Richard E. Deitrick Humanity in Medicine Award
Thomas B. Julian, MD, is the 2018 recipient of the ACMS Richard E. Deitrick Humanity in Medicine Award. This award honors a physician who has improved the lives of patients by caring for them with integrity, honesty, and respect of their human dignity, and serves as a role model for other physicians.
An accomplished breast cancer surgeon, researcher and educator, Dr. Julian serves as the associate medical director of Cancer Program Development, Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Cancer Institute; surgeon, Breast Surgical Oncology, AHN; and professor of surgery, Drexel University College of Medicine.
Dr. Julian is the senior surgical director for Medical Oversight for the NSABP Foundation and serves as the national protocol officer for several NRG Oncology/NSABP protocols. In addition, he is the NRG Oncology Communications chair; chair, NRG Surgical Oncology Committee; and chair, NRG Local Regional Breast Cancer Subcommitee.
In nearly 40 years of medical practice, Dr. Julian has trained the next generation of breast cancer surgeons and has served as a principal investigator for numerous breast cancer pre- and post-launch clinical trials, studying topics such as primary systemic combination drug therapy in postmenopausal hormone-receptor positive breast cancer patients, the GeneSearch breast lymph node assay for intraoperative molecular testing, digital mammography imaging and MRI evaluation of the contralateral breast in recently diagnosed female breast cancer patients, among others.
Many of the clinical trials that he has led have been practice-changing, setting new standards of care and making it possible for women to choose less invasive and difficult treatments for breast cancer without fear of diminishing their chances of a cure such as the NSABP B-32 Sentinel Node Trial which reduced the need for axillary dissection in early stage breast cancer.
As a nationally and internationally recognized expert in breast cancer, breast surgery, clinical trials, and multidisciplinary care coordination and treatment optimization for breast cancer patients, Dr. Julian’s research and expertise has been widely published, appearing in more than 120 articles, reviews, book chapters, audio-visual displays, abstracts and scientific exhibits.
“Dr. Julian has maintained a full surgical practice at Allegheny General Hospital and integrated his clinical work with his research and educational activities,” says David Parda, MD, chair, AHN Cancer Institute. “He is very compassionate and collaborative with all his patients and with his colleagues, improving patient outcomes and experiences for all members of the care team.”
Dr. Julian earned his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 1976 and is board certified by the American Board of Surgery. He resides in Sewickley with his spouse, Ramona Howe Julian, Esq.