2022 Hoag Women's Health Institute Impact Report

Women’s Health Institute

Your trusted health care partner for compassionate, specialized women’s health

Dear Friends,

The philosophy of the Women’s Health Institute has long been one of empowerment and choice. The programs and services we offer are created with one thing in mind: our patients. Our goal is to ask the right questions, listen and understand what women in our community want and need—then design the patient care experience accordingly. At every age and stage of life, Hoag is committed to women’s physical, social, psychological and emotional well-being. Your generosity makes our commitment a reality.

From family-centered maternity care and early detection to breast and gynecologic cancer survivorship, pelvic floor therapy and so much more, your support has been crucial to delivering innovative and subspecialized programming to our community. Across Hoag, clinicians are including women in decision-making and care planning and providing them with a range of treatment options to ensure choice, engagement and excellent outcomes.

Likewise owed to philanthropy, two newly established endowed chairs in women’s health and neonatology are advancing standards of care for women and our smallest, most vulnerable patients in the NICU. As our community grows and becomes increasingly diverse, we are committed to meeting the unique needs of every person in every interaction with Hoag. We offer an inclusive environment treating the whole person with dignity, respect and compassion. In addition to the expert treatment of cancer and the management of chronic disease, our approach emphasizes comprehensive and holistic care. Optimal health is a journey. It is our privilege to walk with each individual and their family every step of the way.

An independent Hoag is more than a hospital—it is a health network offering both acute care and extensive outpatient services. Specialty nurse navigators, fellowship-trained surgeons, cutting-edge technology and beautiful facilities designed with comprehensive programs in mind make Hoag one of a kind. Your generosity has allowed Hoag to remain the highest-ranked hospital in Orange County for the past six years, has made Hoag the second busiest destination for maternity care in California and has led Hoag to becoming nationally recognized for innovative, top-tier women’s health care.

I can’t thank you enough for your role in bringing us to where we are today. I look forward to your partnership and ongoing support as we realize the next phase of our vision in providing the highest quality health care services to the communities we serve.

With gratitude,

Allyson Brooks, MD

Ginny Ueberroth Executive Medical Director Endowed Chair, Women’s Health Institute Hoag

Maternal Child Health

Women’s Health Institute ProudlyAnnounces Two New Endowed Chairs

Thanks to the Jeffrey Carlton Charitable Foundation and the Al & Mary Ann Schoellerman Foundation, the establishment of two new endowed chairs in women’s health and neonatology are continuing to enhance Hoag’s programs and services for women and families throughout our community. Endowed chairs, rare at community hospitals, are made possible through the generous giving of donors who share in Hoag’s commitment to not only providing the highest quality care right here in Orange County but also advancing standards of care across the country.

Lisa M. Karamardian, MD, FACOG

Jeffrey M. Carlton Endowed Chair in Women’s Health, in honor of Dr. Anne M. Kent

An active member of Hoag since 1996, Dr. Karamardian previously served as the chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Hoag and was a founding physician and past president of Pacific Women’s Healthcare Associates in Newport Beach.

Dr. Karamardian is experienced in high-risk obstetrics, including multiple gestations and pregnancies that are the result of advanced reproductive technologies such as IVF. Committed to utilizing less invasive surgical options to treat a variety of gynecologic conditions, she treats women throughout their lifetime with an emphasis on wellness and a passion for menopause care. As an endowed chair holder, Dr. Karamardian will carry forward the remarkable legacy of Dr. Anne Kent, who delivered over 10,000 babies before retiring in 2020, and will ensure Hoag patients continue to have access to the most advanced treatment options in women’s health.

Jeffrey M. Carlton, founder of Press Forge, was known by his staff and community as a generous philanthropist and a man of great character. By establishing the Jeffrey M. Carlton Endowed Chair in Women’s Health in honor of Dr. Anne M. Kent, Mike Buxton, trustee of the Jeffrey M. Carlton Trust, believes Jeffrey’s legacy of care will create added impact in the community for the benefit of countless women and families.

