Elke K. Friedman, MD

Patient Care Philosophy:
In life, there are many things we can and cannot control. For those that we can, I strive to do the absolute best, including the care of my patients.

Known for her kindness and her caring bedside manner, Dr. Friedman brings a strong commitment to education to her work here at VCI. She enjoys hosting students on her hospital rounds, taking the opportunity to instill a passion for knowledge in young minds aspiring to careers in healthcare.

Dr. Friedman began her education with an undergraduate degree in biology and psychology from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point before obtaining her MD from the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. She came to Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center in Richmond, VA—not far from her hometown of Washington, DC—to complete a residency in internal medicine (1996–1999), to serve as chief resident (1999–2000) in internal medicine and to hold a fellowship in hematology/oncology (2000–2003). She joined our team at VCI in 2006 and serves on the board of trustees at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital.

Sure to practice what she preaches, Dr. Friedman is constantly learning. She holds membership in a number of professional societies in both the United States and Europe to keep herself abreast of the latest developments in cancer growth and treatment. Her particular interests include breast, lung and hematologic malignancies. She has served as principal investigator on several lung cancer trials and participated in multiple other trials of various tumor types. She regularly participates in multidisciplinary clinics and conferences where complex cases are discussed and treatment recommendations are made.

In her spare time, Dr. Friedman likes to stay active outdoors with her husband and two sons, hiking, camping and biking. She is an avid runner and greatly enjoys reading, especially when it’s a good mystery novel. She occasionally travels to Germany to visit her parents, who reside in Cologne.

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