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Cancer Care
Clinical Services List
Twenty-five years ago Cayuga Medical Center made the
commitment to build a comprehensive cancer-care program because cancer is
common in this region. We didn’t want area residents to feel they had to choose
between convenience and quality. Today cancer patients and their families have access
to a full range of state-of-the-art services right here, in their own
community. Our cancer specialists treat cancers of the breast, lung, digestive
tract, colon and rectum, skin, prostate, genitals and urinary tract, pancreas,
head and neck, bone, muscle, brain, and lymph nodes. To learn more about the scope of cancer care program,
click on the links below. Healing Partnerships and the Community
Network Community Outreach and Education Each battle against cancer is fought on many fronts,
both medical and spiritual. At Cayuga Medical Center, we meet the needs of
cancer patients and their families with an interdisciplinary team of
professionals who deliver services from diagnosis through treatment, to
discharge and follow-up at home. Our treatment facilities and technology
provide the optimal environment for cancer patients and their treatment team to
work together toward the common goal of healing. The Cayuga Medical Center Cancer Program has
maintained continuous approval status from the American College of Surgeons
(ACS) Commission on Cancer since 1985. Our program has been awarded
Accreditation with Commendation as a Comprehensive Community Hospital Cancer
Program. Additional credentials include: ● premier affiliation with Roswell
Park Cancer Institute (RPCI), one of the country’s finest cancer research and
treatment centers, designated by the National Cancer Institute as a
Comprehensive Cancer Center. ● state-of-the-art radiation
therapy facility that opened in 2005, developed in collaboration with RPCI.
It houses a Varian 21 EX Linear Accelerator, one of the most precise and
sophisticated radiation technologies in the world. ● medical oncologists and radiation oncologists
with dual appointments at Cayuga Medical Center and RPCI. Click
here to read doctors’ bios. ● patient chart reviews every week with RPCI
via high-speed digital technology The Commission on Cancer is a consortium of
professional organizations dedicated to improving survival and quality of life
for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education,
and the monitoring of comprehensive quality care. For more information on the
Commission on Cancer, go to their Web site at American College of Surgeons
Commission on Cancer. Cayuga Medical Center’s cancer-care program has received
certification with commendation from the American College of Surgeons
Commission on Cancer as a Comprehensive Community Hospital Cancer Program. This
is important to local cancer patients because it recognizes a level of care
that exceeds established baseline standards of care and places Cayuga Medical
Center among benchmark hospitals. Our certified cancer care program comprises: ● State-of-the-art technology, modern
facilities, and experienced medical specialists to diagnose and treat cancer, using
the latest, most effective therapies ● A multidisciplinary, team
approach to coordinate the best treatment options for your specific cancer ● Access to cancer-related information and
education ● Psychosocial support and
palliative care services to manage symptoms ● A cancer registry for the
collection of data on types and stages of cancer and treatment results, with
patient follow-up ● Ongoing monitoring and
improvement of cancer care ● Information about new
treatment options and clinical trials ● Education and support for cancer survivors ● Community cancer screening,
prevention education, and technology for early detection.
The Tumor Board meets weekly and current
cases are presented with multidisciplinary discussion involving the cancer
teams at Cayuga Medical Center and Roswell Park Cancer Institute. This ongoing
patient-oriented conference provides the best possible medical consultation for
patient care, an educational opportunity for caregivers, and follow-up on
previously presented cases. The Cancer Registry is a highly confidential
national system required by New York State for monitoring all cancer patients
diagnosed or treated at Cayuga Medical Center. With the registry data bank, our
cancer care specialists can follow patients and analyze the long-term results
of treatment. Diagnosis and Detection encompasses the full range of radiologic and imaging
technology. These modalities enable physicians to detect disease early, when it
is most responsive to treatment. ● magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI, both standard and open scanners) ● computerized axial
tomography (CAT Scan) ● digital mammography ● positron emission
tomography (PET scan) and nuclear medicine ● digital ultrasound ● SPECT/CT (hybrid nuclear
medicine/CT scan) ● sentinel node biopsy for
breast cancer and malignant melanoma ● stereotactic and MR-guided
biopsy, and X-ray Click
here to read doctors’ bios. Our comprehensive Laboratory
services provide the spectrum of diagnostic testing, using advanced techniques,
special staining, and more complex evaluations. Mayo Medical Laboratories
serves as our official reference laboratory, providing specialized genetic
testing for certain familial cancers. The Cayuga Medical Center
Laboratories are under the direction of a nationally recognized specialist in
cytopathology, which is the study and diagnosis of disease at the cellular
level and plays an essential role in identifying and staging of cancer. Click here to read doctor’s bio. Surgery for cancer diagnosis and
treatment is performed by surgeons who are trained in the diagnosis and removal
of tumors. A number of our surgeons specialize in certain types of cancer
surgery, such as head and neck surgery, thoracic (chest) surgery, colorectal
surgery, and tissue-preserving breast cancer surgery. Click
here to read doctors’ bios. Experienced cancer nurses at Cayuga Medical Center and
Ithaca Medical Group, many of whom are certified in oncology, offer
compassionate, skilled nursing care, education, and support for cancer patients
who undergo inpatient surgery and outpatient care. Reconstructive and plastic surgery is a specialty that seeks to
improve physical function and to minimize disfigurement or scarring resulting
from cancer or surgery for cancer. For example, breast reconstruction following
a mastectomy can restore the form and appearance of a breast following total or
