Chief, Division of Head and Neck Medical Oncology
Associate Professor, Department of Hematology/Oncology
Director, Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Training Program
NCCN, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer/Malignant Pleural Mesothelimoa/Thymomas and Thymic Carcinomas Panel Member
NCCN, Palliative Care Panel Member
Head and Neck and Thoracic Oncology
| Medical Oncology |
I was excited to return to Philadelphia to join the Fox Chase Cancer Center in 2015 after completing my fellowship in medical oncology at Dana Farber Cancer Institute/Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA. From the moment I walked in to Fox Chase for the first time, every person I met was incredibly caring and dedicated to providing thoughtful, comprehensive, compassionate care for every patient and family. I knew I would fit right in.
I wanted to be an oncologist starting in medical school. I was struck by the profound responsibility we have as physicians to patients and their families facing illness of any kind: our responsibility to explain illness, to obtain the knowledge to provide the best, most up-to-date treatments available, to know our patients, to ask the right questions, and above all, to listen. I was particularly inspired and humbled by my patients with cancer and their families as I accompanied them on their cancer journey, and knew immediately that I wanted to dedicate my career to being an oncologist.
Within oncology, I specialize in lung cancer and head and neck cancer. In both of these fields, there are exciting advances in our understanding of how these cancers form and how they respond to new, innovative treatments. My research interest is in optimizing supportive care, communication, and quality of life for patients and their families facing cancer, while simultaneously providing state of the art cancer treatments. Additionally, I am interested in developing educational tools that help patients and families better understand cancer and treatments as well as help with symptom management, mood, and satisfaction with care.
In 2011, when my first son was not quite a year old, I had a small dysplasia, which is a precancerous lesion, on my tongue. Dr. Jeffrey Liu, a surgical oncologist at Fox Chase Cancer Center, did the surgery to remove it. Everything went really well.
A few days before leaving on my vacation in August, 2017, I noticed a loose tooth. My biggest worry was that maybe I had an abscess and it would ruin my trip.
When I got home, my dentist said I should have it pulled, so I went to an oral surgeon. The oral surgeon said, “I see something, so I’m going to do a biopsy.” I kind of knew right then that I had cancer.
I tell people if you are going on this journey, you should not compare yourself to anyone else. Every cancer is different, and every person’s situation is different.
Before cancer, I was a retired Philadelphia police officer who enjoyed many wonderful adventures with my husband, Braco. We enjoyed running businesses together, traveling together, and raising our daughters together. But, when Braco was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2016 at the age of 57, everything changed. And, a few years later in 2019, I was faced with my own lung cancer diagnosis.
Interested in optimizing communication, quality of life, and palliative and supportive care for patients and their families facing cancer. Additionally, she is interested in developing new therapeutic approaches for treating advanced head and neck and thoracic malignancies.
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