“I am really looking forward to being part of this exciting new
chapter in cancer care at CalvertHealth,” said renowned breast
surgical oncologist Theodore N. Tsangaris, MD, MBA, FACS,
who joined CalvertHealth as Chief Medical Officer and Program
Director, Cancer Center earlier this month. His addition signals a
strategic focus and investment of resources in the medical center’s
community cancer program.
“I believe we have an opportunity to do something really
special here,” said Dr. Tsangaris, whose 30-year career in
oncology has included leadership roles at some of the nation’s
most prestigious academic institutions.
“I think we can be as good as anybody and still maintain what
makes Calvert so special – and that’s the sense of community.”
Dr. Tsangaris is very clear about what he describes as the
“big idea” for CalvertHealth’s cancer program. “I want the
people of Southern Maryland to feel if they or a member of
their family had cancer there is no other place they need to go
for that care.” He also wants people who live outside the area
to consider coming here, too.
He said he realizes the true value of what he calls the
intangible qualities. “At CalvertHealth, somebody is going to
come up and ask how you’re doing and look at you like you’re
more than a number in a clinical trial. When you’re cared for
here, it feels safe. It feels like home.”
Building on a Solid Foundation
Dr. Tsangaris is quick to emphasize cancer care at
CalvertHealth Medical Center (CHMC) is a team effort.
“There’s a solid foundation here,” he said. “This is a true
multidisciplinary program that compares in a positive way to
what you would find in an academic cancer center.”
Having served as interim medical director of the breast
center after the passing of Dr. Sheldon Goldberg in 2011, he is
very aware of the “genetics” of CalvertHealth. “The hospital
and the people here are committed to outstanding care,” said
Dr. Tsangaris. “They want this place to be the best it can be
and want patients to choose Calvert with confidence.”
Coming to CalvertHealth Medical Center at this point in his
career is a bold move but one he considered carefully before
accepting the challenge. “I believe we have strong potential
here,” said Dr. Tsangaris. “There’s a lot of hard work ahead
but to the best of everyone’s ability there’s also goodwill and
commitment.”
He went on to add, “Having been on both sides of
the fence, I don’t fool myself. We can’t be MD Anderson
or Memorial Sloan Kettering and that’s not the job of a
community cancer program. But I think we can leave a
legacy of a really wonderful cancer program.”
His addition as the Chief Medical Officer as well as a
strategic leader of the medical center’s cancer program
has been lauded and embraced as an essential step in
CalvertHealth bringing the best contemporary oncology care
to a community setting.
“We could have no better partner and
team leader in this effort than Dr. Tsangaris,”
said CalvertHealth Cancer Committee
Chairman
Dr. Kenneth Abbott. “He has
more than 30 years of clinical expertise
in breast surgery and breast cancer care,
garnered through his experiences at such
accomplished academic medical centers as
Johns Hopkins, Yale, George Washington,
Georgetown, and most recently, the Thomas
Jefferson University Breast Care Center.”
Dr. Abbott, who also serves as vice
chief of the medical staff, went on to add,
“He is the author of numerous journal
articles that have moved the science
of cancer steadily forward. Nationally
recognized as a leader in his specialty, he
brings to CalvertHealth a reputation for
top quality, dedication to patients, tireless
work and academic respectability.
“Having him join our program,” said
Dr. Abbott, “is like a sports team signing
the number one draft pick. There is much
excitement ahead and deservedly so.”
Targeting a Pressing Need
There is no doubt that cancer care in
Calvert County is a pressing need. Cancer
was identified as a top health need in the
2014 Community Health Needs Assessment.
And again in 2017. The most recent
assessment revealed almost every cancer
indicator for which there is a measurement
is a concern for Calvert County. (For the full
report, go to:
CalvertHealthMedicine.org)
CalvertHealth does the assessment
every three years to identify the
community’s greatest healthcare needs and
to ensure the medical center’s resources
are being directed toward opportunities
where the most impact can be realized.
“I see CalvertHealth’s role to invest in
services that take care of our community,”
said Terri Wolfley, who chairs the board
of directors. “It has been well documented
that Calvert County has high rates of
breast, prostate, lung and colorectal cancer
incidence and mortality.”
During the past decade, CalvertHealth
and the Foundation have invested millions of
dollars in the fight against cancer in Calvert
– building new facilities like the Sheldon E.
Goldberg Center for Breast Care and acquiring
cutting-edge technology like lower-dose 3D
mammography, which is designed to detect
even the most subtle signs of early cancer.
In 2016, CHMC convened a special task
force, which resulted in the creation of a
dedicated Oncology Service line responsible
for coordinating its cancer care efforts with a
particular emphasis on those cancers that are
seen most often locally.
“An important part of our overall
strategy was forming multidisciplinary teams
representing numerous specialties to focus
on specific tumor sites,” said CalvertHealth
Vice President Kasia Sweeney, who oversees
oncology at CHMC. These multidisciplinary
team planning meetings called “tumor
conferences” are considered to be an integral
part of optimizing patient outcomes.
The decision to pursue someone of
Dr. Tsangaris’ caliber is definitely being
viewed by CalvertHealth’s leadership as the
opportunity to demonstrate its commitment
to take its community cancer program to the
next level.
“This fits with the mandate by
the National Cancer Institute,” said
Dr. Tsangaris, “which is quality
cancer care should really be kept in
the community. People should not
have to drive far to access high quality
cancer care.”
Marshaling Critical Resources
“There’s a lot of energy being generated
by our vision for the cancer program,”
said Dr. Tsangaris, “but it’s going to
take three things for it be successful –
people, philanthropy and partnerships.”
“As Chief Medical Officer, my role
is to attract key people to augment
the great talent that is already
here,” he said. “We need the kind of
physicians, nurses and healthcare
professionals who are going to help us
achieve our mission.”
Equally important in his mind
is philanthropy and partnerships.
“Frankly, I don’t think anybody, even
the big centers, can do what they need
to do without the support from the
community and from philanthropy and
industry. Everybody needs partners to
make it work.”
According to Theresa Johnson,
who oversees the CalvertHealth
Foundation, “We’ve already seen
the dramatic impact our donors can
make in this area. Their generous
contributions have provided many
essential resources needed by our
cancer program.”
For his part, Dr. Tsangaris knows
it will take many hearts, hands and
minds pulling together and working
together to translate Calvert’s big
idea into reality. But he is optimistic.
“It’s not just about one person.
This is a significant, important and
exciting mission. There are so many
opportunities for people to get involved.
I think they will want to be part of it.”
(Above) CalvertHealth Vice President Kasia Sweeney, who oversees oncology at CHMC, works closely with Dr. Theodore Tsangaris, the new oncology program director.