Chicago, IL – June 4, 2026 – Just three days before a volleyball match at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, the team’s captain, Kendall Schara, found out she had cancer.  

“I spoke to a lot of my teammates that night,” said Schara. “I spoke to one in particular and told her, ‘I’m just so glad we got to play together for one last day.’” 

In April 2025, the then 21-year-old from Crown Point, Ind., had her wisdom teeth removed. What was supposed to be a standard procedure developed into an infection at one of the surgical sites, the flu, and a rash of sudden health issues. A bone marrow biopsy would then reveal the cause of her symptoms -- Acute Myeloid Leukemia.  

“I'll never forget the moment I was told I had cancer and having to ask the question, ‘what is my survival rate?’” said Schara. “I've been a relatively healthy person my whole life. I never had any problems until I had my wisdom teeth removed.” 

An intensive treatment plan 

Twenty-four hours after being diagnosed in Green Bay, Schara arrived at the Lurie Cancer Center at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago to begin treatment close to home. 

Schara began a 24-hour chemotherapy drip and spent the next month at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. After completing chemo, she began preparing for a stem cell transplant to replace her diseased blood cells with healthy ones.  

In the United States, 70% of patients do not have a relative who is a match and must look outside the family for a donor. Schara’s younger sisters, Marley Schara (20), and Elle Schara (18), both got tested. While Marley wasn’t eligible, Elle was a perfect match.  

“Getting good news throughout all of this is something that keeps me on the positive side,” said Kendall. “Hearing that my sister was a perfect 12 out of 12 match, I was in shock. I didn’t think my sisters would be a match, let alone a perfect match.” 

On July 29, 2025, Kendall underwent a successful stem cell transplant using Elle’s donor cells. Kehinde Akekola, MD, a hematology and medical oncology specialist at Lurie Cancer Center, says Kendall’s athleticism and positive attitude worked to her advantage.

“Kendall works hard and is incredibly strong both mentally and physically,” said Dr. Adekola. “Both her young age and the absence of other medical conditions played a big role in how quickly she recovered.”

Before her transplant, Kendall underwent fertility preservation with Kara Goldman, MD, medical director of fertility preservation at Northwestern Medicine, in the hopes of one day starting a family.

“Fertility preservation is a critical part of comprehensive cancer care,” said Dr. Goldman.  “Infertility remains one of the most common complications of cancer treatment and all patients should have access to fertility preservation and the chance to build a family.”

Back on the court

Nearly one year after the transplant, Kendall is in remission. She returned to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in January 2026 and began practicing with her teammates.

“This semester had challenging moments, but watching the progress over the past few months makes it all worth it,” said Kendall. “I have grown so much mentally and physically, and I’m lucky to have my teammates right beside me.”

Meanwhile, Elle followed in her sister’s footsteps and began playing volleyball at Purdue University in Indiana. Through treatment and in sport, the girls are each other’s biggest fans.

“Not many people have gone through what Elle and I endured this past year,” said Kendall. I’m so grateful to call her my sister, my donor, and my best friend.”

Kendall’s volleyball season will begin in August, giving her a few more months of collegiate play before she graduates in December.

About Acute Myeloid Leukemia 

About 22,000 adults are diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in the United States each year. This type of cancer causes bone marrow to produce abnormal blood cells, and if not treated, can quickly spread throughout the body. The average age for a diagnosis is 69 years old.  

At Lurie Cancer Center, a multidisciplinary team specializes in the research and treatment of AML and other types of cancer.  

For more information on cancer research and treatment, visit nm.org.

CHICAGO – September 23, 2025 – For the first time at Northwestern Medicine, doctors have successfully treated a patient with uveal melanoma — a rare form of eye cancer — using Hepzato Kit, an FDA-approved therapy that delivers chemotherapy directly to the liver. The treatment option could help patients with stage 4 uveal melanoma live longer by shrinking tumors that have spread to the liver and can not be removed surgically.

“This type of therapy has been shown to prolong survival for patients while also offering a very tolerable side effect profile, which are two things we want to prioritize,” said Sunandana Chandra, MD, medical director for melanoma and cutaneous oncology with the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. “It’s especially meaningful to have a therapy that helps us maintain a good quality of life for patients as we navigate a cancer that can be quite challenging to treat.”

