Oncology News and Notes SCL Health Announces
Precision Oncology Partnership With Strata Oncology
FALL 2019 ISSUE: • Feature Story: Strata Oncology Page 1
• Patient Spotlight
SCL Health continues to build on its commitment to person-centered care and transforming the patient experience through its partnership with Strata Oncology, Inc. Strata Oncology is a precision medicine company dedicated to transforming cancer care by building a platform to systematize precision oncology across a network of health systems. By partnering with the Strata Precision Oncology Network™ (the Network), SCL Health will be able to provide the benefits of the latest technology and clinical research in precision oncology to patients across Colorado and Montana.
Page 2
• Associate Spotlight Page 3 • Care Site Updates Pages 4 – 5
Through the Network, SCL Health patients will benefit from Strata’s precision oncology platform and comprehensive treatment program for personalized cancer care. Eligible cancer patients will have access to routine tumor molecular profiling, rapid interpretation of test results and the ability to participate in local precision therapy clinical trials as well as being treated with FDA approved targeted therapies. “As our understanding of cancer becomes more complex, the advent of targeted therapies and immune-based therapies allow us to look at the genes that drive cancer. This has led to a whole new class of medications that enable us to treat cancer in a more precise way with potentially fewer side effects,” said Alan Miller, M.D., Chief Medical Director of Oncology and Associate Chief Medical Director of Clinical Research for SCL Health. “In order to leverage these new treatments, we need to characterize the cancer right down to its genetic roots. As part of the Network, we are able to offer this characterization at no cost to the patient and the results will ultimately inform a more precise treatment plan.” SCL Health is dedicated to empowering cancer patients through providing access to proven therapies and the latest scientifically-proven outcomes. SCL Health is one of two health systems in Colorado and the only health system in Montana to be part of the Strata Precision Oncology Network™ (strataoncology.com). This partnership will transform how patients find and access cutting-edge, quality cancer care in the Colorado-Montana region.
SCL Health Oncology Newsletter – Fall 2019
Page 1
Patient Spotlight Dan Vogt, 67, from Billings, Montana, wasn’t alarmed when he experienced chest pain on the job. As a heavy equipment operator and mechanic, he suspected he’d pulled a muscle. However, as the pain persisted, his wife, Joy, convinced him to go to the emergency room. What they discovered there stunned them. It turned out Vogt had a large mass on his lung. He was advised to see his primary care physician who referred him to St. Vincent Healthcare Frontier Cancer Center, where he saw Dr. Martin Lucas, an oncologist. Nothing could have prepared Vogt for the results of further testing. He was told he had stage 4 lung cancer with only six months to live. “My doctor told me I needed to do something real quick,” Vogt said. “I didn’t want to have chemo or radiation because of the side effects. I just wanted to enjoy the time I had left. But when my doctor told me she’d read about a new experimental drug without those side effects, I figured I had nothing to lose.” The drug Dr. Lucas had in mind was called Avelumab, an immunotherapy drug. Immunotherapy drugs tend to have fewer side effects than traditional cancer therapies. But before Vogt could start treatment, he needed to undergo PDL1 testing to determine if his cancer was the type that would benefit from immunotherapy. PDL1 testing measures the amount of PDL1, a protein, on cancer cells. Elevated PDL1 levels can “trick” the immune system into “thinking” cancer cells are normal cells. Avelumab helps the immune system recognize the cancer cells so it can remove them.
“...I tell people ‘never give up hope.’ Treatments are improving all the time. This was like a miracle for me.” – Dan Vogt, Immunotherapy Patient
Vogt underwent a blood test and was told his biomarkers fit the drug 100 percent, qualifying him for the clinical trial. He began bimonthly infusions of Avelumab and received CAT scans every 12 weeks to monitor the tumor. In the first six months, Vogt’s tumor shrank by almost 67 percent. “I have no side effects,” Vogt says. “No hair loss, no nausea, nothing. I tell people ‘never give up hope.’ Treatments are improving all the time. This was like a miracle for me.” Now three years later, at cycle 80 of his Avelumab treatment, Vogt is virtually disease free. Once given just six months to live, Vogt is enjoying an active life filled with all of his favorite activities, including golf, walks with his dog and quality time with his family and friends.