partial removal. Our plastic and reconstructive surgeons are board certified
and have in-depth experience working with cancer patients. Click here to read doctors’ bios. MEDICAL
ONCOLOGY
provides the newest treatment protocols in chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and
hormone therapy for cancer patients. Our medical oncologists are board
certified in oncology and internal medicine. They collaborate with colleagues
at several national cancer research institutes and participate in clinical
trials. Chemotherapy is available in the Outpatient Oncology Department at the
medical center and at Ithaca Medical Group. Both sites are staffed by
experienced oncology nurses. Click here to read doctors’ bios. RADIATION
THERAPY is
available through Cayuga Medical Center Radiation Therapy, which is located in
a state-of-the-art facility adjacent to the medical center. Leading-edge
technology (such as respiratory gating for patients with lung and breast
cancer), clinical trials, RTOG, and our affiliation with Roswell Park Cancer
Institute ensure that radiation therapy patients have access to the latest
radiation therapy protocols. Click here to read doctor’s bio. SUPPORT
SERVICES
address the special needs of cancer patients and their families, including
coordination of follow-up care by oncology nurses and medical social workers,
nutrition counseling, discharge planning, inpatient and outpatient
rehabilitation following surgery, cancer support groups, enterostomal therapy,
home health care, and the scope of patient education. THE ITHACA
CENTER FOR PAIN MANAGEMENT AND OUR PALLIATIVE CARE TEAM use a wide variety of
approaches to help cancer patients manage their pain and other symptoms, so
that they can remain comfortable. Click here for more information on the Ithaca Center for Pain Management and Palliative Care. We understand women at Cayuga Medical Center. We know
that mammograms make women anxious and that waiting for exam results is
stressful. We know that safety, comfort, and leading-edge technology are
patient-care essentials. And we know that women want individualized, personal
care. Our Breast Health Care program at Cayuga Medical
Center provides this and more. Cutting-edge ●
State-of-the-art technology, including four new GE Essential Digital Mammography
units. The radiation dose from the GE Essential unit is 20-30 percent lower
than any other system in the region. ●
Mammography and Imaging Services in three locations: Cayuga Medical Center,
Convenient Care at Ithaca, and Commons Imaging at Convenient Care in Cortland. ●
Immediate mammography exam results before each woman leaves the department. ●
When additional views or testing is required, such as ultrasound, these exams
are performed during the same appointment. Compassionate ●
A staff of expert, empathetic professionals who specialize in breast care and
who are genuinely concerned about the experience of each and every one of their
patients. ●
Only radiologic technologists who are women and who are certified in
mammography and ultrasound perform exams. ●
Immediate access to the radiologist who reviewed the exam when patients have
questions or concerns. ●
Separate and discreet Mammography suites at all three Imaging Services sites,
for privacy and comfort. Comprehensive ●
The full scope of services, including screening for prevention and early
detection of disease, prompt and accurate diagnosis of breast disease, access
to the very latest treatment protocols, educational programs, and emotional
support. ●
Accreditation by the American College of Radiology of all Mammography and
Breast Care facilities. ●
Board certified radiologists and mammography and ultrasound technologists. ●
A Cancer Care Program that is certified by the American College of Surgeons
Commission on Cancer ●
An active network of community services Our Patients
Tell Us At Cayuga Medical Center, we ask every patient to tell
us about her experience as our patient. Here’s what our Breast Health Care
patients have to say, taken from Press Ganey mammography patient surveys. “Excellent experience.” “I was especially pleased to be treated with courtesy
and respect.” “The technician was very gentle and the procedure was
as pain-free as I could expect.” “Your outpatient services are some of the best in
medical offices.” “Politeness, congeniality, smiles, everything the
greatest.” “Uncomplicated – stress free” “Was in and out so fast did not have time to look at
magazine.” “Would and do recommend your facility all the time.” Digital
Mammography Available Locally Special to the Journal By William Carroll, MD, PhD September 2007 In September 2005, the New England Journal of Medicine posted the results of a large
clinical trial comparing digital and film mammography. The National Cancer
Institute (NCI), which is part of the National Institutes of Health, sponsored
the trial. Researchers conducted the study under the leadership of the American
College of Radiology Imaging Network. At the time the study results were published,
approximately 8 percent of hospitals and imaging centers were offering digital
mammography. In late July, digital mammography will become available at Cayuga
Medical Center’s Convenient Care Center at Cortland, Commons Imaging. In the
ensuing months, digital mammography will also be provided at the Convenient
Care Center at Ithaca and in the Imaging Services Department at Cayuga Medical
Center, for a total of four new digital mammography units. Who participated in the NCI
study? The study included approximately 50,000 women from 33
different locations across the country. The study participants were women with
no history or current symptoms of breast cancer. What did the study find in
comparing digital to film mammography? The results found that the image quality of digital mammography
was superior when compared to film mammography for three groups. These groups
are: women who are younger than 50 years of age; women who have not yet gone
through menopause and women in peri-menopause, which means that their last
menstrual period was within 12 months of the time of the study’s mammograms;
and women of any age with dense breast tissue. These three groups make up 60-65
percent of women. For women not in these three specific categories, the study
found no discernable difference between digital and film mammography. Over three hundred women in the study were diagnosed
with breast cancer. Of the breast cancers missed by film mammography and
detected by digital mammography, many turned out to be invasive cancers and
medium- to high-grade tumors that had not yet spread to the lymph nodes.