On April 3, 66-year-old Bozena Wojtach of Niles, Ill., became the first patient at Northwestern Medicine to receive the new treatment. During the procedure, interventional radiologists use several small tubes to isolate the liver’s blood supply from the rest of the body before chemotherapy is directly administered to the liver for about 30 minutes. Once the chemotherapy is finished, the separated blood supply in the liver is filtered for an additional half hour before being returned to the patient’s body.

“This process removes more than 80% of the chemotherapy drug, significantly reducing the amount of chemotherapy that reaches other parts of the body,” said Robert Lewandowski, MD, director of interventional oncology at the Lurie Cancer Center at Northwestern Medicine. “While systemic chemotherapy targets widespread disease, this therapy is more effective for patients with the majority of their disease localized to the liver, as it minimizes overall toxicity.”

Originally from Cracow, Poland, Wojtach spent her youth flying planes and skydiving before pursuing a career in nursing. After immigrating to the United States in 1986 with her husband, Wojtach gave birth to twin sons and continued working as a nurse in the Chicago area, caring for cardiology, oncology and pediatric patients until her retirement in 2022.

In 2024, Wojtach began noticing flashing lights in her vision, which prompted a visit to her local optometrist. There, she learned that a mass had developed in her right eye and was referred to Northwestern Medicine ophthalmologist Randy Christopher Bowen, MD, who diagnosed her with uveal melanoma. While proton therapy was successful at treating her eye tumor, scans later revealed the cancer had spread to her liver, which is the most common site of spread for patients with uveal melanoma. If left untreated, liver tumors can continue to grow and may lead to liver failure.

Fortunately, the tumors affected less than half of her liver, making Wojtach a candidate for Hepzato Kit. If needed, patients may receive up to six cycles of the therapy, with treatment administered every six to eight weeks. However, after just two cycles, Wojtach’s tumors were reduced by more than 50 percent.

“I feel energetic and free of the pain and nausea that I saw in many patients receiving standard chemotherapy during my time as an oncology nurse,” said Wojtach. “I feel like I’m healthy – like I have no cancer at all.”

Due to her positive response, Wojtach’s medical team recommends she completes at least four cycles of the treatment. In the future, she hopes to continue traveling, working in her garden and spending time with her husband and adult sons.

“It has taken a big commitment from the health system and a significant team effort to bring this new therapy to patients,” said Dr. Lewandowski. “With collaboration from interventional radiology, medical oncology, anesthesia, perfusion, and many others, we are excited to provide new hope for patients who otherwise have limited options.”

Uveal melanoma is rare, accounting for about 5% of all melanoma cases in the U.S. Up to half of all patients with the eye cancer will develop metastatic disease, which can be life-threatening.

To learn more about Northwestern Medicine, visit nm.org.  

ORLAND PARK, Ill. – March 24, 2025 – William Brtis, 67, says the first sign something wasn’t right was when he noticed blood in his urine in January 2023.

Brtis went to Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital for tests and a mass was discovered in his bladder.

Upon further testing, pathologists diagnosed the Oak Forest man with muscle-invasive high-grade urothelial carcinoma, an aggressive form of bladder cancer. Six days later, Brtis was given another diagnosis – right lung adenocarcinoma, a form of lung cancer.

“While undergoing the work-up for the bladder cancer, we were surprised that he, at the same time, had another cancer. It was a lung cancer and that complicated things for him, because it wasn’t a straightforward case,” said Yazan Numan, MD, a medical oncologist at the Northwestern Medicine St. George Cancer Institute in Orland Park.

Two cancers at the same time

While rare, Dr. Numan says patients can have two cancers at the same time.

“Usually, from five to 10% of patients can get diagnosed with two cancers at the same time. Usually, this is due to a genetic or familial predisposition that certain types of cancers can run in the family,” Dr. Numan said.

Brtis, who has 10 siblings, wasn’t aware of any familial predisposition to cancer. A non-smoker, he said the lung cancer diagnosis hit him hard.

“They found some white spots, and it was a cancerous lesion in my lung. And that's about the only thing that scared me. It could be a death sentence, which is how I thought about it,” Brtis said.

Devising a treatment plan to cure two cancers

Brtis’ care team held multidisciplinary meetings to come up with the best course of action.

“We had multiple meetings with different doctors from different specialties. At Northwestern Medicine, we have several tumor boards for different types of cancers, and we discussed his case with many doctors to come up with the best treatment plan for him,” Dr. Numan said.

