Rafael Fonseca, M.D.

  1. Hematologist

Departments

  1. Bone Marrow Transplant Program
  2. Hematology
  3. مركز السرطان
  4. Transplant Center

Location

  1. Phoenix, Arizona

Languages

EnglishSpanish

Rafael Fonseca, M.D., is a hematologists who specializes in the care and research of multiple myeloma and related conditions. 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 has served in many leadership capacities at Mayo Clinic including Director for the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center (Interim, Enterprise) and Associate Director for the Center of Individualized Medicine (Arizona) and Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine (Arizona). Most notably, he is a Mayo Clinic Distinguished Investigator, the highest academic distinction given to investigators at the institution.

Dr. Fonseca's practice focuses on diagnosing and treating plasma cell disorders. He participates and leads clinical trials that have led to the approval of various drugs for the treatment of myeloma. His efforts include translational research, clinical research and clinical care. Dr. Fonseca led a team of researchers that characterized the clinical implications of genetic markers in myeloma. He also has expertise in myeloma bone disease, prognostic markers, pharmacoeconomics and new drug development. His laboratory is also focused on development of new drugs and understanding their mechanisms of action. 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 300), book chapters, editorials, abstracts and letters. He has an H index 114, with 48418 citations (Google Scholar accessed 9/2020).

Throughout his training and career, Dr. Fonseca has received numerous awards and honors, including the Damon Runyon-Walter Winchell Clinical Investigator Award and the International Waldenström Macroglobulinemia Research Award.

  1. Amyloidosis
  2. Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance
  3. Multiple myeloma
  4. Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia
  1. Bone marrow transplant
  • Multiple myeloma and related disorders
  • Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
  • Amyloidosis
  • Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia
  • Genetics of B cell tumors
  • New drug development
  • Myeloma bone disease
  • Pharmacoeconomics
  • Health care policy
Phx

Phoenix, Arizona
  1. 1998
    Fellow - Clinical Hematology and Medical OncologyMayo Graduate School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
  2. 1994
    Resident - Internal MedicineUniversity of Miami
  3. 1991
    MD - Medical School EducationUniversidad Anahuac

Awards and honors

  1. 2012
    Academic Excellence Award in the Faculty of Health SciencesMexico Norte, Vince in Bono Malum, Universidad Anahuac
  2. 2010
    Distinguished Mayo Clinic InvestigatorMayo Clinic
  3. 2009
    Getz Family Professor of Cancer, Named Professorship AwardMayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Department of Education Administration
  4. 2002
    Young Investigator Award in HematologyCelgene, Achievement Awards for Clinical Research in Hematology
  5. 2002
    New Investigator Award, Department of Internal MedicineAwarding Organization
  6. 2001
    Young Investigator AwardECOG Aventis
  7. 2001
    Young Investigator AwardEastern Cooperative Oncology Group
  8. 1998
    Outstanding Achievement Award as Clinical Fellow in HematologyMayo Clinic
  9. 1997
    Berlex Oncology Foundation Award: Pharmacology of Anticancer DrugsBerlex Oncology Foundation
  10. 1997
    Berlex Oncology Foundation Award: Genetics in OncologyBerlex Oncology Foundation
  11. 1996
    Berlex Oncology Foundation Award: Epidemiology and Clinical Trial DesignBerlex Oncology Foundation
  12. 1989
    Honorific Mention for having obtained the highest final GPA of the Medical School ClassUniversidad Anahuac

Professional memberships

  1. 2017
    MemberAmerican Society of Clinical Oncology
  2. 2017
    MemberAmerican Society of Hematology
  3. 2017
    ChairScientific Subcommittee on Plasma Cell Neoplasms, American Society of Hematology
  4. 2017
    MemberInternational Myeloma Society
  5. 2017
    MemberAssociation of American Physicians and Surgeons
  6. 2017 - present
    Visiting Healthcare FellowGoldwater Institute
  7. 2016 - 2017
    MemberAmerican College of Physicians
  8. 2016
    Program ChairEPIC (Emerging Paradigms in Care) Congress Coverage, TRM Oncology Expert Round Table, Multiple Myeloma
  9. 2016
    Vice ChairScientific Committee on Plasma Cell Neoplasia, Faculty Meeting, American Society of Hematology
  10. 2016
    Vice ChairChairs Meeting, Scientific Committee, American Society of Hematology
  11. 2016
    Vice ChairScientific Subcommittee on Plasma Cell Neoplasms, American Society of Hematology
  12. 2015
    Program ChairEPIC (Emerging Paradigms in Care) Congress Coverage, ASH 2015 Multiple Myeloma Highlights Meeting, American Society of Hematology
  13. 2015
    Advisory Board MemberEndeavor - Proteasome Inhibition Global Advisory Board
  14. 2014 - 2015
    MemberScientific Subcommittee on Plasma Cell Neoplasms, American Society of Hematology
  15. 2012 - present
    ChairDepartment of Internal Medicine
  16. 2012 - present
    MemberExecutive Operations Team, Mayo Clinic Arizona Committees
  17. 2010 - 2012
    MemberMayo Clinic Cancer Center Scientific Advisory Council, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center Committees, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center
  18. 2010 - present
    MemberAmerican Association for Cancer Research
  19. 2010 - present
    MemberMinorities in Cancer Research, American Association for Cancer Research
  20. 2007 - 2012
    Deputy DirectorMayo Clinic Cancer Center
  21. 2007 - 2012
    MemberCancer Center Committee, Executive Operations Team - Arizona, Mayo Clinic Arizona Committees
  22. 2007 - 2011
    Program LeaderHematologic Malignancies
  23. 2006
    ChairThe Role of Molecular Diagnostics for Patient Management in Multiple Myeloma and Leukemia, 11the Congress, European Hematology Association
  24. 2005
    Session ChairMyeloma Biology, Clinical Implications of Genomics, Special Conference, American Association for Cancer Research
  25. 2004 - 2008
    Site DirectorHematological Malignancies, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine
  26. 2003
    Round Table ChairMolecular Genetics of Multiple Myeloma, Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
  27. 2003 - 2010
    ChairGenomics Core, Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium
  28. 2001 - 2008
    Laboratory ChairECOG Myeloma Committee, Mayo Clinic Task Forces/Work Groups
  29. 2001
    Committee MemberInternational Prognostic Index in Myeloma Working Group
  30. 2000 - 2004
    ChairTranslational Research Committee, Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine
  31. 1999 - 2004
    MemberHematology Research Committee, Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine
  32.  
    Vice ChairResearch, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine
  33.  
    FellowInternational Society of Hematology
  34.  
    MemberEastern Cooperative Oncology Group
  35.  
    MemberMexican Society of Internal Medicine
  36.  
    MemberLeadership Team, Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium
  37.  
    MemberTissue Banking Core, Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium
  38.  
    MemberNorth Central Cancer Treatment Group
  39.  
    Ad Hoc ReviewerDevelopmental Therapeutics Study Section, NCI Study Sections
  40.  
    ReviewerNCI SPORE Grant Review, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health