Charles Balch
Department of Surgical Oncology, Division of Surgery
About Charles Balch
Dr. Charles M. Balch has led a distinguished career as a clinical and academic surgical oncologist for the past 41 years, as a leading authority in both melanoma and breast cancer. He has also made significant contributions to laboratory research in tumor immunology and human T lymphocyte differentiation. He is author of over 760 publications, which have been cited over 24,000 times in the biomedical literature (an average of 59 citations per article, h-index of 73). He has lectured in over 42 different countries in the world and most of the major academic centers in the United States. Dr Balch is the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Annals of Surgical Oncology, which is recognized as the leading journal in the world in its field, with over 11,000 surgical and library subscribers in 110 countries. He is also the Editor-in-Chief for Patient Resource Cancer Guides, which distribute over one million cancer guides (with 21 different titles) to cancer patients each year.
Dr. Balch has served as Executive Vice President and CEO of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (2000-2005), and as President and CEO of the City of Hope National Medical Center (1996-1999). At the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, from 1985-1996, Dr. Balch served as Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, Vice President of Hospital and Clinics, and Head of the Division of Surgery, among other positions.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Professor, Department of Surgical Oncology - Research, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1967 | Columbia College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY, USA, MD, Medicine |
| 1963 | University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA, BS, Immunology |
Postgraduate Training
| 1971-1973 | Research Fellowship, Immunology, Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, La Jolla, CA |
| 1970-1975 | Clinical Residency, Surgery, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Birmingham, AL |
| 1967-1968 | Intern in Surgery, Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Deputy Director for Clinical Trials and Outcomes Research, Johns Hopkins Medical Institution, Baltimore, MD, 2007 - 2011
Director (Founding) Johns Hopkins Clinical Research Network, Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Johns Hopkins Medical Institution, Baltimore, MD, 2007 - 2011
Professor, Division of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institution, Baltimore, MD, 2006 - 2011
Professor, Division of Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medical Institution, Baltimore, MD, 2000 - 2011
Professor, Division of Oncology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institution, Baltimore, MD, 2000 - 2011
Professor, Department of Surgical Oncology, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2000 - 2006
Executive VP for Health Affairs, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1994 - 1996
Vice President for Hospital and Clinics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1993 - 1994
Head, Division of Surgery and Anesthesiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1985 - 1993
Chairman, Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1985 - 1993
Professor, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1985 - 1996
Professor, Department of Immunology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1985 - 1996
Honors & Awards
| 2016 | Honorary Fellowship, Japan Surgical Society |
| 2015 | Honorary Fellowship, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons |
| 2015 | Honorary Member, Latin American Society of Surgical Oncology |
| 2015 | Honorary Member, Brazilian Society of Surgical Oncology |
| 2014 | Lifetime Achievement Award, British Association of Surgical Oncology |
| 2014 | Honorary Member, European Society of Surgical Oncology |
| 2014 | Honorary Member, British Association of Surgical Oncology |
| 2014 | Appreciation Award for serving as Founding Editor-in-Chief of the Annals of Surgical Oncology for 20 years, Society of Surgical Oncology |
| 2012 | Honorary Member, Israeli Society of Surgical Oncology |
| 2011 | Honorary Member, Hellenic Society of Surgical Oncology |
| 2010 | Highest Alumni Award, University of Toledo |
| 2009 | Honorary PhD Doctorate, University of Crete, Greece |
| 2009 | Clinical Research Award, Association of Community Cancers Centers |
| 2008 | Surgery Graduation Address, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center |
| 2008 | Honorary Member, British Association of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery |
| 2007 | Special Recognition Award, American Society of Clinical Oncology |
| 2007 | Statesman Award, American Society of Clinical Oncology |
| 2006 | Heritage Award, Society of Surgical Oncology |
| 2004 | Honorary Member, Italian Society of Surgical Oncology |
| 2003 | Lifetime Achievement Award, American Skin Association |
| 2000 | William Rudder Traveling Fellow, Queensland Cancer Foundation, Australia |
| 1999 | Surgical Oncology Award, Roswell Park Cancer Institute |
| 1994 | Award for Scientific Excellence, American-Italian Foundation for Cancer Research |
| 1983 | Eleanor Roosevelt Fellowship, International Union Against Cancer |
| 1980 | American Cancer Society Professorship, American Cancer Society |
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Balch CM , Klimberg VS, McMasters KM, Pawlik TM, Tanabe KK, Posner MC, Whippen D, Roh MS. Benchmarking the Scientific and Educational Impact of the Annals of Surgical Oncology. Ann Surg Oncol 23(9):223-2729, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27334224.
