anne Brunet, PhD; Michele and Timothy Barakett Endowed Professor at Stanford University; and Robert Kingston, PhD, Chief Academic Officer at Massachusetts General Hospital and Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School.
“The American Association for Cancer Research is thrilled to be a Gold Sponsor of this annual flagship event,” said Dr. Margaret Foti, CEO of the American Association for Cancer Research. “Symposia like this are an important vessel for bringing the latest basic science discoveries to the forefront of patient care. The fact that this symposium has attracted more than 3,000 registrants from over 20 countries since it launched in 2021 is a testament to its impact and the contribution it is making to cancer science.”
Additional speakers at the event will represent such institutions as Princeton University, the National Health and Medical Research Council, Humboldt University, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Université libre de Bruxelles and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
The symposium will also include a poster session for in-person attendees and prizes will be awarded for the top three selected poster presentations from trainees. Former C. David Allis CEI travel award recipients will present their research in the afternoon.
Additionally, two individuals will be awarded the Curie Fellowship at the symposium, which will allow them to participate in the 20th anniversary Curie International Course on epigenetics at the Institute Curie in Paris. Chloe Azadegan, a doctoral candidate at Drexel University, and Madison Dautle, a doctoral student at Temple University, were selected as this year’s trainees through a partnership between the CEI and the Institute Curie.
This link was established when Geneviève Almouzni, former director and now Honorary Director of the Research Center of the Institute Curie, was a keynote speaker at last year’s CEI symposium. Almouzni recently joined the External Advisory Board of the CEI as well.
There will also be a mid-afternoon translational session with biotech-pharma leaders where attendees can learn about the development of the next generation of epigenetic technologies and therapies. Representatives from Arima Genomics, AstraZeneca, CAMP4 Therapeutics Corporation, Daiichi Sankyo and VYNE Therapeutics will speak during that session.
“What makes this symposium so valuable is that it is accessible to a wide audience and encourages scientists of all levels to share important work that they do every day,” Whetstine said. “It is always rewarding to see the trainees present and witness their excitement as they receive the Cancer Epigenetics Institute travel awards or poster prizes for their scientific discoveries.”
The program will run from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., with a reception beginning at 5:30 p.m. The event is free but advanced registration is required. The meeting will also be available virtually for those who are unable to attend in person.
To register and learn more about the symposium, click here. ••
Theater performance of Honk!
The Star Players, of the city Department of Parks and Recreation, will present Honk! The Ugly Duckling Musical on May 30-31 and June 1, at 7 p.m., at Venice Island Performing Arts Center, 7 Lock St., in Manayunk. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Group rates are available. Tickets can be purchased on Venmo @TheStarplayers or at Holmesburg Recreation Center, 4500 Rhawn St. For more information, follow @starplayersPPR on X, like the group’s page on Facebook or contact director Bill Arthur at 215-685-8714 or Starplayers2013@gmail.com. ••