Vladana Milisavljevic, MD, MS, FAAP

Al & Mary Ann Schoellerman Endowed Chair in Neonatology

Dr. Vladana Milisavljevic joined Hoag in September 2020 through Hoag’s collaborative partnership with Children’s Hospital of Orange County. As chief of neonatal services and medical director of Hoag’s 21-bed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), Dr. M, as she is affectionately known, is expanding the NICU’s capabilities and advancing patient care for Hoag’s smallest and most vulnerable patients. In addition to providing specialized medical care through state-of-the-art technology, Dr. Milisavljevic’s goal is to deliver mental health support to families facing the challenge of having their baby spend their first days or months of life in a hospital.

The Schoellerman family have long been supporters and advocates for Hoag’s NICU, providing vital funding for technology and programming that ensures infants at Hoag receive the best care available. Through the endowed chair, Dr. Milisavljevic will further establish Hoag’s NICU as a destination for best-in-class neonatal care. With roughly 10% of newborns requiring some level of NICU care, Hoag’s NICU expansion is poised to fill a critical need.

Grateful Family Spotlight

Baby Tygo Graduates from Hoag’s NICU

At 24 weeks and five days pregnant, Sasha was rushed into an emergency C-section after arriving at Hoag’s obstetric emergency room with severe cramping, spotting and nausea. She had suffered a uterine rupture, quite rare among women in their first pregnancy. Baby Tygo, sac still intact, was in his mother’s abdomen. Once Tygo was safely delivered, Sasha underwent a hysterectomy due to extensive internal bleeding.

When she woke up from surgery, baby Tygo, just one pound six ounces, was in the NICU. Sasha and her husband Derrick could visit but they couldn’t touch him at first. Despite the tremendous difficulty the couple faced in those first few days, they quickly grew to love and trust Hoag’s team of neonatologists and NICU nurses, led by Dr. Vladana Milisavljevic, Al & Mary Ann Schoellerman Endowed Chair in Neonatology and chief of neonatal services at Hoag.

“Dr. M made us feel comfortable right away. We knew that I was in good hands and that Tygo was in good hands. She bonded with him immediately—she called him her ‘boyfriend’—and she was so intuitive. She knew instinctively when he needed to come off oxygen, that he was ready to breathe on his own. She called in on her days off to check on him,” said Sasha.

Thanks to philanthropic support, Sasha also had access to Hoag’s Maternal Mental Health Program, which she called lifesaving. “My therapist has been with me the whole way through this. She still is. I couldn’t have done it without her.”

“When babies in the NICU are going through such a difficult time, we also have to keep in mind what their families are going through and provide support. At Hoag, we have a multidisciplinary team made up of neonatologists, NICU nurses, respiratory therapists, dietitians, physical therapists, social workers and more, all rallying around these families. Tygo is a perfect example of how love and support from both family and caregivers can make miracles happen. It was a privilege to be a part of his beginning, as it is for all the babies we take care of during the most challenging time in their lives and in their family’s lives,” said Dr. Milisavljevic.

After 96 days in the NICU, Tygo had advanced so well that he was able to go home with his parents before his original due date. The NICU nurses, for whom Sasha and Derrick are extremely thankful, planned a graduation ceremony for Tygo, complete with music, a graduation certificate and a commemorative cap and gown. Tygo’s growth and development during his time in Hoag’s NICU were celebrated by all.

Sasha said, “I can’t even convey the depth of gratitude I have for Dr. M and our NICU nurses, McKenna, Brenda, Jason and Tiffany. They were all so wonderful and cared so well for Tygo.”

Hoag’s Maternal Mental Health Team, Empowered by You

1,708 334

new patients served since opening in 2018

new patients seen on average per year

specialized team members:

• Sarah Kauffman, MD, reproductive psychiatrist

• Elizabeth Whitham, MD , reproductive psychiatrist (joined in 2022)

• Angela Mains, LCSW, lead therapist

• Sandy Yokoyama, LMFT, therapist

8 Nurse Practitioner Supports Acute and Urgent Mental Health Needs

Dual-certified in primary care and psychiatry, Meghan Steele, MSN, NP, whose position is funded by philanthropy, serves as a nurse practitioner in addition to collaborating with Hoag’s OB/GYNs to assist patients with perinatal mental health disorders. Her role expands the team’s bandwidth to care for the acute and urgent mental health needs of pregnant and postpartum mothers in a timely manner. Meghan triages and coordinates care, provides continuity of care, and participates in outreach and community education programs to raise awareness about maternal mental health.

