Rita Susan Axelrod

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Dr. Rita Susan Axelrod, who passed away on March 20, 2026. A mother of four and grandmother of six wonderful grandchildren, she was brilliant, kind, caring and cultured. She was a devoted physician, esteemed colleague, and cherished member of the Department of Medical Oncology at Thomas Jefferson University.

Her path into medicine was marked by exceptional dedication from the outset. She earned her MD from New York University in 1970, followed by residency training in Internal Medicine at Roosevelt Hospital in New York and at the Medical College of Georgia, where she also completed a residency in Hematology. She went on to pursue fellowship training in Medical Oncology and Hematology at the University of Pennsylvania, completing her clinical preparation at Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, in 1976 — a training pedigree that reflected both the breadth and depth of her commitment to the field.

Having practiced in the Philadelphia area for 20 years, including at Temple University Hospital in North Philadelphia, she rejoined Thomas Jefferson in 1997 — and the department she rejoined would never be the same. She quickly became central to the growth and success of its oncology training programs, serving as Co-director of the Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Program from 1998 to 2003 and as Director of the Medical Oncology Fellowship Program, roles that positioned her as one of the defining architects of a fellowship program that today stands among its great institutional strengths.

Clinically, Dr. Axelrod devoted her practice to the care of patients with head and neck and lung cancers, two of the most demanding and complex disease areas in our specialty. She met the challenges of these diagnoses with characteristic rigor and compassion. Her patients trusted her completely, and that trust was never misplaced. What distinguished Rita was not only her mastery of oncology but her remarkable command of medicine broadly — a quality that made her one of the most sought-after consultants in the department and a trusted voice on the most complex and difficult cases. It is no surprise that she was repeatedly recognized by Philadelphia Magazine as one of the top Medical Oncologists in Philadelphia.

Dr. Axelrod's scholarly contributions were equally distinguished. An active member of the ECOG/ACRIN clinical trials networks for three decades, she served as leader of the Rare Tumor Task Force for the National Cancer Institute — a role that placed her at the forefront of national efforts to advance care for underserved patient populations. Over the course of her career, she authored or co-authored more than 40 peer-reviewed publications and over 90 abstracts, with work appearing in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the New England Journal of Medicine, the International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, and other leading journals. She served on numerous professional, academic, and scientific committees, held editorial positions, and was an invited lecturer at dozens of national and international meetings, symposia, and conferences.

Professionally, perhaps her most lasting legacy is the one she leaves in the hearts and careers of those she mentored. Students, fellows, and junior faculty alike sought her counsel — not only for her clinical acumen, but for the wisdom, encouragement, and quiet confidence she offered so generously. In 2017, she received the Dean's Award in Education, a recognition that acknowledged what those of us fortunate enough to work alongside her had long known: that Rita Axelrod was a role model of the highest order, embodying the best of what it means to be a physician and an educator. Recently, she earned the recognition as professor emerita at Thomas Jefferson.

To those who knew her well, Rita was far more than a distinguished clinician and scholar. She was an avid reader and a patron of the arts regularly attending Philadelphia theater, opera, jazz, and ballet performances. She was an intrepid traveler, including Tibet, Africa and China. She also looked forward to her regular trips to New York City, New Orleans and Niagra-on-the-Lake.

She loved Philadelphia and all that it offered having moved to West Philadelphia in 1973. Although she was a native New Yorker at heart, Philadelphia was her home where she raised three children; her fourth child died tragically at an early age from congenital heart defects. She was a proud hockey mom – her two eldest sons Andrew (now an accomplished neurologist) and Scott (now an accomplished corporate lawyer) both played on the Haverford Hawks ice hockey travel teams at the Skatium and graduated from Central High School of Philadelphia. Outside of the medical community, she was actively involved in Adults with Developmental Disabilities and dedicated her life to taking care of her autistic son, Justin.

Her passing leaves a void in all who had the pleasure of knowing her.

Rita is survived by her sons, Andrew Mark Naidech, Scott William (Amanda) Naidech and Justin Peter Naidech; her grandchildren Anna Grace, Benjamin Isidore, Aden Michael, Madeleine Esther, Harlie Elle and Ava Reese Naidech; and her brothers Robert (Edna) Axelrod and Eliot (Mary) Axelrod.

Relatives and friends are invited to Funeral Services Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 10 am precisely at GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S FUNERAL DIRECTORS, 6410 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19126. Interment Laurel Hill West Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, PA. Contributions in her memory may be made to Association for Adults with Developmental Disabilities, www.aaddpa.org.