Detecting and diagnosing tumors before they spread is very important for
successful breast cancer treatment, which makes the study findings significant.
And because digital mammography increases the detection rate among younger
women, we are able to pick up on cancers earlier, which is important because
breast cancer in younger women is often more aggressive. Are there other advantages
to digital mammography? Yes, there are a number of other advantages to digital
mammography. The files are electronic, not captured on film, which makes
storage, retrieval, and transfer of the images easier and faster. Because
digital images are viewed on a special computer monitor instead of a light box,
radiologists can manipulate the digital images using computer enhancement to
make them bigger and to increase or decrease contrast. Digital mammography is
also well suited to computer-aided detection systems. The radiologists at
Cayuga Medical Center and the Convenient Care Centers use computer-aided
detection systems now for mammograms at all three sites, as a “second look”
after we have read the mammogram. Standard mammograms typically require a very
low dose of radiation; however, digital mammograms use approximately 25 percent
less radiation than mammograms produced on film. Is there any difference in
the way digital and film mammograms are taken? No, the process for capturing the images is the same.
Digital mammograms require the same positioning and compression of the breast.
As with film mammograms, the technologist typically takes two views of each
breast for a digital screening mammogram. Cayuga Medical Center radiologists on site at each
location read mammograms as they are completed so patients can learn the
results of the exam before they leave their appointments. For most women, a
baseline mammogram is recommended at age 35, with mammograms taken annually
beginning at age 40. Women with a family history of breast cancer should talk
to their primary care doctor about special guidelines for breast cancer
screening. Dr. Carroll is board
certified in radiology and serves on the medical staff at Cayuga Medical
Center, where he is Director of Mammography. Cancer
Support and Information Program at Cayuga Medical Center Offered by the Cancer Resource Center of the Finger
Lakes (CRCFL) with Cayuga Medical Center and Hospicare and Palliative Care
Services of Tompkins County, this program serves men and women with all types
of cancer. Based at Cayuga Medical Center, the program provides one-to-one
assistance to people with cancer and their families, highlights helpful
resources through a weekly Cancer Connections newspaper column in the Ithaca
Journal, and provides links to local resources and cancer support groups
through a new Web page on the CRCFL Web site. The Community Network Ties to other community agencies, such as the American
Cancer Society, Hospicare and Palliative Care Services of Tompkins County,
Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes, Cancer Support and Information
Program, and the Tompkins County Healthy Living Partnership, strengthen cancer
services provided by Cayuga Medical Center. The American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org In partnership with Cayuga Medical Center’s cancer
program, the American Cancer Society provides diagnosis-specific information,
referrals to community and ACS resources, and critical peer and professional
support to all those facing a cancer diagnosis. Cayuga Medical Center also
serves as a pilot site for ACS, based on the strength of our cancer program. Hospice and Palliative Care
Services at www.hospicare.org Provides inpatient and
outpatient palliation and hospice services in the hospital, area residences,
nursing homes, and at the Nina K. Miller Center for Hospicare and Palliative
Care. Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes at www.crcfl.net Through its Resource Center, 24-hour Helpline,
Volunteer Support Companions, and Peer Information Network, the Cancer Resource
Center provides support, information, and advocacy to area residents affected
by breast and gynecologic cancers. Tompkins County Healthy Living Partnership helps those
with little or no health insurance gain access to services to reduce the risk
of breast, cervical, prostate, and colorectal cancers. For more information
please call (607) 277-0960. Cayuga Medical Center, the American Cancer Society,
and other cancer network organizations in Tompkins County regularly co-sponsor
a number of community outreach and education programs, and support groups. ● I
Can Cope for
positive coping strategies while living with a cancer diagnosis. ● Look
Good…Feel Better for women in active cancer treatment. ● Man
to Man Prostate Awareness and Education ● Person
to Person, an extension of the Reach to
Recovery program, provides one-on-one support, information, and
assistance navigating the health-care environment. ● Cancer
Survivors Network, a “virtual” community for survivors and families. ● Community Symposiums on Prostate Cancer Awareness, Colorectal Cancer
Awareness, and Breast Cancer Awareness, providing multidisciplinary
panels of expert clinicians. ● Relay
for Life, an annual forum for community education and mobilization
around the issues of cancer care, research, advocacy, and services. The Relay
for Life celebrates survivorship and raises money to support research and local
cancer services offered through the American Cancer Society. For more information about cancer care or services at
Cayuga Medical Center, ask your physician or call (607) 274-4101 or 274-4060.
You can also use our search function to find more information as well as local
and national Web sites for answers to frequently asked questions and for more
in-depth information about the network of community services available to
cancer patients. Other helpful organizations with Web sites to search: ● Cancer
Resource Center of the Finger Lakes ● Roswell
Park Cancer Institute ● Hospicare
and Palliative Care Services of Tompkins County ● The
American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer ● The
National Cancer Institute (NCI) Board-certified physicians in Medical
Oncology and Internal Medicine Obstetrics
and Gynecology Radiation Oncology Diagnostic
Radiology Gastroenterology Hospice and Palliative Medicine Neurology Plastic Surgery Urology Surgery Cytopathology, Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology Our physicians are supported
in their work by a team of oncology nurses, social workers, radiation therapy
technologists, and other oncology specialists. For a complete listing of
the Cayuga Medical Center medical staff, please go to Find a Physician to view credentials,
training, and education. Our medical staff includes a number of surgeons and
other subspecialists who are experienced in cancer care. Our Cancer Care Credentials In January 2005, Cayuga Medical Center Radiation
Medicine opened its doors, providing state-of-the-art radiation oncology
services locally for patients undergoing treatment for cancer. The service has
been developed in affiliation with Roswell Park Cancer Institute, one of the
most esteemed cancer research and treatment centers in the world and designated
by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as a comprehensive cancer center. “Through this affiliation with the Roswell Park Cancer
Institute (RPCI) radiation medicine program, we bring world-class services
right here to our patients in Ithaca,” says Dr. Rob Mackenzie, Cayuga Medical
Center president and CEO. “Our physicians participate in subspecialty
teleconferences on cancer care, joint Tumor Board meetings, and grand rounds
with their colleagues at Roswell Park. We also work with RPCI to participate in
national clinical trials, support academic research, and develop community
outreach initiatives. This affiliation elevates the level of care available to
local cancer patients, which is very rewarding for all of us.” High-speed
digital technology Cayuga Medical Center Radiation Medicine and RPCI are
linked through high-speed digital technology. This electronic link, coupled
with our new cancer care facility, gives local cancer patients access to the
very latest cancer treatment protocols and research findings. Networked
communications facilitate patient-care planning by radiation specialists at
RPCI, as well as joint patient review conferences between cancer specialists at
Cayuga Medical Center and RPCI. A Varian 21 EX Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy
Linear Accelerator, considered to be one of the most precise and sophisticated
cancer radiation technologies in the world, is housed in the new facility. This
particular equipment gives radiation oncologists advanced treatment options
that were not previously available: ● The ability to “sculpt” or
“paint” the radiation dose, which enables radiation oncologists to increase the
dose to the tumor, while at the same time avoiding the healthy tissue around
the tumor. This new capability, called Intensity
modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), can be used to treat cancers of the
prostate, breast, head and neck, lung, and pancreas, and improves both patient comfort and cure rates. ● Dynamic multileaf
collimators (MLC) for “sliding window”
treatments provide the sharpest possible focus during the delivery of
radiation therapy ● The RPM-Gating System fine-tunes
the radiation focus on tumors in the chest and abdomen that move when the
patient breathes. ● Computer networking to the
Cayuga Medical Center Imaging Department, where the GE CT Scan provides virtual 3-D simulations during treatment
planning; portal imaging produces a
digital x-ray immediately prior to treatment to verify accuracy; and ultrasound localization pinpoints the exact
location of the prostate gland, which can be displaced by the bowel. “When I was in
medical school I discovered I have a passion for dealing with serious illness
and for treating cancer patients,” says David Cho, MD. “I found my calling in oncology…I have always
felt honored to help patients during this very difficult time in their lives.” Dr. Cho is medical director of Cayuga Medical Center
Radiation Medicine. He also has an appointment to the Roswell Park Cancer
Institute (RPCI) medical staff, as part of Cayuga Medical Center’s premier
affiliation with the world-renowned cancer research and treatment center. The
two institutions are linked through high-speed digital technology to offer the
latest cancer protocols, research, and dose-planning techniques to patients in
the Finger Lakes Region. Dr. Cho earned his medical degree from the Medical
College of Virginia and completed a four-year residency program at New York
University. During his residency in New York, he did elective rotations at
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Mt. Sinai Hospital, in brachytherapy
for prostate cancer and pediatric radiation oncology. Dr. Cho is board
certified in radiation oncology by the American Board of Radiology. Dr. Charles Garbo, chairman
of the Cayuga Medical Center Cancer Committee, is board certified in oncology
and internal medicine and has served on the medical staff of Cayuga Medical
Center for eighteen years. He came to Ithaca from the University of
Massachusetts Medical Center where he was an assistant professor for four years
following a fellowship in hematology and oncology. While there, he practiced
and taught general oncology, and participated in research groups studying specific
types of tumors, one of which was breast cancer. He learned a great deal about
people, the disease, and the most effective approach to treatment. Cancer doesn’t just happen to patients, Dr. Garbo explains;
it happens to families. Good medical oncologists do more than treat cancer and
administer chemotherapy. “It’s much more than that: I’m an internist first,”
Dr. Garbo says. “I treat patients, not cancer, and I support the patients’
families through the illness. Any other approach just doesn’t work well.” Dr. Garbo chose to specialize in oncology because of
its potential to help people. He points out that at least 50 percent of
patients with cancer are cured. Those you cannot cure, you can help by extending
their lives and by improving the quality of life they have remaining. He also enjoys the opportunities cancer care presents
for consulting frequently with colleagues. Oncology is a constantly changing
field which requires physicians to collaborate. Dr. Garbo says that by the time
a new finding is published, it’s already a year old. This means that to stay
abreast of new approaches to diagnosis and treatment, oncologists must spend a
lot of time talking to each other. In fact, at every level, successful cancer
care requires teamwork. Dr. Garbo is in practice at the Ithaca Medical Group,
with Dr. Timothy Bael. They can be reached at (607) 272-5414. Their practice is
located at 1301 Trumansburg Road, Suite P, Ithaca, NY. “I’ve always liked oncology,” says Dr.
