UVA Cancer Center

UVA Cancer Center is hosting several events throughout November, Lung Cancer Awareness Month, to promote screening awareness, and the impact of early detection. Events will include an information day at Blue Ridge Medical Center on November 21 and UVA’s main hospital on November 22, providing opportunities for community members to learn more about lung cancer screening options and navigation services. A nurse navigator plays a critical role in lung cancer awareness by?actively identifying and addressing barriers that patients face in accessing timely diagnosis and treatment, providing education and support throughout the care continuum, which ultimately helps to improve early detection rates and treatment adherence, leading to better outcomes for lung cancer patients. “Our nurse navigators are just one example of how our team comes together to bring the latest advances in cancer care to our patients,” Dr. Richard Hall, a UVA Health lung cancer specialist, said. “Our thoracic oncology team is on the cutting edge of cancer treatments, and our experienced team has the expertise required to be among the first in the nation to offer groundbreaking new therapies like tarlatamab to our patients.” Visit our website to learn more about how to get a Lung Cancer Screening. https://lnkd.in/eFdBVS_u

UVACCC staff had a spooky, scary, silly time Oct. 31 at this year’s Staff Retreat! With leadership remarks, impromptu networking, Cancer Center trivia and a Halloween costume contest, staff members came together to learn, lunch, build community and have some fun! Costume contest winners: ?? 1st Place: Clinical Research Coordinator, Alexandra Cash as Freddie Mercury from the “I Want to Break Free” music video ?? 2nd Place: Strategic Communications Manager, Joe Straw as Gomez Addams from “The Addams Family” ?? 3rd Place: Clinical Research Coordinator, Emily Leytham as Spock from “Star Trek: The Original Series” ? Thank you to UVACCC’s events team who made the retreat possible!

This year, we were thrilled to welcome Professor of Chemistry Jetze Tepe, PhD, back to UVA and to the Cancer Center’s research faculty. Since earning his PhD at UVA in the late 1990s, Dr. Tepe has emerged as a leader in academic drug discovery, creating never-before-made molecules that target previously “undruggable” proteins. His work offers potential new treatments for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Passionate about teaching and his lab work, Dr. Tepe also shares his expertise with colleagues across disciplines as the Cancer Center’s Director of Drug Discovery. Outside of work, Dr. Tepe likes running, sailing, and most of all, spending time with his family. Click here to read more about Dr. Tepe: https://lnkd.in/eV3Ubera #CancerResearch #Nanochemistry

This Lung Cancer Awareness Month, we’re excited to spotlight Jessica Roark, a dedicated member of our Community Outreach and Engagement Team who joined us earlier this year! Jessica has been hard at work strengthening partnerships across southwest Virginia, addressing barriers tied to social determinants of health, and supporting tobacco cessation and prevention efforts in rural communities. Jessica’s expertise has been invaluable, particularly in connecting community members and organizations with the BREAKFREEE Tobacco Cessation resource, which assists those interested in reducing or quitting tobacco use. She’s also playing a vital role in expanding access to lung cancer screenings across rural Appalachia. We’re incredibly grateful to have Jessica on our team and can’t wait to see all the great work she’ll continue to do. Thank you, Jessica, for your dedication and impact! To learn more about the programs our COE team supports, visit https://lnkd.in/eepCTqvu

Join Lifetime Learning and UVA healthcare experts for an in-depth look at the latest advancements in lung cancer care, from early detection to groundbreaking treatments available at UVA Cancer Center. Nurse practitioner Aimee Strong, DNP, AG-ACNP and thoracic surgeon Dr. Linda Martin will explore the importance of early detection, updated screening guidelines, and a range of treatment options, including surgical techniques and post-surgical care. Additionally, physicians and researchers Dr. Ryan G. and Dr. Richard Hall will share insights on the latest innovations in lung cancer treatments, highlighting exciting advances in immunotherapy and their ongoing work with clinical trials. https://lnkd.in/euzDYtcd