• Emily Densmore, LCSW, therapist

• Melissa Romo, LMFT, therapist (joined in 2022)

• Nicole Young, LCSW, therapist (joined in 2022)

• Meghan Steele, NP, psychiatric nurse practitioner (joined in 2022)

Meghan Steele, MSN, NP

“Our Maternal Mental Health team strives to provide access to compassionate, evidence-based and patient-centered care for all the women who choose Hoag for their perinatal journey. Motherhood is messy. It is our honor to help these families navigate the transition.”

– Sarah Kauffman, MD, Reproductive Psychiatrist, Hoag Maternal Mental Health Program

“The resources I have at Hoag give me the energy and ability to show up for myself, my life, my husband and my family — a gift I will forever be grateful for.” – Samantha, grateful patient

Nutrition Lab Provides Crucial Support for Developing Infants

Essential for the health and growth of all infants, adequate nutrition is especially vital for infants born prematurely or with complications. It is foundational to the development infants in the NICU need to thrive during hospitalization and after discharge. At Hoag, registered dietitians work together with neonatologists, occupational therapists and nurses to create individualized nutrition care plans for each infant in the NICU. Registered dietitians monitor nutrition orders and growth daily to provide recommendations to the team to optimize the health and nutritional status of each patient.

An important component of this care is provided by the Nutrition Lab where specially trained nutrition lab technicians prepare breast milk, donor breast milk and formula for feeding NICU patients. By preparing feedings in an aseptic and controlled environment, technicians ensure the safety and wellbeing of each infant, contributing to their successful progression out of the NICU and, hopefully, home with their parents.

From left to right: Adriana Orozco, LCSW, Maternal-Child Care Manager; Lara Houlton, RD, CNSC, |Lead NICU Dietitian; Amy Worrell, BSN, NICU Charge Nurse/Interim Director of Nursing; Elissa Rynearson, PT, DPT, NICU Physical Therapist; Terri Minniear, LCSW, Maternal-Child Care Manager

Aron Ortega, Nutrition Lab Technician/ Nutrition Assistant

Building a Perinatal Nurse Navigator Program: Critical Support for High-Risk Pregnancies

Jaimie Shane, MSN, RNC-OB, and Wendy Newman, MSN, RNC-OB, are Hoag’s first perinatal nurse navigators. The pair is hard at work piloting the program in partnership with neonatologist Kristi Kambestad, MD, for women with high-risk pregnancies. Given the increasing need for specialized care in the community, Jaimie and Wendy focus on patients with multiple comorbidities—present in either mom or baby, or both.

Jaimie said of the program, “We work with so many wonderful doctor champions who are supporting us and helping us grow the program.”

When an OB refers a patient to Jaimie or Wendy, the two nurse navigators work together to understand each patient’s case and the resources they can allocate to give patients the best opportunity for successful outcomes. These resources, supported largely by philanthropy, include access to Hoag’s Maternal Mental Health Program, virtual support groups, prenatal massage, reiki and more.

Ongoing conversations and visits in person, when possible, allow Jaimie and Wendy to get to know a patient’s history, provide critical support and collect data for social determinates of health to continually enhance services and outcomes. On especially complex cases, Jaimie and Wendy consult with a multidisciplinary team of physicians, including Dr. Kambestad, and maternal-fetal medicine specialist Michael Haydon, MD, to determine the best possible strategy for providing care and meeting patient’s unique needs.

“Working with high-risk pregnant patients and specialists is a labor of love. I want to make physicians’ jobs easier and for patients to have the best possible outcome and experience. All my experience and education led me right here to where I need to be to serve this community,” said Jaimie.

“The Perinatal Nurse Navigator Program continues to grow this year, providing the most comprehensive multidisciplinary care that Hoag has to offer for women with high-risk pregnancies and their families. With the generous support of Innovators funding, we have been able to increase enrollment to 480 patients, providing them with resources and guidance through challenging times. At the same time, we continue to increase the complexity of care delivered at Hoag, enabling families in our community to access care here, where they want to be, while ensuring that patient safety is our highest priority.”