Brtis first underwent surgery to remove the mass on his bladder and then began several weeks of chemotherapy. When the treatment wasn’t progressing the way the team hoped, the decision was made to conduct surgery to remove Brtis’ bladder.

In May 2023, Joshua Meeks, MD, PhD, urologist at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, performed a successful cystoprostatectomy, the removal of the bladder and the prostate. 

With the bladder cancer cured, treating the lung cancer was next

After recovering from surgery, in August 2023, Brtis began a regimen that included both chemotherapy and daily radiation treatments for his lungs.

Haider Ali Shirazi, MD, medical director of radiation oncology at the St. George Cancer Institute collaborated with Dr. Numan to determine Brtis’ treatment plan.

“He was treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy,” Dr. Shirazi said. “It allows the radiation oncologist to make sure we minimize the doses to certain organs and maximize the dose to the tumor, while minimizing side effects at the same time.”

Cancer treatments don’t have to put life on hold

From the beginning, Brtis told his care team that he would like to continue working, if possible. A forklift operator, Brtis works second shift, unloading trucks at RJW Logistics in Lockport.

Even as he underwent five weeks of daily radiation treatments and weekly chemotherapy infusions, Brtis surprised his care team by working the entire time.

“I was teasing the nurses about it, saying, ‘You're not putting chemo in me. You're putting water in me,’ because nothing was bothering me at all,” Brtis said.

Brtis experienced minimal side effects from the chemotherapy. His only hair loss came in the form of his eyelashes, which have since grown back.

“It's really a testament to William how well he tolerated such intense treatment. It never got his spirits down. He was always very friendly despite having to come in for daily treatments for almost six weeks, and everyone got to know him and got to love him,” Dr. Shirazi said.

Every tool in the cancer toolkit

In early 2024, Brtis began immunotherapy treatments, another tool in the cancer toolkit.

He was scheduled to continue the weekly therapy until September 2024, but scans taken in June showed the lung cancer lesions were gone, allowing the immunotherapy treatments to be halted early. Brtis is now cancer-free.

“William received every tool available to us. He had surgery and received chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy. Lastly, he has been on a treatment to prevent cancer recurrence that targets a certain mutation of his cancer. And that's how we ended up with a successful outcome,” Dr. Numan said.

“I am so happy that he's doing well. It's almost a year and a half since he completed his radiation treatment. He basically has no side effects from his lung cancer treatment. He’s been able to adapt to the consequences of his cystoprotatectomy, the removal of the bladder and the prostate, and he hasn't let it hold him back at all,” Dr. Shirazi said.

About Northwestern Medicine Cancer Care

With the exception of the cystoprostatectomy, Brtis was able to receive all his cancer care less than 20 minutes from his Oak Forest home at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital and Northwestern Medicine St. George Cancer Institute.

The Orland Park cancer center offers hematology and medical oncology care, laboratory services, nutritional counseling and social work. A full-service infusion suite and specialty pharmacy provide onsite chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy and supportive care. New cancer therapies are now available in the south suburbs through participation in clinical trials, before these treatments become more widely available.

For more information about the Northwestern Medicine St. George Cancer Institute, visit nm.org.

Naples, FL — October 28, 2024 — Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) announced today a strategic collaboration with Northwestern Medicine with a focus on enhancing and expanding cancer care services. Leveraging the expertise of Northwestern Medicine, NCH will establish a comprehensive cancer program to support the growing clinical needs to treat and care for cancer patients in Southwest Florida.

As part of the collaboration, NCH will have access to a variety of clinical resources offered by Northwestern Medicine including the ability to consult with oncology experts, refer patients for second opinions and the opportunity to leverage the latest in clinical trial offerings. Northwestern Medicine is also home to the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. Designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Lurie Cancer Center is one of only 57 Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the nation and one of the first centers to receive a Merit Extension Award from NCI.

“This is a unique opportunity to leverage our expertise and share best practices with the goal of enhancing the cancer care offerings in Southwest Florida,” said Howard Chrisman, MD, president and chief executive officer, Northwestern Memorial HealthCare. “Backed by a nationally ranked cancer program and leading oncology experts, we believe this collaboration has the potential to have a lasting impact on current and future NCH patients.”

