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Comprehensive Breast Care Center at Baptist Hospital:
Patients scheduled for breast cancer surgery at Baptist, Saint Thomas Hospital or Middle Tennessee Medical Center now have the option to attend a pre-operative class to help them prepare for the road ahead.

Based on research showing that pre-operative education leads to increased patient satisfaction and outcomes, Baptist Hospital is offering a class every Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. The educational seminars, hosted by Kim Parham, RN, and Fanny Baxter, RN, focus on surgical options, what patients should expect, drain care, lymphedema, exercises and alternative testing options. Additionally, the nurse navigators provide information on support services and community resources. An American Cancer Society “Reach to Recovery” volunteer also participates by addressing the class and sharing her personal experience as a breast cancer survivor.

“A diagnosis of breast cancer can be extremely overwhelming so we’ve created these classes to personally connect with our patients, explain all of the phases of the healthcare process from pre-treatment to post-treatment and address their concerns and questions,” said Parham. “It’s our mission to support them physically, emotionally and spiritually in their journey to recovery.”

As part of the class, participants also have the opportunity to take care of their pre-admission testing and to receive their post-surgery garments. Parham said the feedback from those who have attended sessions has been extremely positive.

Classes are limited to 10 participants, and pre-registration is required at least one day in advance. Physician offices have the opportunity to register patients, or the patients can enroll themselves by calling the Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center at 284-LADY (5239). A family member or friend who is a vital part of the patient’s support system is also welcome to attend.


Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI):
SCRI and Tennessee Oncology have recently named Dr. Johanna C. Bendell, SB, director of GI cancer research. Bendell, who is board certified in internal medicine and medical oncology, brings extensive Phase I clinical trial experience to her new role from her work at Duke University, where she was assistant professor of medicine.

Bendell received her medical degree from the University of Chicago and completed her internship and residency in the Department of Internal Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. She also completed a fellowship in adult oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and served as assistant of medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and an instructor in medicine at Harvard.
Dr. Daniel Couriel has been named to the SCRI leadership team as director of transplantation research. In addition to his new duties, he will continue in his position as director of allogeneic transplantation for the Sarah Cannon Bone Marrow Transplant Program.
Couriel came to Nashville last summer from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston where he worked in the Division of Cancer Medicine as associate professor of medicine, Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Couriel is internationally recognized for his work in acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease and is the author of more than 50 articles in peer-reviewed journals and more than 100 abstracts. In addition to his own writing, he is a member of the editorial board of Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and a reviewer for six other medical journals.

Tennessee Oncology is the clinical practice base for both Bendell and Couriel.


Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center:
Jennifer Pietenpol, PhD, Ingram Professor of Cancer Research and professor of biochemistry was named director of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center last month, after serving as interim director for nearly a year.

“I committed to finding the best person to lead this center and to ensure its place among the nation’s finest,” said Dr. Harry R. Jacobson, vice chancellor for Health Affairs at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “I believe we’ve found that person in Jennifer.”
He added that during a national search that included the consideration of several highly capable individuals, it became clear that Pietenpol was a “true star” and that she “demonstrated energetic and inspirational leadership.”

After receiving her doctoral degree in cell biology from Vanderbilt, Pietenpol joined the research team at Johns Hopkins Oncology Center. She returned to Vanderbilt in 1994 to join the faculty and soon after was recognized for her research in the areas of cancer biology and toxicology. Pietenpol’s research focuses on tumor suppressor and cell cycle checkpoint signaling pathways in normal cells and how these pathways malfunction in tumor cells.

“I am honored to take this role,” she said. “It is a privilege to have the opportunity to bring together the strengths of so many people for what I would argue is one of the most important goals — to make a difference in the lives of cancer patients.”

Vanderbilt-Ingram is the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Under Pietenpol’s
leadership this past year, VICC moved up to seventh place in competitive funding from the NCI and was made a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Pietenpol is also overseeing the center’s expansion, which will double the capacity of the cancer outpatient clinic and chemotherapy infusion center.



March 2008

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