Alex Khariton, MBA, has been named Chief Operating Officer of Fox Chase Cancer Center and Senior Vice President for Cancer Services across Temple Health, effective February 23, 2026. The announcement was made by Fox Chase Cancer Center and Temple Health as the organization continues to expand its clinical services and research initiatives in partnership with the Lewis Katz School of Medicine and Temple University.
“Operational excellence is at the heart of Temple Health’s drive to set a new standard for expanding access to life-changing care backed by cutting edge research and the resources of a leading research University,” said Abhinav Rastogi, MBA, MIA, President & CEO of Temple Health. “Alex will play a central role leading major strategic initiatives at Fox Chase Cancer Center that will broaden the reach of our cancer care, expand the impact of our academic mission, and deliver outcomes that make a real difference for patients – in Philadelphia and across the country.”
Khariton brings more than 25 years of experience in healthcare administration. He previously served as Chief Operating Officer at Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Jefferson Health since 2024 and as Vice President of Cancer Services there since 2019. In these roles, he led several expansion projects in clinical programs and system operations.
In his new position, Khariton will manage clinical operations at Fox Chase’s main campus as well as its 11 satellite locations. He will also oversee integrated cancer services throughout Temple Health. His responsibilities include fostering growth across the cancer service line, expanding network locations, and enhancing collaboration between cancer research efforts at Fox Chase and its university partners.
“Alex brings deep operational expertise, strong market insight, and a proven record of results for patients in the city of Philadelphia and across the region,” said Robert Uzzo, MD, MBA, FACS, President and CEO of Fox Chase Cancer Center; EVP for Cancer Services at Temple Health; Professor and Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Cancer Research at Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. “Over the past several years Fox Chase’s access sites have doubled, patient volume has grown 15%, and we continue to grow our clinical footprint. Alex’s leadership will be instrumental in advancing our system cancer clinical operations while reinforcing their connectivity to our research enterprise. We are excited to welcome him at such a pivotal moment for our institution.”
Khariton began his career as a radiation therapist before moving into administrative roles including Administrative Director for Radiation Oncology at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey. At Jefferson Health since 2012, he managed planning projects such as designing an ambulatory tower and implementing electronic medical records systems aimed at standardizing processes.
He earned his MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University and completed business leadership development training through Wharton School. Additionally, he taught courses related to radiological sciences and healthcare economics as an adjunct professor.
Khariton replaces Joel Helmke who leaves after five years with significant progress achieved under his tenure.
“Fox Chase has a powerful legacy in cancer care, research, and education,” Khariton said. “As part of Temple University, Fox Chase is an anchor institution in Philadelphia and I’m honored to join this exceptional team and look forward to partnering with colleagues across Fox Chase and Temple Health as we continue to expand access to high-quality cancer care and advance discovery for the patients and communities we serve.”