Bael. “The translation of basic science to clinical medicine is something I
enjoy. The patient care is challenging; oncologists deal with complicated diseases
and many different medical issues, and we develop long-term relationships with
our patients. Treating people through incredibly difficult times in their lives
is very meaningful.” During his training, Dr. Bael researched
therapies with new cancer-fighting drugs, most notably for metastatic melanoma
and renal cell cancer. He says his research gave him valuable insight into both
established cancer therapies and new treatment options on the horizon. In making the move from a major cancer
treatment and research center at Duke to upstate New York, Dr. Bael points out
that community oncology is an integral part of treating cancer. “Academic and
community settings are synergistic—and we look for this in any subspecialty of
medicine. In Ithaca, we work with major cancer centers all the time to make
sure that when patients need to be there, they will go. This kind of dialog
between doctors is very productive for patients. “My goal is to help my patients manage
their disease in ways that give them access to everything medicine has to
offer,” Dr. Bael continues, “both here and elsewhere. But 90 percent of the
people who walk through our door here don’t need to go somewhere else; I can
comfortably tell them that they have a treatable disease we can handle right
here.” One of the big advantages for people having
their treatment in Ithaca, concludes Dr. Bael, is that it is “much more
personal and patient-focused—and it is just as effective as they’ll get
anywhere in the country. People don’t get lost in the shuffle here.” Dr. Bael is in practice with Ithaca Medical Group and
Dr. Charles Garbo. They can be reached at (607) 272-5414. Their practice is
located at 1301 Trumansburg Road, Suite P, Ithaca, NY.
The Department of Imaging Services at Cayuga Medical
Center has a reputation for staying abreast of changing technology with imaging
equipment that is state-of-the-art. Our range of services is comprehensive and
we offer all imaging modalities found in major medical centers. We make every
patient as comfortable as possible during their exam and provide timely,
thorough, and accurate diagnostic information to the people we serve and their
doctors. We offer a number of advantages that distinguish the
level of service we provide: Board-certified radiologists are on site at all three
of our locations. Our imaging sites are linked
electronically, which facilitates immediate consultation among our imaging
subspecialists. A computer network links us with area
physician practices. This enables doctors in their offices to view imaging
studies on their own computer screens and read the reports of our radiologists
as soon as they are completed. Our computerized picture archiving
communication system (PACS) captures digital images and files them
electronically, eliminating the need to print and store film. If you are going
out of town for a consultation, you can carry an original CD-ROM of your
imaging study to the consulting doctor. Imaging Services is staffed
by five board-certified radiologists and includes subspecialists in
neuroradiology, abdominal CT, nuclear medicine, and interventional procedures.
Assisting them are experienced radiologic technologists, many of whom have
completed advanced training and are certified in specialty modalities.
Experienced imaging administrator, Rick Kidwell, (RT) (R) oversees the work of
the department. William
Carroll, MD, PhD PhD:
Pennsylvania State University – Physiology (State College, PA); MD: Jefferson Medical College (Philadelphia);
Internship: St. Margaret Memorial
Hospital - Family Practice (Pittsburgh); Residency: Geisinger Medical Center - Diagnostic
Radiology (Danville); Fellowship:
Western Pennsylvania Hospital - Vascular and Interventional Radiology
(Pittsburgh) Board Certified: Diagnostic Radiology Robert Domke,
MD MD: University
of Texas, HSC (Houston); Residency: Strong Memorial Hospital (Rochester, NY) --
Diagnostic Radiology; Fellowship: Strong
Memorial Hospital -- Nuclear Medicine. Board Certified: Diagnostic
Radiology Kim
Hwang, MD MD:
State University of New York at Buffalo; Internship: SUNY Buffalo - Internal Medicine;
Residency: SUNY Buffalo - Diagnostic
Radiology; Fellowship: Weill Cornell
Medical Center – Body Imaging Board Certified: Diagnostic Radiology Marc Jouandet, MD, PhD PhD:
State University of New York at Stony Brook – Psychobiology; MD: State University of New York at Brooklyn;
Internship: New York Hospital Medical
Center of Queens –Medicine; Residency: New
York-Weill Cornell Medical Center – Diagnostic Radiology; Fellowship: Weill Cornell Medical Center and Memorial
Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center - Neuroradiology Board Certified: Diagnostic Radiology Board Certificate of Added
Qualification: Neuroradiology Anthony
F. Massi, MD MD:
State University of New York Upstate Medical University (Syracuse);
Residency: SUNY Upstate - Diagnostic
Radiology Board Certified: Diagnostic Radiology Imaging services are located at three
different sites. This means that for many of our imaging exams, patients can
choose the site that is nearest to where they live or work. There are some
exams, however, that are offered only at Cayuga Medical Center’s main campus
because they are interventional and may require a brief recovery period. “I came here for the opportunity to create something
very special,” says Daniel Sudilovsky, MD, chairman of the Department of
Pathology at Cayuga Medical Center. “We have an ever-increasing degree of
multidisciplinary care here that will lead to a world-class cancer-care model
