Joseph Rosenthal, MD

Chief Medical Officer

Over 25 years at City of Hope leading pediatric bone marrow transplantation. Author of 100+ publications. A career dedicated to giving children with cancer a second chance.

City of Hope 100+ Publications $5.7M CIRM Grant

Background

A career spent fighting for the youngest patients

Dr. Joseph Rosenthal is one of the most experienced pediatric stem cell transplantation specialists in the United States. He earned his medical degree from the Sackler School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University, completed fellowship training at the University of Colorado and Children's Hospital of Orange County, and later obtained a Master's in Health Care Management from Harvard School of Public Health and a JD from Purdue University.

Beginning his career in Israel at Soroka Medical Center and Rambam Medical Center, Dr. Rosenthal joined City of Hope in 1996 and spent over 25 years transforming its pediatric hematology-oncology and bone marrow transplant programs. He rose to Chair of the Department of Pediatrics, Director of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, and the Barron Hilton Professor and Chair in Pediatrics—one of the institution's most distinguished endowed positions.

At City of Hope, he built a nationally recognized team specializing in transplantation for hematological malignancies, solid tumors, genetic inborn errors of metabolism, and non-malignant marrow failure syndromes. He became an authority on cord blood transplants, haplo-identical donor transplants, and supportive care for transplant patients, and led City of Hope's certification to provide CAR T-cell therapy for pediatric patients.

In 2018, Dr. Rosenthal secured a $5.74 million grant from CIRM to advance a novel curative approach for sickle cell disease using mixed chimerism and T-cell depleted donor grafts. He has authored over 100 scientific publications and serves as a reviewer for Blood and Bone Marrow Transplantation and on the editorial board of the Journal of Transplantation Technologies & Research.

As Chief Medical Officer at StemCyte, Dr. Rosenthal brings decades of hands-on transplant expertise to guide the company's cord blood product quality, clinical trial design, and medical strategy. He serves as Professor Emeritus at City of Hope, where his legacy in pediatric transplantation continues to shape the next generation of clinicians and researchers.

"City of Hope believes this treatment will improve the quality of life for patients while also reducing the risk for graft-versus-host disease and transplant-related complications. Our hope is that this treatment can eventually be offered to sickle cell disease patients as a curative therapy."

Joseph Rosenthal, MD — on CIRM-funded sickle cell research

Defining achievements

25+

Years at City of Hope

Barron Hilton Chair in Pediatrics at one of America's top NCI-designated cancer centers

100+

Scientific Publications

Hematology, oncology, stem cell transplantation, and regenerative medicine

$5.7M

CIRM Grant

Novel curative approach to sickle cell disease

Career

Professional journey

Education

Hebrew University, Tel Aviv University & Harvard

Earned his bachelor's degree from Hebrew University in Jerusalem, medical degree from the Sackler School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University, a master's degree in Health Care Management from Harvard School of Public Health, and a JD from Purdue University.

Israel

Pediatric Oncology Faculty

Began his medical career in Israel, serving on the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology faculties at Soroka Medical Center in Beer Sheba, Sambur Center at Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikva, and Rambam Medical Center in Haifa.

Colorado & CHOC

Fellowship Training

Completed fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver, followed by Pediatric Cancer Research and Bone Marrow Transplantation at Children's Hospital of Orange County.

1996

Joins City of Hope

Joined City of Hope as Assistant Professor and Director of the Pediatric Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Program, beginning what would become over 25 years of transformative leadership at one of America's premier cancer centers.

2002

Interim Chair, Department of Pediatrics

Promoted to Associate Professor and took on the Interim Chair role for the Department of Pediatrics, guiding the department through a critical growth phase.

2011

Chair of Pediatrics & Director, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Named Chair of the Department of Pediatrics and Director of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. Appointed the Barron Hilton Professor and Chair in Pediatrics—an endowed chair reflecting the highest institutional recognition.

2018

$5.7M CIRM Grant for Sickle Cell Research

Awarded a $5.74 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) to advance a novel stem cell transplant approach for sickle cell disease using mixed chimerism and CD4+ T-cell depleted donor cells.

2018

Certified for CAR T-Cell Therapy

Led City of Hope's certification to provide the first FDA-approved CAR T-cell therapy (tisagenlecleucel) for pediatric and young adult patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell ALL.

Today

Chief Medical Officer, StemCyte

Serves as CMO of StemCyte, bringing decades of clinical transplantation expertise to guide the company's cord blood product quality, clinical trial design, and medical strategy. Professor Emeritus at City of Hope.

Research