SCL Health Oncology Newsletter – Fall 2019
Page 2
Associate Spotlight: Catherine Bieker Director of System Cancer Registry Catherine Bieker was born, raised and still lives in Evergreen, Colorado. She has been part of the SCL Health family since 2007. Initially serving as a Cancer Data Registrar at Lutheran, Bieker went on to assume increasing responsibility, eventually becoming the Director of the System Cancer Registry in 2016, a position she still holds. The cancer registry functions include regulatory and accreditation activities. Bieker explains, “The registry creates longitudinal data specific to the patient’s journey, from diagnosis to treatment, through survivorship. Patients are followed up annually to determine their ongoing status. The follow-up will last a lifetime.” When asked to describe her proudest job accomplishments, Bieker replied, “Building a strong team, centralizing the registry for the whole system and streamlining processes.” She defines a great day as, “Just seeing what we are doing making a difference through quality of data.” Another proud moment for Bieker included a joint project with the State of Colorado to identify patients appropriate for referral to genetic counseling. These patients might have been overlooked for services, including early cancer detection and cancer prevention education. The benefits of the program not only positively impacted the patient, but their family members as well. Denise Black-Anderson, the SCL Health System Director of Oncology, says, “Catherine is a valued member of the SCL Health Oncology team for her critical contributions to the health of our patients.” Outside of work, Bieker enjoys gardening, hiking, fishing, archery, woodworking, making jam and cooking. When it comes to gardening, she says, “I just like to make things grow.” Bieker loves spending time with her five grown children and six grandchildren. She lives in Evergreen with her husband and their two Labrador Retrievers. Bieker says she is proud to be a member of the SCL Health team because, “We care about our patients and the communities we serve.”
SCL Health Oncology Newsletter – Fall 2019
“We care about our patients and the communities we serve.” – Catherine Bieker Director of System Cancer Registry
Page 3
Care Site Updates Lutheran Medical Center Lutheran Medical Center now offers a new radioisotope pharmaceutical called Lutathera (lutetium Lu 177 dotatate) indicated for the treatment of somatostatin receptor-positive neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs), including tumors in the foregut, midgut and hindgut. The program, which will soon be initiated, was developed through a multidisciplinary collaboration between Nuclear Medicine, Radiation and Medical Oncology, Pharmacy and Registration, as well as Infusion and Inpatient Nursing. Lutathera is available to both SCL patients and outside referrals. Please call Christy Ball (303-403-7325) to schedule a patient for this new targeted therapy.
St. Mary’s Medical Center
St. Mary’s Hospital – Breast Care Center Dressing Rooms & Waiting Area
Joyce Sekharan, M.D., F.A.C.S. Program Medical Director
Kyle A. Work, D.O. Medical Oncologist
St. Mary’s Medical Center has completed the remodel of its Breast Care Center. The Wilma B. Bacon Mammography Center received its first major remodel since opening 15+ years ago. The new look will provide an improved atmosphere of tranquility and healing. The mammography staff, which played a central role in the design phase, wanted the center to embody the feeling of a spa retreat more than a medical facility. Inspired by the local Western Colorado landscape, the remodel captures the atmosphere of a lavender field in wine country, paying homage to the region’s calling as Colorado’s premier location for fruit and wine. In addition to the remodel, St. Mary’s welcomed the following new members to its breast care program team within the last year: Dr. Joyce Sekharan (program medical director), Dr. Kyle Work (medical oncologist), Dr. Alicia Swink (medical oncologist) and Dr. Lucas Gilbride (radiation oncologist). Under Dr. Sekharan’s guidance, St. Mary’s has been performing high-dose radiation treatments for breast cancer along with new advanced treatment options, such as breast seed localization and scalp cooling. These facility improvements and team additions continue to situate St. Mary’s as a pre-eminent provider for breast care in Western Colorado and Eastern Utah. Care Site Updates Continued on Page 5...
Alicia Swink, M.D. Medical Oncologist
Lucas Gilbride, M.D. Radiation Oncologist
SCL Health Oncology Newsletter – Fall 2019
Page 4
Care Site Updates continued Platte Valley Medical Center Platte Valley Medical Center is expanding Oncology Services, with the addition of a new medical oncology medical director and oncologist. Ike Onwere, M.D. is board certified in internal medicine, hematology and oncology. He is the son of African missionaries and his life perspective has been shaped by a desire to assist people in living life more abundantly. Before joining SCL Health, Dr. Onwere spent nine years in Corvallis and Albany, Oregon working as a community oncologist. He also spent three years as a general internist providing healthcare to underserved populations in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dr. Onwere is pleased to join the team at SCL Health Medical Group because the vision and mission is aligned with addressing the physical, mental and spiritual health of the patients we serve. He personally tries to take care of his spiritual health each day.
Ike Onwere, M.D.
Medical Oncology Medical Director
Dr. Onwere is married with two daughters. Together they enjoy great food, historical movies and lots of laughs.
“My sincere desire is to develop the trust and friendship of my patients as we embark on this healthcare journey together. I offer an evidence-based and standard of care approach that is tailored to the goals and needs of my patients.” – Dr. Onwere Montana Region Montana is home to seven reservations, with the Crow reservation being the largest. Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths for Native Americans; yet, baseline lung screenings account for only 0.08 percent of screenings since we began the Lung Nodule screening in 2015. Through a George Washington University grant, our Montana SCL Oncology improvement initiative helped us identify Crow and Northern Cheyenne tribes for screenings and other healthcare services. The initiative also includes patient and provider education, ongoing communication with Crow and Lame Deer healthcare leaders and participation in community events. We have also partnered with our public health community center, Riverstone Health, to increase screenings.
SCL Health Oncology Newsletter – Fall 2019
Page 5