at Cayuga Medical Center.” Dr. Sudilovsky knows a lot about cancer. Just prior to
his move to Ithaca in 2006, he was director of Cytology at the Hillman Cancer
Center of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, where he also served as
an associate professor. A graduate of Case Western Reserve University Medical
School, Dr. Sudilovsky completed his residency in anatomic pathology at the
University of California San Francisco (where he served as chief resident),
stayed on for a clinical fellowship in cytopathology, and served as assistant
professor and co-director of Cytology at the USFC Mt. Zion Cancer Center. He devotes time to clinical practice as well as
academic and research work, and is widely published. Several recently published
studies on which he collaborated at the University of Pittsburgh examined
whether diagnostic errors could be reduced by utilizing the Toyota Redesign
Process. (The short answer was yes.) A June 13, 2006, article in the Wall Street Journal on quality
improvement quotes results of a research project he led on improving thyroid
biopsies while in Pittsburgh. “We are right on track at Cayuga Medical Center to
give our patients the same level of cancer care from entry throughout the care
system that Roswell Park Cancer Institute, MD Anderson Cancer Center, or the
University of California San Francisco (UCSF) give,” says Dr. Sudilovsky, who
spent eight years at UCSF. “It’s a tightly choreographed approach to cancer
care, such that patients here get cutting-edge diagnosis and treatment and no
longer have to travel out of the area. Simply put, we are striving to be the
premier cancer center in the area.” Dr. Sudilovsky’s particular area of expertise is
cytology. He often utilizes fine-needle aspiration to collect small samples of
suspicious tissue cells, which he then prepares as single cells in liquid
suspension for examination under the microscope. “We are expanding the use of
minimally invasive techniques for diagnosis and classifying different types of
cancer,” he explains. “And because I do both clinical work and research, I’m
always interested in seeing how the latest developments in laboratory
techniques can apply to patient care.” In collaboration with Cayuga Medical Center Imaging
Services, the Laboratory performs many more minimally invasive diagnostic
procedures now, says Dr. Sudilovsky. “We are using more advanced techniques
here. We are doing more special staining and more complex evaluations now than
before. Many more esoteric, complicated studies are done in-house now, which
essentially means that in terms of pathology, we are offering the same level of
diagnostic care in many areas as the major cancer centers.” Dr. Schwed is in practice with Surgical Associate of
Ithaca at 1301 Trumansburg Road in Ithaca and can be reached at (607) 273-3161. < Dr. Foster is in practice with Surgical Associate of
Ithaca at 1301 Trumansburg Road in Ithaca and can be reached at (607) 273-3161. After his residency, Dr. Mecenas went on to complete a fellowship in
minimally invasive surgery at New York University School of Medicine. He has
been involved in teaching advanced laparoscopic surgery techniques to other
surgeons from the United States and abroad (Israel, Columbia, Japan). Dr.
Mecenas specializes in minimally invasive surgical procedures to treat obesity,
and problems of the digestive tract. When he joined Surgical Associates in 2002, Dr.
Mecenas initiated the weight-loss surgery program at Cayuga Medical Center. Dr.
Mecenas, who performs laparoscopic gastric banding surgery and laparoscopic
gastric bypass surgery, heads a multidisciplinary team including dietitians,
mental health professionals, and other health-care providers. He is board
certified in general surgery and is a member of the American Society of
Bariatric Surgeons. Dr. Mecenas is in practice with Surgical Associate of
Ithaca at 1301 Trumansburg Road in Ithaca and can be reached at (607) 273-3161. Dr. William
Phillips
has dual board certification in general surgery and vascular surgery. He
graduated cum laude from New York University with a B.S. in physical therapy
and practiced physical therapy for three years at the renowned Hospital for
Special Surgery in New York City. Dr. Phillips then earned his doctor of
osteopathic medicine at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, where
he received two leadership awards. He began his six years of postgraduate
training with a rotating internship at Doctor’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio,
followed by a four-year residency in general surgery at Doctor’s Hospital,
where he served as chief resident. He then completed a one-year fellowship in
vascular surgery at South Pointe Hospital in Cleveland. Dr. Phillips joined
Cayuga Medical Center and Surgical Associates in 2001. He specializes in all
types of vascular and endovascular procedures, as well as general surgery. Dr. Phillips is in practice with Surgical Associate of
Ithaca at 1301 Trumansburg Road in Ithaca and can be reached at (607) 273-3161. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons David
Monacelli, MD Dr. Monacelli has extensive training in reconstructing
body parts that have been injured or removed by accident or because of
cancer. He notes that an increasing
number of women are choosing TRAM flap surgery for breast reconstruction
following mastectomy. This is a procedure (more fully described below) in which
the surgeon uses the patient’s own tissue, not an artificial implant, for
breast reconstruction. “Breast implants don’t respond well to radiation
therapy and there is a higher rate of complications,” says Dr. Monacelli.