- Hoekstra HJ, Wobbes T, Heineman E, Haryono S, Aryandono T, Balch CM. Fighting Global Disparities in Cancer Care: A Surgical Oncology View. Ann Surg Oncol 23(7):2131-2136, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27038459.
- Liao N, Hunt KK, Balch CM. Management of invasive and non-invasive breast cancer in the United States and China. Chin Clin Oncol 5(3):30, 2016. PMID: 27265301.
- Balch CM, Coit DG, Berman RS. 2015 James Ewing Lecture: 75-Year History of the Society of Surgical Oncology-Part III: The Transformative Years (1991-2015). Ann Surg Oncol 23(5):1409-1417, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 26822879.
- Ross MI, Balch CM. Excision Margins of Melanoma Make a Difference: New Data Supports an Old Paradigm. Ann Surg Oncol 23(4):1053-1056, 2016. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26561402.
- Balch CM, Coit DG, Berman RS. 2015 James Ewing Lecture: The 75-Year History of the Society of Surgical Oncology Part II: The Transitional Years (1966-1990). Ann Surg Oncol 23(2):358-64, 2016. PMID: 26464191.
- Johnson CD, Balch CM. Commentary. Abdom Radiol (NY) 41(2):391, 2016. PMID: 26826085.
- Balch CM, Nelson H, Niederhuber JE. Surgery: Limitations of prospective surgical oncology trials - a US view. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 13(1):6-8, 2016. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26598945.
- Balch CM, Coit DG, Berman RS. 2015 James Ewing Lecture: the 75-Year History of the Society of Surgical Oncology - Part II: The Transitional Years (1994-1965). Ann Surg Oncol 23(1):16-22, 2016. PMID: 26340862.
- Johnson CD, Balch CM. Editor Note. Ann Surg Oncol. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 26801780.
- Cavanaugh-Hussey MW, Mu EW, Kang S, Balch CM, Wang T. Older Age is Associated with a Higher Incidence of Melanoma Death but a Lower Incidence of Sentinel Lymph Node Metastasis in the SEER Databases (2003-2011). Ann Surg Oncol 22(7):2120-6, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25940571.
- Balch CM, Ross MI. Lymphatic Mapping and the Sentinel Node Biopsy in Melanoma. JAMA Surgery 150(7):623-624, 2015. PMID: 26016730.
- Balch CM. Decreased survival rates of older-aged patients with melanoma: biological differences under-treatment?. Ann Surg Oncol 22(7):2101-2103, 2015. PMID: 25840561.
- Klimberg VS, Balch CM. The Distinctive Features of Surgical Oncology as a Specialty. Considerations for Chinese Surgeons. Chinese Clinical Oncology 3(4):44, 2014. PMID: 25841525.
- Balch CM. The value of multidisciplinary cancer care and research: the role of the surgeon as an oncologists and clinical investigator. Chinese Clinical Oncology 3(4):42, 2014. PMID: 25841523.
- Bilimoria KY, Raval MV, Bentrem DJ, Wayne JD, Balch CM, Ko CY. National assessment of melanoma care using formally developed quality indicators. J Clin Oncol 27(32):5445-51, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19826131.
- Diethelm AG, Sterling WA, Balch CM, Clark EC. Human cadaver kidney preservation using hypothermic hyperosmolar, intracellular washout solution. Proc Clin Dial Transplant Forum 5:26-32, 1975. PMID: 785459.
- Insel RA, Melewicz FM, La Via MF, Balch CM. Morphology, surface markers, and in vitro responses of a human leukemic T cell. Clin Immunol Immunopathol 4(3):382-91, 1975. PMID: 127678.
- Balch CM, Morgan JM, Sterling WA, Bradley EL, Diethelm AG. Kidney transplantation in patients with end stage congenital renal disease. Report of eighteen cases and review of the Organ Transplant Registry. Am J Surg 130(3):303-8, 1975. PMID: 1101718.
- Balch CM, Karp RB. Blood group compatibility and aortic valve allotransplantation in man. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 70(2):256-9, 1975. PMID: 807781.
- Balch CM, Feldman JD. Thymus-dependent (T) lymphocytes in the rat. J Immunol 112(1):79-86, 1974. PMID: 4590829.
- Balch CM, Feldman JD. Origin and development of rat thymus-dependent (T) lymphocytes. J Immunol 112(1):87-95, 1974. PMID: 4590830.
- Balch CM, Wilson CB, Lee S, Feldman JD. Thymus-dependent lymphocytes in tissue sections of rejecting rat renal allografts. J Exp Med 138(6):1584-90, 1973. PMID: 4586981.
- Balch CM, Diethelm AG. The pathophysiology of renal allograft rejection: a collective review. J Surg Res 12(5):350-77, 1972. PMID: 4554836.
