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Our Services at South Bend
Oncology/Cancer
Cancer research & support—A message from our director of oncology services, Michael W. Method, M.D., MPH
Dear Saint Joseph Regional Medical
Center family—
As the vice chairman of the board of directors for the Northern
Indiana Cancer Research Consortium (NICRC), it is my pleasure to represent
Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Inc., and the community in the promotion
of care for patients with cancer and toward the prevention of cancer. Northern
Indiana is fortunate to have the breadth of oncology research currently
available. The NICRC is supported by four member institutions including
Elkhart General Hospital, Laporte Hopital, Memorial Hospital, and Saint
Joseph Regional Medical Center.
Within the NICRC is the state’s first and only National Cancer Institute (NCI), sponsored Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP). Our mission is to reduce cancer morbidity and mortality by creating an opportunity for community physicians and patients to participate in cancer research and cancer prevention trials and investigations. At present, our NICRC is managing more than 100 trials with more than 60 cancer treatment and prevention trials currently open for participation.
Physician participation within our community is high. However, participation within the community requires a public well informed about the advantages of the opportunity provided by these investigations and the misconceptions surrounding the clinical trial process. Treatment sponsored by the NCI is designed by cancer experts and represents the final stage of a careful search for better cancer prevention and care. This gives patients the best, most up-to-date treatment currently available or provides a new approach that doctors believe may work better than the standard treatment. Patients involved in clinical trials appear to do better than those receiving the same treatment outside of a clinical trial due to the meticulous monitoring of patients often required by these treatment studies.
The ultimate goal of the NICRC, the CCOP and our participation is to improve the lives of patients with cancer and to prevent cancer when possible. It is through the clinical trials process that this is possible, and it is the participation of both the physician and the patient that will shape the future of cancer treatment and save the lives of our family and friends in our community.
Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center supports the NICRC by providing capable research employees, who staff the Oncology Research and Support office in Medical Pavilion II, Suite 250. Sharon Smith, R.N., O.C.N., oncology research nurse, brings 14 years of oncology experience to the department. The oncology research nurse plays a key role in presenting clinical trials, treatment alternatives and provides an assessment of treatment risks and benefits associated with each clinical trial. Patients who participate in a clinical trial will receive one-on-one care with a research professional. Our oncology research coordinator, Lisa Barnaby, C.C.R.P., brings six years of oncology experience. Her primary role is to ensure completeness, accuracy and compliance with each protocol, which are instrumental in conducting research. Terri Stoll, C.C.R.P., assists the team with her knowledge in developing consent forms and submission of new protocols to the Institutional Review Board. Jenny Kopinski, staff assistant, rounds out our team of professionals working together to provide a strong connection between SRJMC and NICRC to support clinical trials in our community.
Michael W. Method, M.D., MPH
director, oncology services
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