“Living tissue can withstand radiation better and, in general, TRAM flaps look
better and feel more natural. We can more easily tailor healthy tissue to
achieve symmetry with the other breast, which is important.” Dr. Monacelli is in private practice at 22 Arrowwood
Drive in Ithaca and can be reached at (607) 266-0483. Daniel S.
Jorgenson, MD, FACS Following the war, Dr. Jorgenson became chief of the
General Surgery Clinic at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, a busy clinic
with 12,000 patient visits per year. While there, he grew increasingly
interested in reconstructive surgery, and two years later he relocated to
Washington, D.C. for his residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery at
Walter Reed Medical Center. That was followed by a medical research fellowship,
which earned him the Hoff Medal as distinguished graduate. His research on the
biocompatibility of titanium in pediatric facial implants was published in
1996, and he presented his findings at the national meeting of the Society of
Plastic Surgeons and at a number of international conferences. Dr. Jorgenson became the youngest-ever chief of
plastic surgery at Walter Reed Medical Center. At the same time, he headed the
medical center’s Cleft Lip/Palate Craniofacial Clinic and provided additional
direct care as the consultant in plastic surgery to the National Cancer
Institute. He also served as an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins
University. Dr. Jorgenson has broad training and experience in reconstructive
surgery, running the gamut from treating combat injuries to performing
pediatric facial surgery and breast reconstruction. Dr. Jorgenson is in private practice in Ithaca at 20
Arrowwood Drive and can be reached at (607) 216-0062. Breast Cancer In New York State, health insurance companies are
required by law to cover breast reconstruction following mastectomy. Cayuga Medical Center plastic and reconstructive
surgeons offer breast cancer patients the following options following
mastectomy; Autologous
breast reconstruction uses a woman’s own tissue. Advantages to this approach include natural
looking results, the ability to shape the flap to match the other breast, and
avoiding the risks of artificial implants. ●
The TRAM (transverse rectus abdominus
myocutaneous) flap method creates a new breast mound by transferring a flap
of skin, fat, artery, and muscle from the abdomen to the chest wall. ●
The free-flap method is a variation
on TRAM flap in which the surgeon creates a breast mound with a flap of skin, fat,
and muscle from the abdomen. Because the artery is completely severed in this
approach, the surgeon must reattach the blood vessel under the arm. ●
The latissimus-dorsi flap is a good
alternative for small-breasted women. A muscle and tissue flap from the woman’s
back is brought around to the front and attached to the chest. It may include a
small implant to increase breast size. Artificial implant reconstruction requires a
shorter hospital stay, as the surgery is initially less complicated than autologous
flap reconstruction. The most common implants are saline and silicone. The
drawback to reconstruction with implants is the risk of future surgery to
replace them for scarring or leakage. Our team provides comprehensive breast care. Plastic
surgeons at Cayuga Medical Center help each patient through the process of
choosing the type of reconstruction and the timing. We handle everything
locally, from initial diagnosis and staging of breast cancer to reconstructive
breast surgery and rehabilitation. “We provide very comprehensive management of all
diseases pertaining to the head and neck, including complex surgery when it is
required,” says Dr. Strominger. “We treat problems affecting the voice, the
mechanics of swallowing, the ear and hearing, sinus and nasal problems, and
cancers of the swallowing, breathing organs, and salivary glands. We also
collaborate with other specialists, such as plastic and reconstructive
surgeons, to care for patients who are best served by a team of surgical
specialists.” One of the areas in which Dr. Strominger specializes
is the surgical treatment of cancer of the nose, mouth, throat, and esophagus.
The ultimate goal in caring for these patients, he explains, is to preserve
their swallowing, vocal, and breathing functions while eradicating the cancer
and leaving people cosmetically intact. “New surgical techniques and technology
have advanced our ability to offer conservation surgery and functional
reconstruction. If a person has cancer of the larynx, for example, our goal is
to both cure the tumor and preserve the voice.” Dr. Strominger also specializes in vocal physiology
and pathology and is experienced in performing delicate microsurgery on the
vocal cords to improve the voice while minimizing injury to the vocal cords.
This is especially important to professional voice users in the region.