The fourth-annual Michael J. Weber Symposium honored the life and accomplishments of the late Cancer Center Director on Oct. 11, with world-renowned speakers exploring the theme of "RNA and Cancer." Nobel Laureate Phillip A. Sharp, PhD, Institute Professor and Professor of Biology Emeritus with the MIT Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, spoke about fundamental discoveries advancing cancer research and therapy. Other speakers included Steve Cole, PhD, Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UCLA, Natasha J. Caplen, PhD, Investigator with the Genetics Branch of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Center for Cancer Research, Vinod Balachandran, MD, Associate Attending Hepatopancreatobiliary, Surgeon of Complex Surgical Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Yi Xing, PhD, Francis West Lewis Chair and Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Speakers discussed diverse subjects like neural regulation of the cancer genome, hnRNPs and RNA biosynthesis in fusion-driven cancer, strategies to study cancer transcriptomes and research findings on personalized RNA vaccines for pancreatic cancer. Finally, host Roger Abounader, MD, PhD, Professor of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology and UVACCC's Associate Director for Basic Science, concluded the symposium by remarking on Dr. Weber's legacy and the importance of cooperation in research science. With over five hundred registrants, phenomenal talks and discussions and overwhelmingly enthusiastic feedback from participants, the symposium was a resounding success that would have made Dr. Weber very proud! #UVA #MIT #MemorialSloanKettering #NationalCancerInstitute #UCLA #UPenn

Lee Johnson, PhD, RN, is dedicated to helping lung cancer patients receive whole-person-focused palliative and end-of-life care. After growing up in rural Arkansas and losing her mother, a non-smoker, to lung cancer, Dr. Johnson pursued her PhD in nursing science, aiming to fight the stigmas associated with a lung cancer diagnosis and to help patients obtain essential, symptom-relieving care. Dr. Johnson says that “UVA was a natural fit,” when it came to combining her career passions of improving health equity and lung cancer outcomes for patients in rural areas. “So many amazing advancements have been made in lung cancer care, but in rural America,” she notes, “these advancements are still not seen.” Her advice for all of us? “Meet the person where they are.” An advanced lung cancer diagnosis carries a burden of strong symptoms. The weight of stigmas surrounding their diagnosis should not be another burden to bear. “No one ‘deserves’ the type of pain that comes with lung cancer,” Dr. Johnson says, and combating shame by providing support for patients’ mental and social well-being is essential. Dr. Johnson has spent the last few years combining big data into her people-focused research. She likes that when she reads lines of data, she can also read that individual’s journey. Most recently, she has been researching how comorbid conditions combine to create clusters of low, moderate and severe risk, and how these influence survival and treatment outcomes. Outside of her work, Dr. Johnson works to save old houses! Amidst one recent endeavor, to restore a house she named “The 1890 Doomhouse,” during demolition she discovered it was a log cabin! To learn more about Dr. Johnson, click here: https://lnkd.in/gFNjpghU #UVA #LungCancerAwarenessMonth #CancerResearch

Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, but awareness and education can make a difference. By understanding the risk factors, such as smoking and exposure to pollutants, we empower ourselves and others to make healthier choices. Early detection through screening can significantly improve outcomes, so it’s crucial to advocate for regular check-ups and pay attention to any unusual symptoms. Let’s come together to support those affected, promote research, and share vital information. Together, we can create a world where fewer lives are lost to lung cancer. Visit our website to learn more: https://lnkd.in/eXHFhQuV

We're excited to share this wonderful news from UVA Department of Public Health Sciences! Congratulations to Jamie Zoellner, PhD, RD, Professor in Public Health Sciences, for being honored this month by the Committee on Women in Medicine and Science as the October Woman of the Month. Congrats Dr. Zoellner! See this link for a spotlight on Dr. Zoellner: https://buff.ly/3YxGqQd

For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, our Emily Couric Registration Team wore PINK to honor those affected by Breast Cancer. Our patient access representatives are integral in all clinical settings because they are usually the first point of contact for patients and families. They are charged with providing a warm welcome for new patients, registering incoming patients, and walking them through next steps for their appointment. These representatives are the ones who help patients get clear guidance on how to progress through their appointment, what their next steps are, and how they can continue to get the help they need moving forward. Join this team in wearing PINK on 10/30, the last Wednesday of October. Pictured: Angel Thomas, CHAA | Patient Access Coordinator James C. Payne | Patient Access Specialist William Schoen | Patient Access Specialist Keysiah Brandon | Patient Access Specialist Jaylyn Parks | Patient Access Specialist Arian Scott, CHAA | Access Associate