Biographical summary
Rafael Fonseca, M.D., is a clinical investigator for the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Fund. Dr. Fonseca earned his medical degree at Universidad Anahuac, Mexico. He completed a residency in internal medicine at the University of Miami, Florida, and a fellowship in Hematology and Oncology at Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rochester, Minnesota.
Dr. Fonseca's practice focuses on diagnosing and treating plasma cell disorders. He also leads the multiple myeloma team in its effort to develop a better understanding of the disease and its impact on patients.
In his laboratory, Dr. Fonseca has led his team of researchers in concentrating on the genetic nature of the clonal cells of plasma cell disorders. He also has expertise in myeloma bone disease, prognostic markers and development of new therapies for the disease.
Throughout his training and career, Dr. Fonseca has received numerous awards and honors, including the Young Investigator Award in Hematology (Celgene — Achievement Awards for Clinical Research in Hematology), Damon Runyon-Walter Winchell Clinical Investigator Award and the International Waldenström Macroglobulinemia Research Award. Most notably, he is a Mayo Clinic Distinguished Investigator, the highest academic distinction given to investigators at the institution. Dr. Fonseca has an adjunct academic appointment at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen).
Dr. Fonseca's research has been funded by the National Cancer Institute (R01, P01, SPORE), the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the Multiple Myeloma Research Fund, and the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Fund. He has given many national and international presentations as a visiting professor, and has authored numerous articles (over 200), book chapters, editorials, abstracts and letters.
Conditions treated
Interests
- Multiple myeloma and related disorders
- Cytogenetics
- Amyloidosis
Mayo Clinic locations
Phoenix, Arizona
Education
- 1998
Fellow - Clinical Hematology and Medical OncologyMayo Graduate School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
- 1994
Resident - Internal MedicineUniversity of Miami
- 1991
MD - Medical School EducationUniversidad Anahuac
Activities and honors
Awards and honors
- 2012
Academic Excellence Award in the Faculty of Health SciencesMexico Norte, Vince in Bono Malum, Universidad Anahuac
- 2010
Distinguished Mayo Clinic InvestigatorMayo Clinic
- 2009
Getz Family Professor of Cancer, Named Professorship AwardMayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Department of Education Administration
- 2002
Young Investigator Award in HematologyCelgene, Achievement Awards for Clinical Research in Hematology
- 2002
New Investigator Award, Department of Internal MedicineAwarding Organization
- 2001
Young Investigator AwardECOG Aventis
- 2001
Young Investigator AwardEastern Cooperative Oncology Group
- 1998
Outstanding Achievement Award as Clinical Fellow in HematologyMayo Clinic
- 1997
Berlex Oncology Foundation Award: Pharmacology of Anticancer DrugsBerlex Oncology Foundation
- 1997
Berlex Oncology Foundation Award: Genetics in OncologyBerlex Oncology Foundation
- 1996
Berlex Oncology Foundation Award: Epidemiology and Clinical Trial DesignBerlex Oncology Foundation
- 1989
Honorific Mention for having obtained the highest final GPA of the Medical School ClassUniversidad Anahuac
Professional memberships
- 2017
MemberAmerican Society of Clinical Oncology
- 2017
MemberAmerican Society of Hematology
- 2017
ChairScientific Subcommittee on Plasma Cell Neoplasms, American Society of Hematology
- 2017
MemberInternational Myeloma Society
- 2017
MemberAssociation of American Physicians and Surgeons
- 2017 - present
Visiting Healthcare FellowGoldwater Institute
- 2016 - 2017
MemberAmerican College of Physicians
- 2016
Program ChairEPIC (Emerging Paradigms in Care) Congress Coverage, TRM Oncology Expert Round Table, Multiple Myeloma
- 2016
Vice ChairScientific Committee on Plasma Cell Neoplasia, Faculty Meeting, American Society of Hematology
- 2016
Vice ChairChairs Meeting, Scientific Committee, American Society of Hematology
- 2016
Vice ChairScientific Subcommittee on Plasma Cell Neoplasms, American Society of Hematology
- 2015
Program ChairEPIC (Emerging Paradigms in Care) Congress Coverage, ASH 2015 Multiple Myeloma Highlights Meeting, American Society of Hematology
- 2015
Advisory Board MemberEndeavor - Proteasome Inhibition Global Advisory Board
- 2014 - 2015
MemberScientific Subcommittee on Plasma Cell Neoplasms, American Society of Hematology
- 2012 - present
ChairDepartment of Internal Medicine
- 2012 - present
MemberExecutive Operations Team, Mayo Clinic Arizona Committees
- 2010 - 2012
MemberMayo Clinic Cancer Center Scientific Advisory Council, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center Committees, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center
- 2010 - present
MemberAmerican Association for Cancer Research
- 2010 - present
MemberMinorities in Cancer Research, American Association for Cancer Research
- 2007 - 2012
Deputy DirectorMayo Clinic Cancer Center
- 2007 - 2012
MemberCancer Center Committee, Executive Operations Team - Arizona, Mayo Clinic Arizona Committees
- 2007 - 2011
Program LeaderHematologic Malignancies
- 2006
ChairThe Role of Molecular Diagnostics for Patient Management in Multiple Myeloma and Leukemia, 11the Congress, European Hematology Association
- 2005
Session ChairMyeloma Biology, Clinical Implications of Genomics, Special Conference, American Association for Cancer Research
- 2004 - 2008
Site DirectorHematological Malignancies, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine
- 2003
Round Table ChairMolecular Genetics of Multiple Myeloma, Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
- 2003 - 2010
ChairGenomics Core, Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium
- 2001 - 2008
Laboratory ChairECOG Myeloma Committee, Mayo Clinic Task Forces/Work Groups
- 2001
Committee MemberInternational Prognostic Index in Myeloma Working Group
- 2000 - 2004
ChairTranslational Research Committee, Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine
- 1999 - 2004
MemberHematology Research Committee, Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine
-
Vice ChairResearch, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine
-
FellowInternational Society of Hematology
-
MemberEastern Cooperative Oncology Group
-
MemberMexican Society of Internal Medicine
-
MemberLeadership Team, Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium
-
MemberTissue Banking Core, Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium
-
MemberNorth Central Cancer Treatment Group
-
Ad Hoc ReviewerDevelopmental Therapeutics Study Section, NCI Study Sections
-
ReviewerNCI SPORE Grant Review, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health