Edward Fox, MD

As a professor of orthopaedic surgery specializing in musculoskeletal oncology surgery, Dr. Edward Fox has seen firsthand the limitations of current medical technology in managing traumatic and tumor-related segmental bone loss. Off-the-shelf medical endoprosthetic implants do not meet the demands mechanically, biologically or even durably that patients' simple activities of daily living require. This results in failure to fully restore patient anatomic motor function and/or premature implant failure via wear, loosening or infection. That, in turn, requires additional surgeries to correct these deficits, resulting in additional patient morbidity and mortality and increased health care expenditures, and Dr. Fox's research focuses on improvements in this area.

Other areas of Dr. Fox's research include osteosarcoma, a malignant neoplasm of mesenchymal origin that is presumed to arise from osteoblasts; hip fractures that are common in the elderly; patients with hip fractures who frequently have comorbid illnesses; and osteoporosis.

Dr. Fox's experience and qualifications as an orthopaedic musculoskeletal oncology surgeon give him clinical and biologic knowledge of bone segmental defects. He has publications relating to tumor segmental bone defects and has had collaborative MD and PhD research projects with successful research grants.

Dr. Edward Fox is an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in musculoskeletal oncology surgery as well as metabolic bone diseases. He cares for pediatric and adult benign and malignant soft-tissue and bone tumors. He also runs a bone health clinic, addressing osteoporosis and other metabolic bone diseases.

In addition, Dr. Fox formed both a multidisciplinary sarcoma tumor board and a musculoskeletal tumor conference, the main goal of which are to discuss and coordinate tumor patient care from a multidisciplinary approach with providers in other specialties, such as hematology/oncology, radiation oncology, neurosurgery, surgical oncology, musculoskeletal radiology and musculoskeletal pathology. This also fosters research efforts and collaborations.

This multidisciplinary effort led to the Pennsylvania Skin and Connective Tissue Oncology Clinic, which allows the newly diagnosed cancer patient access to a team approach to their cancer care, with coordinated clinic visits and testing that reduces travel and time spent at the hospital while also providing the patient with a more rapid diagnosis and treatment plan.

Member, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, 2008 to present

Member, Children's Oncology Group, 2008 to present

Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (FAAOS), 2005 to present

Member, Connective Tissue Oncology Society, 2004 to present

Board-certified in Orthopaedic Surgery, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, 2003

Dr. Edward Fox's academic responsibilities range from teaching undergraduate students in Penn State College of Engineering to medical students and graduate students at the College of Medicine, as well as residents at Penn State Health. He also organizes multidisciplinary clinical tumor teams to foster better patient care and research, namely the Musculoskeletal Tumor Conference, Sarcoma Tumor Board and Sarcoma Research Conference.

In undergraduate medical education, Dr. Fox currently lectures on the MSK physical exam in the transition to clerkship phase, and on orthopaedic emergencies in the transition to internship phase. He also serves on the Medical Student Research Committee and served on the prior LCME accreditation committee.