– Dr. Kristi Kambestad, Neonatologist

Jaimie Shane, MSN, RNC-OB

Wendy Newman, MSN, RNC-OB

Updates from the Fudge Family Birthing Suites

Thanks to philanthropy, the Fudge Family Birthing Suites in Irvine are giving women more options for their health care. From laboring in the Tsao Family Garden to birth and recovery in the same private suite, women at Hoag are uniquely positioned to design their experience of pregnancy, delivery and recovery alongside a team of world-class physicians and midwives. The team’s comprehensive approach offers women the relief of knowing that no matter what birth brings, they are in safe, experienced hands at Hoag.

2,992 midwife deliveries

total deliveries

723 neonatal transfers to Hoag Newport Beach or CHOC

36

Cesarean sections

244

686 admissions to the Hardtke Family Nursery

As of December 31, 2022

Birth Reimagined

Certified nurse-midwives Breanna Davis, MSN, CNM, WHNP, and Cambria Tuttle, MSN, CNM, WHNP-BC, are part of the midwifery team at Hoag’s Fudge Family Birthing Suites, offering women what they call “birth reimagined.” Breanna, Cambria and the entire Hoag team follow a philosophy rooted in the meaning of the word ‘midwife’ itself: with women.

New moms and families receive tea service each afternoon

Aromatherapy helps soothe the fears that accompany birth

“Going into birth without preparation is like running a marathon without ever running a mile. We prioritize longer visits from the beginning of pregnancy to get to know women and prepare for birth.”

– Breanna Davis, MSN,

CNM, WHNP

“Practicing at Hoag allows us to have physicians on hand that we can consult for our high-risk patients, if need be. Our team of five nurse-midwives get together every two weeks to discuss cases so everyone is familiar with each patient. We’re constantly talking and collaborating. In so many ways, Hoag is adopting new ways of doing things and leading the charge forward in integrated women’s health.”

– Cambria Tuttle, MSN, CNM, WHNP-BC

Cerified nurse-midwives Breanna David, MSN, CNM, WHNP, and Cambria Tuttle, MSN, CNM, WHNP-BC

Patients can take comfort in the beautiful and calm experience the Fudge Family Birthing Suites provide.

Prevention and Wellness

Hoag Women’s Health Institute believes women deserve resources, support and tools that empower them to prevent disease and live their happiest and healthiest lives. Visionary donors help make this a reality for women in our community, enabling a variety of wellness services and programs that address the whole woman — mind, body and spirit.

Hoag for Her Center for Wellness

Hoag for Her Center for Wellness provides an integrative, proactive approach to health and wellness in a calming, spa-like environment. An expert team of credentialed wellness providers come alongside women with personalized education, support and proven therapies at each stage of her life. Philanthropy supports the Center’s comprehensive wellness offerings, including:

• Acupuncture

• Get Fit Program

• Guided Imagery & Clinical Hypnosis

• Massage Therapy

• Meditation, Mindfulness and Breath Work

• Pelvic Physical Therapy

• Registered Dietitian Services

• Reiki

• Sex Therapy and Psychology Services

• Yoga, Pilates, and PiYo

15,492 wellness visits since Hoag for Her Center for Wellness opened in 2016

By design, Hoag for Her Center for Wellness is closely integrated with many of the Women’s Health Institute’s clinical programs to incorporate a holistic wellness approach with medical care, which positively impacts a patient’s journey and health outcome.

Turning Awareness into Action with the Hoag Early Risk Assessment Program

The Hoag Early Risk Assessment Program (HERA) is a free resource to the community intended to help women ages 35-55 understand and minimize their risk for breast cancer. Women shown to have elevated risk of breast cancer are offered a one-on-one consultation with the program’s advanced practice nurse to create risk reduction plans, including personalized imaging, unique to their needs. Since its inception in 2014, the HERA Program, led by Heather Macdonald, MD, medical director, High Risk Breast Program, has screened over 101,360 women, provided high-risk screening and risk reduction consultations to more than 1,516 women and identified 44 early breast cancers in women whose initial breast cancer screening was negative.

