Multidisciplinary Clinics
Recruitment in medical oncology has allowed for the continuing expansion of our multidisciplinary clinic offerings.  The multidisciplinary setting allows patients with certain malignancies to see all their different physicians (medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, surgeon, et al) in one clinic appointment.  Their cases are discussed at tumor board conferences prior to the patients’ appointment so that state-of-the-art patient care can be discussed and treatment plans implemented.  This setting allows the medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists and surgeons to discuss the different cases as a group.  This year we opened two multidisciplinary clinics which are also held weekly at Hollings Cancer Center:  two breast clinics, one thoracic, one neuro-oncology and one head/neck clinic.

Dr. Carol Sherman

Philanthropic donations also assist the Division in recruiting new faculty.  Louis DeWolff has donated $1 million with matching state funds to create the Grace DeWolff Endowed Chair in GI Medical oncology.  This endowment was given in honor of his wife and in gratitude for her excellent medical care provided by Dr. Carol Sherman.  Additionally, Mr. Davison Pierson donated $100,000 to create the Davison and Catherine Pierson Endowed Lectureship in Lung Cancer.  This endowment was given in appreciation of care provided by Dr. Carol Sherman.

Hollings Cancer Center Expansion
On August 29, 2005, the new Hollings Cancer Center expansion opened with a 40,000 sq. ft., seven-story building which includes two clinical floors.  The number of exam rooms increased from 26 to 48.  A philanthropic donation was made by Joe Griffith and his family in the amount of $500,000 to be donated over a five-year period to establish the Elizabeth Smith Griffith Women’s Pavilion on the second floor of the Hollings Cancer Center’s new facility.  Honoring the memory of Bette Griffith’s courageous battle with cancer and inspiring other women to challenge the disease, the pavilion centralizes all women’s cancer services in a comforting and cutting edge clinical space.  The suite includes 13 exam rooms, digital mammography equipment and consultation space, as well as a comfortable patient waiting area.

Phase II of HCC expansion/renovations to be completed in late Fall 2006 will include a new chemotherapy infusion suite, a BMT clinic, procedural suites and a clinical trials office.

Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Program
The Bone Marrow Transplant Program performs autologous, related and unrelated allogenic transplants using full preparative regimens and newer reduced intensity regimens.  For fiscal year FY06, the program performed a record 67 transplants.  Dr. Debra Frei-Lahr, Medical Director of the BMT program, oversees an aggressive out-patient program staffed by Christine Schaub, NP, and transplant coordinators, Theo Fouts and Cindy Kramer.  The BMT program is also a member of the National Marrow Donor program and a member of the IBMTR center.  The BMT program also participates as a full member in the Southwestern Oncology Group (SWOG) and Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB).