SOORP KHATCH PARISHIONER PIONEERS BREAKTHROUGH CANCER TREATMENT

Dr. Saro Sarkissian, a devoted parishioner of Soorp Khatch Church in Bethesda, Md., has become the first physician in the United States certified to practice Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. This FDA-approved therapy represents the first major advancement in this stage of pancreatic cancer in more than 30 years. Dr. Sarkissian’s leadership in pioneering this treatment offers renewed hope to patients facing one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat cancers. The treatment has helped extend patients’ lives without adding systemic side effects, preserving quality of life while advancing cancer care.  

After earning his medical degree from the University of Aleppo, Syria, Dr. Sarkissian continued his postgraduate medical training in the United States at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) in Pittsburgh, Pa., completing his Internal Medicine Residency. Dr. Sarkisian then pursued advanced subspecialty training through a Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellowship at Lehigh Valley Cancer Institute in Allentown, Pa. During the fellowship, he gained comprehensive experience in diagnosing and treating blood disorders and solid tumors, emphasizing evidence-based medicine and multidisciplinary collaboration.  

He has also earned a Master of Health Administration (MHA) from Capella University in Minneapolis, Minn., and completed specialized studies in Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass., positioning him at the forefront of integrating technology into clinical oncology practice. 

The Eastern Prelacy joins Soorp Khatch Church in recognizing and celebrating Dr. Sarkissian for his extraordinary accomplishments and historic contributions to the field of oncology. A billboard with his picture has been placed on Route 15 South, Frederick, Maryland։