Comprehensive Support for High-Risk Breast

& Ovarian Cancer Patients

Hoag’s Breast & Ovarian Cancer Prevention Program is a lifeline to women and their families who carry a pathogenic variant or genetic alteration — such as the BRCA gene — that places them at significantly increased risk for ovarian and breast cancer. Under the leadership of Co-Directors

Lisa Abaid, MD, MPH, FACOG, FACS, a gynecologic oncologist, and Heather Macdonald, MD, FACOG, an OB-GYN and surgical breast oncologist and medical director of Hoag’s High Risk Breast Program, the program provides cancer prevention and early detection services. With only a few like it across the country, Hoag’s program offers each patient wellness care and mental and emotional support.

A major benefit of the program is its collaborative approach. Close coordination between the team’s providers allows Hoag to offer combined risk-reduction surgeries, including a combined hysterectomy and mastectomy with reconstruction in one scheduled surgery — an option most programs do not provide. Because risk-reducing surgery can impact many aspects of a woman’s life and future, the team provides support and guidance with connection to fertility preservation specialists, aesthetic and reconstructive surgeons, a social worker and nurse navigator, as well as a licensed psychologist and certified sex therapist.

When the COVID-19 pandemic turned life upside down, the Breast & Ovarian Cancer Prevention Program team launched a virtual support group led by the program’s social worker that continues to provide a sense of community and much-needed support.

women enrolled in the program to date

risk-reducing gynecologic surgeries

Lisa Abaid, MD, MPH, FACOG, FACS (left) and Heather Macdonald, MD, FACOG (right)

Comprehensive Breast Care

With your generosity, the Women’s Health Institute’s Comprehensive Breast Program continues to make a positive impact in the lives of thousands of women in our community. Anchored by its flagship location, the Sue J. Gross Comprehensive Breast Center in Newport Beach, Hoag’s Comprehensive Breast Program blends pioneering technology, best-in-class care and holistic programs that promote prevention and wellness while supporting patients at every step of their health care journey.

Learning from the Best

Melvin

J. Silverstein, MD, FACS, Gross Family Foundation Endowed Chair in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery and medical director of the Hoag Breast Center, is passionate about teaching the next generation of breast surgeons. Philanthropy helped Dr. Silverstein create and continues to support a unique fellowship program that trains breast surgeons in oncoplastic breast conservation, a technique he pioneered in the 1980s as a superior alternative to disfiguring lumpectomies. A win-win for patients, it removes the cancer while improving the cosmetic result.

“Generous donors have allowed me to continue my unwavering commitment to educating the next generation of oncoplastic breast surgeons and to elevate Hoag’s expertise in this important specialty,” said Dr. Silverstein. Under his leadership, the fellowship draws some of the best and brightest to Hoag. These fellows go on to lead or join top institutions across the nation, carrying forward the knowledge and skill they’ve gained at Hoag, improving patient care in their communities.

Melvin J. Silverstein, MD, FACS

Visionary Support for the Outstanding Breast Fellow of the Year

Thanks to the foresight and generosity of James and Pamela Muzzy, the Muzzy Family Endowed Fellowship in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery recognizes the top fellow each academic year and provides a sustainable source of funding for their training.

Breast Surgical Fellows

Trained to Date Muzzy Fellows

State-of-the-Art Breast Screening and Diagnostics

Thanks to the generosity of philanthropist Sue Gross and other committed donors, Hoag stays on the leading-edge of breast imaging technology, ensuring women in our community have access to the latest in breast cancer screening and diagnostic mammography, breast MRI and breast ultrasound.

Although mammograms are the standard for screening, not all breast cancers are visible on mammograms. Dense breast tissue can mask breast cancers, making them impossible to see. Fortunately, advances in 3D tomosynthesis (tomo) mammogram technology have led to the updated Hologic® Clarity HD tomosynthesis. Clarity HD images have twice the resolution of those from the first-generation tomo and allow radiologists to differentiate breast cancers from normal breast tissue more easily. With the added help of the artificial intelligence software 3DQuorum™, Clarity HD images are even clearer. Thanks to philanthropy, all mammography units at Hoag are now equipped with Clarity HD and 3DQuorum™.

