Dr. Richard Bleicher Promoted to Chief of New Division of Breast Surgery at Fox Chase Cancer Center

Richard Bleicher, MD, FACS, a Professor in the Department of Surgical Oncology and Clinical Director of the Breast Service Line, has been promoted to Chief of the new Division of Breast Surgery at Fox Chase Cancer Center. 

“Dr. Bleicher has been a pivotal part of our team in leading the breast cancer program and directing our Breast Oncology Fellowship. He is also nationally known for his expertise in treating patients with breast cancer,” said Jeffrey Farma, MD, FACS, Chair of Surgery. “As Chief of the Division of Breast Surgery, I know Dr. Bleicher will continue to make a great impact on our programs and serve as an exemplary role model both within Fox Chase and in the greater community.”

The newly formed Division of Breast Surgery was created to focus efforts at Fox Chase on increasing access for breast cancer patients, as well as on clinical trials and research. In his new role, Bleicher will oversee the division’s programs, research portfolio, and all clinical activities. Additionally, he will provide support for the recruitment of new faculty and the growth of the breast program at all Fox Chase satellite campuses, as well as lead and manage the division.

Bleicher has been instrumental in expanding the breast faculty within the department and growing the breast surgical program in volume, location, and scope. He will continue to serve as the Clinical Director of the Breast Service Line at Fox Chase, a position he has held since June 2023.

Bleicher is a member of the Board of Directors of the American College of Surgeons National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers and the immediate past Chair of the Quality Improvement and Information Technology Committee for the American College of Surgeons National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers.

He also recently served as the Chair of the Society of Surgical Oncology Breast Fellowship Program Directors Training Committee and been a member of the American College of Surgeons Quality Improvement Steering Committee/Cancer Quality Improvement Committee and Operative Standards Revision Workgroup.

He has authored and coauthored 110 peer-reviewed, invited, and other publications, written eight book chapters, and been quoted in the media over 100 times. As a valued member of Fox Chase, Bleicher has been essential in moving the center’s surgical procedures into the future. He helmed the introduction at Fox Chase of the EnVisio real-time Surgical Navigation System and SmartClip Tumor Marker technology.

With his leadership, Fox Chase was the first cancer center in the Northeast to feature this new tumor marker technology, which has been described as the next generation of surgical navigation. The system allows surgeons to better navigate to the precise location of malignant breast tissue during a lumpectomy or partial mastectomy, resulting in less unnecessary breast tissue removal and shorter surgery times for patients. Physicians at Fox Chase have treated over 1,000 patients using this technology.

Bleicher specializes in breast cancer with a focus on novel treatment modalities, clinical trials, and cosmetic outcomes, but he is most highly recognized and cited for his research regarding the impact of timeliness and delays on breast cancer treatment. His work is the basis for two current Commission on Cancer national quality measures.

He frequently deals with cases that are not commonly seen by other clinicians, including unusual pathology results, complex cases, and rare clinical situations such as male breast cancer. His research interests include health services research, breast imaging, population studies, sentinel node biopsy in breast cancer, and disparities in breast cancer, among others.

He has been an active advocate in the breast cancer community, participating each year in the Susan G. Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure and serving as the Fox Chase team spokesperson. In addition to receiving such honors as the Jamie Brooke Lieberman Remembrance Award from Susan G. Komen Philadelphia, he has also been recognized as one of America’s Top Doctors, as well as a Top Doctor by Philadelphia magazine from 2018 through 2024. 

Bleicher received his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his medical degree from the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. He completed his residency at Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh, as well as a fellowship in surgical oncology at the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, California. He also completed a fellowship in basic science research at Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh.