Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA) will convene a virtual gathering of nationally and regionally renowned oncology experts on Saturday, November 6, to share strategies for advancing cancer research, delivering the latest breast cancer and genitourinary cancer therapies in the community setting, and enhancing collaboration between oncologists and their patients’ other physicians.
“As one of the nation’s largest and leading networks of cancer specialists, with 80+ oncology physicians and advanced practice providers treating more than 225,000 patients each year, RCCA is committed to ensuring that our patients – and all patients – have access to the latest therapies and clinical trials in the community, where more than 80% of cancer care is delivered,” said Iuliana Shapira, MD, RCCA’s chief medical officer.
“The day-long meeting will be our ninth annual clinical retreat, and the second in a row that we have hosted virtually. Just as the physicians at our more than 20 care centers throughout New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, and the Washington, DC area continued to see patients throughout the COVID-19 pandemic without any interruption in care, we are continuing our tradition of sharing information, insights, and expertise with best practices to speed the adoption of evidence-based treatment strategies and best practices,” said Terrill Jordan, president and chief executive officer of RCCA.
After Dr. Shapira and Mr. Jordan welcome meeting participants, the session’s keynote address will be delivered by Andre Goy, MD, MS, chairman and executive director of the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center. An internationally renowned clinician and researcher of all types of lymphoma, including Hodgkin’s disease, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and HIV-associated lymphoma, Dr. Goy also serves as chief of the John Theurer Cancer Center’s Division of Lymphoma and as RCCA’s chief science officer and director of research and innovation. In his address, Dr. Goy will discuss RCCA’s research program, and the progress being made across the cancer landscape.
Next, Krupa Pandey, MD, a neurologist who serves as director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, will outline how oncologists can interact effectively with referring physicians. Following Dr. Pandey’s remarks, Dr. Shapira will moderate a panel discussion on communication and collaboration between oncologists and the other physicians providing care to a person with cancer. Panelists will include RCCA oncologists James McCloskey, MD; Noa Biran, MD; Jamie Koprivnikar, MD; and RCCA director of clinical research, Mercedes Martillo-Zapata, CCRC, CCRP.
Progress in treating breast cancer, genitourinary cancers
Advances in breast cancer treatment will be the focus of the next presentation, given by Christopher Michael Gallagher, MD, director of cancer services at the Washington Cancer Institute, Washington Hospital Center. Oncologist Nandini Ignatius, MD, who practices at RCCA’s Freehold, Holmdel, and Old Bridge, NJ care centers, will moderate a follow-on discussion with Dr. Gallagher and her RCCA colleagues Ian Horkheimer, MD, and Ms. Martillo-Zapata.
Ulka Vaishampayan, MD, professor of medicine at the University of Michigan and a nationally-renowned expert in the treatment of prostate cancer, will give an afternoon presentation on the latest approaches to managing genitourinary cancers. Following her remarks, RCCA oncologist Julianne Childs, DO, who practices at RCCA’s Cape May CourtHouse and Marmora, NJ care centers, will moderate a panel discussion with Dr. Vaishampayan and RCCA’s Joel Silver, MD; Frederick Smith, MD; and Ms. Martillo-Zapata.
Dr. Shapira and Mr. Jordan then will provide closing remarks before adjourning the meeting.
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The 80 oncology physicians and nurse clinicians practicing at more than 20 RCCA care centers throughout New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, and the Washington, D.C. area, provide patients with comprehensive, cutting-edge, and compassionate care in convenient community settings. The care they provide includes immunotherapy, targeted treatment, cell-based therapy and other evidence-based treatments and diagnostic modalities, as well as access to clinical trials. Those oncology and hematology specialists see roughly 23,000 new cancer patients and 225,000 established patients each year. RCCA care centers also provide infusion services for patients with non-oncology conditions — such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and others — who are being treated with intravenously-administered medications. To learn more about RCCA or to schedule an appointment, call 844-928-0089 or visit www.RCCA.com.