2022 Breast Cancer Screening by the Numbers

56,943

Mammograms (37,764 were 3D)

4,489

Breast MRIs

20,317

Breast Ultrasounds

January Lopez, MD, Director of Breast Imaging, with Melvin J. Silverstein, MD, FACS, Gross Family Foundation Endowed Chair in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery.

Caring for the Whole Patient

Because of philanthropy, breast cancer patients at Hoag are surrounded with compassionate support and integrative wellness resources that help them thrive throughout their cancer journey and beyond.

Support Group for Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer

Hoag Women’s Health Institute established the Support Group for Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer to provide support that is specific to the needs of women with this difficult diagnosis while fostering community among these patients. Launched in 2021, the group is led by Hoag Wellness Consultant, Anusha Wijeyakumar, MA, CPC, E-RYT, and meets virtually to ensure ease of attendance for all. Meditation and mindfulness are central themes, along with other tools to help patients reduce stress and anxiety and learn new ways of coping. “The support group is like a family that supports and encourages each other,” says Anusha. “We celebrate the highs and we’re there for the lows.”

Meditation Intervention in Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Patients Clinical Trial

It is well established that having a regular meditation practice before the diagnosis of breast cancer is associated with less cancer related fear and anxiety. Heather Macdonald, MD, medical director of Hoag’s High Risk Breast Program, and Hoag Wellness Consultant Anusha Wijeyakumar, MA, CPC, E-RYT are collaborating on clinical research that hypothesizes that patients who implement a regular meditation practice who did not already have one at the time of breast cancer diagnosis will also experience reduced stress and anxiety levels, depression and cancer-related fear during and after treatment.

Philanthropic support helped launch the feasibility study in which each patient enrolled participated in a meditation induction and two subsequent coaching sessions with Anusha, practiced twice daily guided meditations, and recorded their pain, distress scores and meditation practice daily.

Based on the promising results of the feasibility study and powerful anecdotal feedback from participants, a large randomized clinical trial is being planned to further study the impact of meditation on breast cancer patients’ mental health, well-being and pain levels. The ultimate goal is to provide more tools to help patients cope with their diagnosis and the pain related to their disease along with having a positive impact on their long-term health and well-being.

Hoag Wellness Consultant Anusha Wijeyakumar, MA, CPC, E-RYT, with support group participants.

Hoag Healing Breast Cancer Survivors Program

Led by Sadia Khan, DO, FACS, director of Integrative Breast Oncology and the 2015 Muzzy Family Endowed Fellow in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery, the Hoag Healing program empowers survivors of breast cancer with tools and education about lifestyle changes to reduce their risk of cancer recurrence and help them live their healthiest and happiest lives. The program is the first of its kind in Orange County and brings together a multidisciplinary team of experts to address the physical, psychological and spiritual needs of women transitioning into thrivorship following diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. The program includes:

• The Hoag Healing Breast Cancer Survivorship Clinic offers long-term follow-up and active surveillance for survivors with a specialized Nurse Practitioner. Patients are empowered with a comprehensive survivorship plan and navigation to resources and tools that will help them reduce their risk of recurrence. Since the Clinic launched in 2022, more than 71 breast cancer survivors have received care, with over 80 survivors on the waiting list.

• The Hoag Healing Empowerment Series educates survivors on relevant topics and touched more than 300 women in the first year alone. In 2020 when COVID-19 precluded in-person gatherings, the series transitioned to virtual events, which are each viewed 300-500 times on average.

• Stage 4 breast cancer patients can access a monthly mindfulness and meditation podcast along with live support sessions.

• The Breast Friend Ambassador Program connects newly diagnosed patients with breast cancer survivors for peer-to-peer support and connection.

–

“The engagement at the Empowerment Series and other Hoag Healing offerings shows there is a need to continue to encourage community among breast cancer survivors as well as provide robust support and wellnedd services. I’m grateful to Hoag’s donors who are helping ensure women in our community have everything they need to thrive after breast cancer.”

Sadia Khan, DO, FACS, Director of Integrative Breast Oncology, 2015 Muzzy Family Endowed Fellow in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery

Dr. Sadia Khan performing oncoplastic breast surgery.

Gynecologic Care

Thanks to philanthropy, patients with gynecologic cancers are turning to Hoag for their most intimate health care needs. From cutting-edge technology and research to compassionate, comprehensive wellness offerings, Hoag is providing women with choice and empowering them to meet their health care goals, wherever they are on their journey. You make all this and more possible.