Additionally, he treats vocal cord paralysis after stroke, lung cancer, or
viral illness. Dr. Strominger is in practice with Dr. Jonathan Cryer
at Cayuga Ear, Nose, Throat – Head and Neck Surgery in Ithaca, where he can be
reached at (607) 266-0772. He is a visiting associate professor in the
Department of Speech and Language Pathology at Ithaca College, where he also
serves as director of the Ithaca College/Cayuga ENT Voice and Swallowing
Clinic. “Cayuga Medical Center has acquired a new image-guided
sinus surgery system, which is exciting to have here,” says Dr. Cryer. “A
special preoperative CT scan enables us to create a three- dimensional image of
the patient’s skull. We use this information to tell us where our instruments
are in real time. During sinus surgery, we are working in very small spaces
just beneath the brain, and image-guided surgery is a lot safer. I’m very
comfortable using this new technology and have a lot of experience with these
systems.” Dr. Cryer earned a BA cum laude in English literature
at the University of Pennsylvania College of Arts and Sciences. Following
post-baccalaureate pre-medical studies, he entered medical school at the
University of Pennsylvania, where he was awarded a student fellowship in
anatomic pathology in 1999. He stayed on to complete his surgical internship
and residency in otorhinolaryngology-head and neck surgery. Dr. Cryer joined the medical staff at Cayuga Medical
Center in 2005 and is in practice with Dr. Rob Strominger at Cayuga Ear, Nose,
Throat – Head and Neck Surgery. They can
be reached at (607) 266-0772. Their offices are located at 2 Ascot Place,
Ithaca, NY. Urologic
Surgeons
Gynecologic
Specialists Dr. Paul Bates earned his medical degree from Weill Cornell Medical
College in New York City. He completed his internship at Mary Fletcher Hospital
in Burlington, Vermont, and took his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at
New York Hospital. He is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and is a
Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Bates can be
reached at (607) 266-7800, where he is in practice with Ob-Gyn Associates of
Ithaca at 20 Arrowwood Drive, Ithaca, NY. He has served on the medical staff of
Cayuga Medical Center since 1975. Dr. Pedro Cruz joined the medical staff
and the private practice of Cayuga Women’s Health in 2004. He is the former
chief of the Obstetric and Gynecology Service at General Leonard Wood Army
Community Hospital, in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Dr. Cruz earned his medical
degree and completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the
University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine in San Juan, where he served as
chief resident in his final year. He is board certified in obstetrics and
gynecology and is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and
Gynecology. He can be reached at (607) 273-0253, at Cayuga Women’s Health, 1301
Trumansburg Road, Ithaca, NY. Dr. Rudolph
Fedrizzi
earned his medical degree from the Washington University School of Medicine in
Saint Louis, Missouri, and completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology
at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. He is board
certified in obstetrics and gynecology, is a Fellow of the American College of
Obstetrics and Gynecology, and is a Diplomate of the American Board of
Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Fedrizzi can be reached at (607) 272-0200, where
he is in private practice with Every Woman’s Care, 302 West Seneca Street,
Ithaca. He joined the medical staff of Cayuga Medical Center in 2005. Dr. Kathleen
Gardner
earned her medical degree with honors from the University of Pittsburgh and
graduated as the top-ranked woman in her class.
She stayed on for her internship and residency at Magee Women’s
Hospital, University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Gardner is board certified in
obstetrics and gynecology and is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics
and Gynecology. She can be reached at (607) 266-7800, where she is in practice
with Ob-Gyn Associates of Ithaca at 20 Arrowwood Drive, Ithaca, NY. She joined
the medical staff of Cayuga Medical Center in 2005. Dr. Steven
Gelber
graduated from Albany Medical College in Albany, New York. He went on for his
residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville,
Pennsylvania. Dr. Gelber is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and is
a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He can be
reached at (607) 266-7800, where he is in practice with Ob-Gyn Associates of
Ithaca at 20 Arrowwood Drive, Ithaca, NY. He has been a member of the medical
staff since 1995. Dr. Oo Kyong earned his medical degree
from Seoul National University Medical College in Seoul, Korea. He completed
his internship and residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Jewish Hospital
and Medical Center of Brooklyn, New York. Dr. Kyong is board certified in
obstetrics and gynecology and has served on the medical staff of Cayuga Medical
Center since 1979. He can be reached at (607) 273-4331. Dr. Kyong is in private
practice at 1290 Trumansburg Road, Ithaca, New York. Dr. Dvorah
Milner
graduated cum laude from Barnard College at Columbia University. After three
years as a research assistant and artist at the Center for Developmental
Disabilities in Woodbury, New York, she entered Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
While there, she received the Alan F. Guttmacher Memorial Prize for Excellence
in Obstetrics and Gynecology and a summer research award from the National Institutes
of Health. She went on for her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the
Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, serving as chief resident
in her final year. She is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and is a
Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She can be reached
at (607) 266-7800, where she is in practice with Ob-Gyn Associates of Ithaca at
20 Arrowwood Drive, Ithaca, NY. She has been a member of the medical staff
since 2003. Dr. Heidi
Reinhart
earned her medical degree from the Washington University School of Medicine in
Saint Louis, Missouri, and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology
at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. She is board
certified in obstetrics and gynecology, is a Fellow of the American College of
Obstetrics and Gynecology, and is a Diplomate of the American Board of
Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Reinhart can be reached at (607) 272-0200, where
she is in private practice with Every Woman’s Care, 302 West Seneca Street,
Ithaca. She joined the medical staff of Cayuga Medical Center in 2005. Dr. Joan
Sullivan
earned her medical degree from the University of Tennessee and completed her
residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Cincinnati College
of Medicine. She is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology, and has been
a member of the medical staff of Cayuga Medical Center since 1991. Dr. Sullivan
is also a colonel in the U.S. Army National Guard and served in Iraq in 2005. She
can be reached at (607) 266-7800, where she is in practice with Ob-Gyn
Associates of Ithaca at 20 Arrowwood Drive, Ithaca, NY. Dr. Jose
Torrado
graduated from the Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He completed
his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the Medical College of
Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University Hospital. He is board certified in
obstetrics and gynecology and is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics
and Gynecology. He can be reached at (607) 273-0253, at Cayuga Women’s Health,
1301 Trumansburg Road, Ithaca, NY. Dr. Torrado joined the medical staff of
Cayuga Medical Center in 2002. |
The Cancer Committee
Dr. Sami
Husseini 
Dr. Sanjeev
Vohra
