News Center

Oncologists and clinical cancer researchers from across the state gathered for Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Massey Cancer Center’s sixth annual Cancer Symposium and Clinical Research Affiliation Network Retreat on April 7 and 8 at the Hilton Richmond Hotel & Spa in Short Pump, VA. Friday’s symposium provided continued professional education for clinicians while Saturday’s retreat helped facilitate the operations of Massey’s Clinical Research Affiliation Network, which acts to bring clinical trials to eight affiliated community hospitals and oncology practices in Fredericksburg, Lynchburg, Metro Richmond, South Hill and Winchester. The retreat also aimed to develop deeper connections, collaborations and knowledge sharing to ultimately improve cancer care and increase access to clinical trials throughout Virginia.

Gordon Ginder, M.D., director and Jeanette and Eric Lipman Chair in Oncology at Massey Cancer Center, and Khalid Matin, M.D., F.A.C.P., medical director of community oncology and clinical research affiliations at Massey, welcomed 85 clinicians from around the commonwealth who attended Friday’s symposium. The event featured a series of presentations by experts from Massey and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Sarah Temkin, M.D.

Gynecologic-oncologist Sarah Temkin, M.D., director of gynecologic oncology at Massey and professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the VCU School of Medicine, presented on how genetics have changed the prevention and treatment of ovarian cancer. S. Patrick Nana-Sinkam, M.D., pulmonologist, member of the Cancer Cell Signaling and Cancer Prevention and Control research programs and Linda Grandis Blatt Endowed Chair in Cancer Research at Massey, chair of the Division of Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine and professor of medicine at the VCU School of Medicine, spoke about the future of lung cancer risk assessment and early diagnosis. Jennifer A. Ligibel, M.D., attending physician in adult oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, presented on the link between cancer, obesity and exercise, and Dr. Matin concluded the symposium with closing remarks.

The Clinical Research Affiliate Network Retreat on Saturday focused on clinical trials, updates on Massey’s cancer care delivery research and National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP), and combined discussions about a variety of topics including optimizing timing for referrals, collaborating on post-bone marrow transplant care, the management of kidney cancers, understanding fatigue, and early phase and investigator-initiated clinical trials.

‌“Thank you to all of the physicians, nurses, staff and researchers who came from around the stateto attend the symposium and the retreat this weekend, as well as all our affiliates who continue to work with us to provide cutting-edge clinical trials to more patients,” said Dr. Matin. “As this conference continues to grow each year, it’s exciting to see so many health care providers and researchers band together for the common goal of improving cancer care in Virginia.” 

Written by: Massey Communications Office