Clinical Trials Bring New Hope to Patients

Hoag Women’s Health Institute’s Gynecologic Cancer Program offers a range of clinical trials, including experimental or phase I trials, that can be life-lengthening or life-saving for many patients. Clinical trials require a coordinated team and infrastructure to run, and philanthropic support makes it possible. Eight clinical trials are currently open for patients with ovarian, uterine and cervical cancer, with additional trials in the pipeline.

Immunotherapy Clinical Trial for Cervical Cancer

Hoag recently opened a phase III clinical trial that is giving new hope to women with cervical cancer. The trial adds an immunotherapy component to the current treatment standard of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, arming the immune system to fight the cancer while enhancing the effectiveness of the other treatments. The trial’s promising results mean it could soon become the standard practice.

Targeted Therapy Trial for Patients with Metastatic Ovarian or Uterine Cancer

Patients with metastatic ovarian or uterine cancer who have specific genetic mutations in their tumor and whose cancer has not responded to chemotherapy are receiving early access to a brand new, targeted therapy through a phase I clinical trial available at Hoag. Early results are demonstrating benefit for patients who may have otherwise exhausted their treatment options.

Advances in Ovarian Cancer Treatment

Hoag is an early adopter of these cutting-edge ovarian cancer therapies, which can be game changers for many women with the disease.

• Poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, a new class of oral drugs that block a repair enzyme on cancer cells, are improving long-term survival for women with ovarian cancer, up to 80% in some cases.

• Hoag is one of a small number of hospitals in California that offers Heated Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC), which delivers heated chemotherapy at the time of ovarian cancer surgery so that the chemotherapy can be more effectively absorbed to destroy cancer cells.

• Antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) combine an antibody that binds to the cancer cells with an active drug that attacks them. ADCs for recurrent ovarian cancer are currently being studied; Hoag participated in a clinical trial for the use of ADCs for recurrent ovarian cancer that may soon lead to their widespread adoption.

Philanthropy Keeps Hoag at the Forefront of Robotic-Assisted Gynecologic Surgery

The most advanced type of minimally invasive surgery, robotic-assisted surgery offers many benefits to patients including less pain, reduced scarring and faster recovery time compared with traditional open procedures. The enhanced visualization, precision, control and dexterity, also allows physicians to perform highly complex procedures. Because of the commitment of our donors, Hoag has been at the forefront of roboticassisted surgery since the technology first emerged. Recently, philanthropy allowed Hoag to acquire the latest in robotic technology, the Intuitive da Vinci SP.

John (Jeb) Brown, MD, FACOG, FACS, is the Medical Director for Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery and Robotic Surgery at Hoag. Dr. Brown is highly published and nationally recognized for his expertise in both robotic-assisted surgery and gynecologic oncology.

Pelvic Health Program

When it comes to conditions that affect the bladder, bowel or sexual function, many women suffer in silence or find their issues are not appropriately addressed with the prescribed medication or treatment.

These women find hope and healing through Hoag’s Pelvic Health Program, which is led by Physician Advisor Leah Nakamura, M.D., who is double board-certified in urology and female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery. The program brings together a multidisciplinary team of specialized pelvic physical therapists, urogynecologists and urologists who are board-certified in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, colorectal surgeons and wellness providers who coordinate individualized care plans designed to address every component of the issue.

Pelvic floor physical therapy is often the first line treatment for many pelvic conditions. Hoag’s team of 13 pelvic physical therapists are trained beyond general physical therapy in pelvic health or women’s health. At the beautiful and soothing Hoag for Her Center for Wellness, they provide each patient a highly specialized, evidence-based and tailored treatment approach to help them reach their goals.

Acclaimed Care

Philanthropic support allows the Women’s Health Institute to perform at levels that are recognized nationally as meeting the highest standards of excellence while driving innovation. We are proud to share our most recent honors:

“Philanthropy is the differentiator at Hoag. Because of donor support, Hoag’s Pelvic Health Program is on the cutting edge.”

– Leah Nakamura, MD, Pelvic Health Program Physician Advisor