Joanna Rhodes, MD

I received my BA from Wesleyan University and then did a Masters in Medical Sciences at Boston University. After this, I worked at Dana Farber Cancer Institute as a Clinical Research Coordinator, and knew after that experience I wanted to pursue a career in hematologic malignancies. I completed my medical training at Stony Brook School of Medicine and subsequently did my residency training in Internal Medicine at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell. I then went to the University of Pennsylvania for Hematology/Oncology fellowship where I also received a Masters of Science in Clinical Epidemiology with a focus in Pharmacoepidemiology. In fellowship, I sub-specialized in the care of CLL/lymphoma patients and have have dedicated my career to caring for these patients since.

I am a hematologist/medical oncologist who cares for people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and lymphomas, including Hodgkin lymphoma and B- and T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Receiving a CLL or lymphoma diagnosis is scary, especially due to the sheer number of subtypes. My approach to care is individualized to each patient where shared decision-making is paramount, as no two patients are the same. My goal is to provide personalized care that takes into consideration patients’ goals, disease biology, and how we unite these with best-in-class treatment.

My research is focused on bringing new therapies, particularly novel targeted agents and immune-based therapies to patients with CLL and lymphomas. As our treatment paradigms have changed, my research has also focused on understanding the toxicities of these novel therapies, including best management strategies, particularly in older patients or in patients who have other chronic medical conditions.