Joseph J. Bennett, M.D.

Christiana Care - Oncology

Attending Surgeon -Department of Surgery, Surgical Oncology and General Surgery Helen F Graham Cancer Center at Christiana Care

Academic Appointment:
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University

Education:
Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry, Colgate University - 1992
Doctor of Medicine - State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn (SUNY HSCB) - 1996
University of Chicago Hospitals, General Surgery Intern & Junior Resident (1996-1998)
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center - Surgical Oncology Research Fellow (1998-2000)
University of Chicago Hospitals - General Surgery Senior & Chief Resident (2000-2003)
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center - Surgical Oncology Clinical Fellow (2003-2005)

Biography:
As a surgeon who specializes in oncology, Dr. Bennet performs surgeries on solid organs such as the liver, pancreas and spleen, in addition to surgeries that resect and reconnect the pancreas, biliary and gastrointestinal tracts. Such surgery can cause both bleeding and leaking of gastrointestinal contents at raw cut surfaces and at sites of intestinal reconstruction. Infection adds to these problems. There is a significant need for better agents to reduce these potential complications. Dr. Bennett is collaborating with biologists and with chemical engineers to develop a biologic seal that can block the raw surfaces of solid organ injury, and that can also seal intestinal anastomoses. His goal is to also make a product that is bacteriostatic, has procoagulant properties to help stop bleeding, that can evade the immune system and enzymatic degradation, that can last long enough for surgical sites to heal, and that is practical to use in the operating room. Also, Dr. Bennett is interested in new biomarkers for differentiation of non-malignant liver disease from liver cancers such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

RECENT PRESS

Achieving great things.

2010 DHSA Research Conference Coverage
May 5, 2010--More than 275 people from the health sciences research and education community turned out for the 2010 Delaware Health Sciences Alliance Conference on Tuesday, May 4, to share research and explore issues in health care.

UD and Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital to partner on bone disorder study
April 15, 2010--In search of a new treatment for the debilitating disease osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), a team of researchers from the University of Delaware and Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children is initiating a two-year study exploring the use of an FDA-approved vibration platform in children with OI.

Delaware Health Sciences Alliance awards two pilot projects
April 1, 2010--Two pilot projects funded by the Delaware Health Sciences Alliance (DHSA) under its second competition focus on identifying cutting-edge cancer therapies, and creating the bioinformatics framework that will facilitate translational research among the alliance members.

Transforming the Region's Healthcare
March, 2010--An article in the March edition of Select Greater Philadelphia's "Momentum" discusses how the DSHA is drawing on the collective resources of its partner members - including the health sciences campus to be developed by the University of Delaware at the former Chrysler site - to revolutionize healthcare research and education in the region.

National experts to speak at Delaware Health Sciences Alliance research conference
Tuesday, February 18, 2010--The Delaware Health Sciences Alliance (DHSA) will host its second annual research conference on May 4 at Christiana Care Health System's John H. Ammon Medical Education Center on the Christiana Hospital Campus.

UD health sciences dean to lead partnership programs
December 14, 2009--Kathy Matt, dean of the College of Health Sciences at the University of Delaware, has been appointed to leadership positions in two partnership programs that she sees as key to promoting health research and education in Delaware.

Older adults with cancer, caregivers focus of $600,000 research grant
Dec. 11, 2009--A team that includes two researchers from the University of Delaware's School of Nursing -- Paula Klemm, professor of nursing, and Veronica Rempusheski, the Jeanne K. Buxbaum Chair of Nursing Science -- has been awarded a two-year, $600,000 grant to conduct research aimed at supporting older adults affected by cancer and their caregivers in Delaware.

DHSA takes center stage at UD Trustees meeting
December 9, 2009--The University of Delaware's Board of Trustees got a firsthand look at the largest single property acquisition in the history of the institution during its semiannual meeting, held Tuesday, Dec. 8, at the former Chrysler assembly plant on South College Avenue in Newark.

Christiana Care's Dr. Petrelli to share cancer success story at national surgeons' conference
November 11, 2009--Christiana Care's pioneering role in significantly reducing Delaware's cancer rate will be in the national spotlight at a prestigious medical conference.