CalvertHealth is excited
to announce the launch of
two cancer initiatives – a
multidisciplinary breast cancer
clinic on its Prince Frederick
campus and the medical
center’s first-ever clinical trial in
cooperation with Duke Cancer
Network – that are bringing
significant patient care benefits
to those being treated locally.
Recently, we talked with board-certified medical oncologist Dr. Arati Patel
of CalvertHealth Hematology & Oncology to learn more about how these
advances are shaping treatment planning and improving patient outcomes.
Dr. Patel has been treating oncology patients in Southern Maryland for
23 years. She currently serves as the medical oncology director for the
Sheldon E. Goldberg Center for Breast Care at CalvertHealth.
According to Dr. Patel, the multidisciplinary breast cancer clinic
improves patient care by providing coordinated, streamlined diagnosis and
treatment planning within a single visit. This approach involves a team
of specialists collaborating to create a unified treatment plan, minimizing
delays and ensuring patients receive comprehensive, informed care.
Breast Clinic Will be Model for Other Cancers
Dr. Patel said, “Normally, a newly diagnosed breast cancer patient would be
meeting these providers in a sequence. But now, we’re getting the opportunity
to see that patient together. So, early on we are ensuring everybody is getting
all the same information. This strategy ensures all the key specialists are
working together to develop a patient-centered plan upfront.”
She went on to add, “Research shows when a patient is cared for with
a multidisciplinary approach, they truly do have better outcomes, better
survival, better quality of life and are more satisfied with their care. We are
able to address the patient’s needs (physical, mental, social and financial)
holistically and we’re able to put all that together as part of their team.”
Dr. Patel said, “Our goal is to use the breast clinic as a model for how
we develop multidisciplinary clinics for other tumor sites including thoracic
(lung), GU (prostate, bladder, kidney) and GI (esophageal, gastric, colon).”
New Clinical Trial Enhances Treatment Planning
According to Dr. Patel, CalvertHealth approved its first patient for a MRT
(molecular tumor registry) trial in cooperation with Duke Cancer Network
(DCN) on May 1. “Our participation in this trial is a real win for us. It allows
us to be on the forefront of treatment planning,” she said.
The clinical trial culminates more than two years of planning and
preparation and represents a pivotal step in CalvertHealth’s collaboration
with Duke Cancer Network, one of the nation’s top-ranked cancer programs.
Dr. Patel described the process involved. “Basically, we obtain molecular
information from our cancer patient and upload it into the DCN database,
which becomes part of a much larger database that is used for clinical
understanding and research. In addition, the patient’s very specific
information is discussed at the Duke Molecular Tumor Board (MTB) and their
recommendations come back to us, so we can adjust treatment, if needed.”
The Duke Molecular Tumor Board is a multidisciplinary team of
about 40 experts that meet weekly to discuss select cases. The goal is to
ensure that each patient receives the most informed, up-to-date treatment
recommendations possible. Locally, CalvertHealth medical oncologist
Dr. Bilal Ahmed serves as principal investigator and leads clinical
research at CalvertHealth Medical Center.
Dr. Patel explained why molecular testing plays such a crucial role in
personalized cancer care. “By identifying genetic changes (mutations) in
cancer cells we are better able to understand its behavior and predict how
it might respond to specific treatment.” This approach, known as precision
medicine, aims to tailor treatment plans to the individual’s unique cancer
characteristics, potentially improving outcomes and minimizing side effects.
New trials and targeted therapies are continually being approved
for use in patients with specific genetic alterations. But the volume and
complexity of molecular profiling data make it difficult for oncology care
teams to keep up with those clinical advances in real time. Duke’s Molecular
Registry of Tumors (MRT) and Molecular Tumor Board (MTB) were
developed to address this ongoing challenge.
She said medical oncologists at CalvertHealth order molecular
testing for their patients according to national guidelines. Those patients
who have undergone molecular testing are eligible to enroll in the MRT
trial. According to Lisa Hartwell, RN, clinical research coordinator at
CalvertHealth, as of Sept. 5, 14 patients had enrolled in the MRT trial and all
of them have been discussed at the Duke molecular tumor board.
McAuliffe to
Lead Oncology
Services at
CalvertHealth
CalvertHealth Medical
Center (CHMC) has
named seasoned nurse executive Joanne
McAuliffe, DNP, RN, OCN, NEA-BC to
oversee its oncology services. She
brings 30 years’ leadership experience in
academic medical center and communitybased
oncology programs to her new role.
McAuliffe said, “This has well-equipped me
to support the oncology team at CalvertHealth
in implementing the strategy to meet the current
and future needs of the community, including
prevention, risk awareness, routine screening and
surveillance.”
She began her career as a clinical oncology
nurse in 1989 at Johns Hopkins and went on to
obtain her master’s degree in 2008 and doctor of
nursing practice in 2014, both at Johns Hopkins
University. She is an oncology certified nurse and
obtained advanced certification as a nurse executive.
“I was immediately drawn to the oncology team based
model of care – where each member plays a
vital role in providing patient- and family-centered
care,” said McAuliffe.
McAuliffe said she was impressed with
CalvertHealth’s strong reputation for delivering
high-quality care and several specialty programs,
including oncology. “The affiliation with the Duke
Cancer Network is a testament to CalvertHealth’s
commitment to growing and sustaining a cancer
program that aspires to provide cutting-edge
treatments and make significant contributions to
cancer research.”
She went on to add, “I am excited to join the
outstanding multidisciplinary team who have
invested their careers to advance cancer care and
the cancer programs at CalvertHealth.”
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