Invited Articles
- Balch CM, Shanafelt T. Combating stress and burnout in surgical practice: A review. Thorac Surg Clin 21(3):417-430, 2011.
- Balch CM, Gershenwald JE, Soong SJ, Thompson JF. Update on the Melanoma Staging System. The Importance of Sentinel Node and Primary Tumor Mitotic Rate. J Surg Oncol 104:379-385, 2011.
- Shanafelt T, Sloan J, Satele D, Balch C. Why do surgeons consider leaving practice?. J Amer Coll Surg 212:421-422, 2011.
- Balch CM, Mihm MC, Gershenwald JE, Soong SJ. The revised melanoma staging system. The Melanoma Letter 28(3):1-6, 2010.
- Balch CM, Russell TR. ACS Patterns of Care Survey, Part III: Use of Surgical Instruments and Devices among Surgical Specialities. ACS Bulletin 94:24-29, 2009.
- Balch CM, Russell TR. A Patterns of Care Survey: Contemporary Surgeons Bring Technical and Cognitive Skills to Patient Care. ACS Bulletin 93:17-19, 2008.
- Balch CM, Russell TR. ACS Patterns of Care Survey, Part II Prescribing Habits among Surgical Specialities. ACS Bulletin 93:11-15, 2008.
- Lange JR, Balch CM. Screening for Cutaneous Melanoma. Surg Oncol Clin N Am 14:799-811, 2005.
- Kim CJ, Reintgen DS, Balch CM. The New Melanoma Staging System. Journal of the Moffitt Cancer Center 9:9-15, 2002.
- Balch CM, Cascinelli N. The New Melanoma Staging System. Tumori 87:S64-68, 2001.
- Balch CM, Slominski A, Wortsman J, Carlson AJ, Matsuoko LY, Mihm MC. Malignant Melanoma: An Update. Arch Pathol Lab Med:125, 2001.
- Miller MJ, Balch CM. "Iris" technique for immediate umbilical reconstruction. Plan & Recon Surg 92:754-756, 1993.
Other Articles
- Sladden MJ, Balch C, Handiside T, Hollis S, Lens MB Surgical Excision Margins for Primary Cutaneous Melanoma. Cochrane Review(11), 2015.
Editorials
- Audisio RA, Balch CM. Why Can't Surgeons Treat Older Patients the Same as Younger Patients. Ann Surg Oncol 23(13):4123-4125, 2016. PMID: 27456957.
- Balch CM, Poston GJ, Coit D, Audisio R. Training a new generation of surgeons worldwide who are also oncologists. Chin Clin Oncol 5(4):58, 2016. PMID: 27558256.
- Balch CM, Poston GJ. Training a new generation of Surgical Oncologists worldwide. Lancet Oncol 17(6):700-701, 2016. PMID: 27299262.
- Balch CM, Nelson H, Niederhuber J, Klimberg S. Limitations and Barriers to the Conduct of Surgical Oncology Clinical Trials. Nature Oncology Reviews 13:6-8, 2016.
- Liao N, Hunt KK, Balch CM. Management of invasive and non-invasive breast cancer in the United States and China. Chinese Clinical Oncology 5:30, 2016.
- Balch CM, Hoon DS. Donald L. Morton, MD: A Legendary Surgical Oncologist and Consummate Investigator. CritRev Oncog 21:3-5, 2016.
- Audisio RA, Balch CM. Why Can't Surgeons Treat Older Patients the Same as Younger Patients?. Ann Surg Oncol, Jul 25, 2016.
- Balch CM, Hoon DS. Donald L Morton, MD....A Legendary Surgical Oncologist and Consummate Investigator. Crit Rev Oncog 21(1-2):3-5, 2016. PMID: 27480997.
- Balch CM, Gershenwald JE. Clinical value of the sentinel-node biopsy in primary cutaneous melanoma. N Engl J Med 370:663-664, 2014.
- Balch CM, Roh M, Klimberg VS, Whippen D. Memorium: Donald L. Morton (1934-2014). An Icon in Surgical Oncology. Ann Surg Oncol 21:1413-1416, 2014.
- Balch CM, Roh M, Klimberg VS, Whippen D. Annals of Surgical Oncology: The First 20 Years. Ann Surg Oncol 21:3708-3712, 2014.
- Balch CM. Foreword. Breast, Endocrine, and Surgical Oncology. Coventry BJ Ed:VII-VIII, 2014.
Abstracts
- Borja NA, El Mokdad A, Nassour I, Balch CM. Pelvic exenteration can be performed safely: A morbidity and mortality analysis of the first 90 days after surgery. Ann Surg Oncol 23, 2016.
- Mokdad A, Balch GC, Hirsch H, Choti MA, Balch CM. Infectious complications following colorectal cancer surgery are associated with worse long-term survival. Ann Surg Oncol 23, 2016.
