Dr. Michael Joseph Mastrangelo, a Jenkintown resident and longtime physician at Fox Chase Cancer Center, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 6th, 2024, at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. He was 86 years old.

Dr. Mastrangelo’s 60-year medical career in the Philadelphia area began as a medical intern at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in 1965. Following his 1971 residency, he joined the Department of Medical Oncology at the American Oncologic Hospital, which later became Fox Chase Cancer Center, his obituary said.

He returned to Jefferson University Hospital in 1984 and remained on staff until June 2024. During his 40-year tenure at Jefferson, he was a Professor of Medicine as well as Chief of Oncology and specialized in Hematologic Oncology, Melanoma.

Dr. Mastrangelo served at the Edgewood Arsenal in 1967 and was discharged from the Army in 1968 as a Captain in the Medical Corps.

He retired earlier this year, his obituary said.

An excerpt:

During his career, Michael impacted the lives of countless patients with the extraordinary time and care he gave to his patients. He was on a quest to cure a challenging disease and mentored generations of doctors and nurses to achieve this goal. His medical accomplishments included, among others, the publication of two medical textbooks. He also started the publication of Seminars in Oncology in 1974 with two medical doctors and his medical research has been cited in over 6,500 articles. In 2005, Michael’s portrait was selected by the Administration and Faculty of Sidney Kimmel Medical College to hang at the College and in 2016, he was awarded their Research Career Achievement. In June 2024, he was formally welcomed as an Inaugural Member of the Jefferson Luminaries. Michael’s work in the field of melanoma will undoubtedly impact generations to come.

A private viewing and funeral Mass will be held at Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic B.V.M. Church in Jenkintown. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to Jefferson’s Melanoma Research Institute of Excellence (MIRE) Fund, Giving.Jefferson.edu, or Villanova University, give.villanova.edu.

A celebration of life will be held in Spring 2025, his obituary said.

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