- Ross MI, Balch CM. Excision Margins of Melanoma Make a Difference: New Data Supports an Old Paradigm. Ann Surg Oncol, 2015.
- Zoras O, Lasithiotakis K, Balch CM. Uncertainties in the management of melanoma nodal metastases. Eur J Surg Oncol 41(7):811-813, 2015. PMID: 25980747.
- Martinez Said H, Cuellar-Hubbe M, Villavicencio-Valencia V, Balch CM. Prognosis of Acral Lentiginous Melanoma Compared to Sun-Induced Melanoma. Ann Surg Oncol 21, 2014.
- Cavanaugh-Hussey MW, Mu EW, Wang T, Balch CM. Inverse relationship between melanoma deaths and sentinel node metastases by age. J Invest Derm 133, 2013.
Book Chapters
- Balch CM, Shanafelt TD. The Role of Leaders, Supervisors and Individual Surgeons In Reducing Burnout and Promoting Physician Wellness. In: Mentorship and Leadership: Building for Success in Academic Surgery, 2017.
- Balch CM, Delman K, Balch GC. The Management of Melanoma. In: Current Surgical Therapy. Elsevier Pub: New York, 2016.
- Balch CM, Sharma RR, Balch GC, Thompson JF. Melanoma Staging. In: Complex Surgical Oncology Textbook. McGraw Hill: New York, 2015.
- Balch CM, Balch GC, Thompson JF. Surgical Management of Metastatic Melanoma (Stages III and IV). In: Complex Surgical Oncology Textbook. McGraw Hill: New York, 2015.
- Balch CM, Morita S. Defining the Specialty of Surgical Oncology. In: Complex Surgical Oncology Textbook. McGraw Hill: New York, 2015.
- Balch CM, Thompson JF, Faries MB. The Clinical Value of Sentinel Node Biopsy for Melanoma Staging and for Improving Survival Rates in Melanoma Patients. In: the Melanoma Letter, 2015.
- Balch CM. Forward. In: Success in Academic Surgery: Clinical Trials. Springer: New York, 2014.
- Balch CM. Forward. In: Melanoma. Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Atheneu: Sao Paulo Brazil, 2014.
- Sharma RR, Balch GC, Balch CM. Evolution of the Melanoma Staging System. In: Emerging Cancer Therapies, Melanoma. Demos Medical Publishing, 405-420, 2012.
Books (edited and written)
- Morita S, Balch CM, Klimberg VS, Pawlik T, Tanabe K. Textbook of Advanced Surgical Oncology. Ed(s) Morita S, Balch CM, Klimberg VS, Pawlik T, Tanabe K. McGraw Hill Publ: New York, 2016.
- Balch CM. Patient Resource: A Cancer Guide. 10th ed. Ed(s) Balch CM. Patient Resource Publishing: Kansas City, 2016.
- Balch CM, Sober AJ, Halpern A, Atkins MB, Kirkwood J, Kefford R, Thompson JF, Gershenwald J. Cutaneous Melanoma. 6th edition. Ed(s) Balch CM, Sober AJ, Halpern A, Atkins MB, Kirkwood J, Kefford R, Thompson JF, Gershenwald J. Springer: New York, 2016.
- Balch CM. Patient Resource: Cancer Guide. 9th ed. Ed(s) Balch CM. Patient Resource Publishing: Kansas City, 2015.
- Balch CM. Patient Resource: Cancer Guide. 8th ed. Ed(s) Balch CM. Patient Resource Publishing: Kansas City, 2014.
- Balch CM. Patient Resource: Cancer Guide. 7th ed. Ed(s) Balch CM. Patient Resource Publishing: Kansas City, 2013.
- Balch CM. Patient Resource: Cancer Guide. 6th ed. Ed(s) Balch CM. Patient Resource Publishing: Kansas City, 2012.
Grant & Contract Support
| Title: | Role of Suppressor Cells in Melanoma Patients |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Functional Characterization of Human T Lymphocyte Subpopulations |
| Funding Source: | Veterans Administration |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Characterization of Human Suppressor Cells |
| Funding Source: | Veterans Administration |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Intergroup Melanoma Randomized Surgical Protocol |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Clinical Trials of Hepatic Arterial Therapy |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Development of Research Programs in Surgical Oncology |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | American Cancer Society of Clinical Oncology Fellowships |
| Funding Source: | American Cancer Society (ACS) |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Training of Academic Surgical Oncologists |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | The Multidisciplinary SCIM: A New Educational Strategy |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Clinical and Laboratory Research Training for Surgical Oncologists |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | 19835A Lipid Ciba Geigy, Pilot Study of Liposomal |
| Funding Source: | CGP |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified September 26, 2024