For years, NCH has worked diligently to transform itself into an Advanced Community Healthcare System^TM committed to bringing more comprehensive and acute care to Southwest Florida, so residents won’t have to travel far to get it. To that end, this collaboration will advance cancer screening programs aimed at ensuring early detection and introduce patient navigation programs to support cancer patients through their journey.

Dr. Ed Grendys, a gynecologic oncologist, has been named Medical Director to lead the advancement of the NCH Women’s Cancer Program. This effort will include the opening of a women’s cancer center on the NCH North Naples campus, offering comprehensive gynecologic oncology surgery and treatment.

“NCH is proud to collaborate with Northwestern Medicine - one of the premier healthcare organizations in oncology. Through this partnership, our patients will gain access to leading-edge clinical trials, cancer specialists and experts who define the national treatment guidelines for cancer,” said Paul Hiltz, president and chief executive officer, NCH. “We will continue to recruit new physicians and nurses to Southwest Florida to support our growing oncology program. These expanding services allow cancer patients the opportunity to receive the best possible care right here in Southwest Florida with the world’s best cancer specialists.”

Northwestern Medicine is Chicago’s premier integrated academic health system. Dedicated to providing the most advanced health care to patients, the health system is anchored by Northwestern Memorial Hospital. For 13 consecutive years, Northwestern Memorial has been named to the Best Hospital Honor Roll by U.S. News and World Report, with 11 specialties ranked nationally. Most noteworthy being, Northwestern Memorial is one of only three hospitals in the nation to receive a U.S. News rating of High Performing in all procedures and conditions. The health system’s cancer program is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report and provides patients with access to state-of-the art therapies, highly specialized cancer care teams, specialized research and clinical trials.

“Through the continued generosity of our community, NCH will continue to rapidly expand cancer treatment and prevention services,” said Scott Lutgert, board chair, NCH. “NCH’s vision is to open a comprehensive cancer center that incorporates the best practices of leading cancer centers in the U.S., including Northwestern.”

CHICAGO – November 15, 2024 – Can lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic help treat cancer? A new study led by researchers at the Northwestern Medicine Canning Thoracic Institute and published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation has revealed a connection between COVID-19 infection and cancer regression. The team’s discovery could pave the way for novel cancer treatments.

In an unexpected twist, researchers observed that the RNA from the SARS-CoV-2 virus – responsible for COVID-19 – triggered the development of a unique type of immune cell with anti-cancer properties. These cells, dubbed “inducible nonclassical monocytes (I-NCMs),” were found to attack cancer cells and could potentially be harnessed to treat cancers that are resistant to current therapies. These findings possibly explain the mechanism behind the reported regression of certain cancers following COVID-19 infection.

“This discovery opens up a new avenue for cancer treatment,” said Ankit Bharat, MD, chief of thoracic surgery and director of the Canning Thoracic Institute. “We found that the same cells activated by severe COVID-19 could be induced with a drug to fight cancer, and we specifically saw a response with melanoma, lung, breast and colon cancer in the study. While this is still in the early stages and the effectiveness was only studied in preclinical animal models, it offers hope that we might be able to use this approach to benefit patients with advanced cancers that have not responded to other treatments.”

The study, conducted using both human tissues and animal models, found that these unique immune cells could be pharmacologically stimulated using small molecules, potentially creating a new therapeutic option for cancer patients. This discovery could have significant implications, particularly for patients with aggressive or advanced cancers who have exhausted traditional treatment options such as immunotherapies.

How the Body’s Response to COVID-19 Could Help Fight Cancer
The researchers discovered that during COVID-19, a special subset of immune cells can be stimulated in the body. This process begins when the RNA from the virus activates certain signals in the immune system. These signals cause the transformation of common monocytes – an ordinary type of white blood cell – into I-NCMs. These newly formed cells have the ability to move into both the blood vessels and the surrounding tissue where tumors grow, something most other immune cells can’t do.

“What makes these cells so special is their dual capability,” said Dr. Bharat, who is also professor of surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “Typically, immune cells called non-classical monocytes patrol blood vessels, looking for threats. But they can't enter the tumor site itself due to the lack of specific receptors. In contrast, the I-NCMs created during severe COVID-19 retain a unique receptor called CCR2, allowing them to travel beyond blood vessels and infiltrate the tumor environment. Once there, they release certain chemicals to recruit body’s natural killer cells. These killer cells then swarm the tumor and start attacking the cancer cells directly, helping to shrink the tumor.”

What’s Next?
While this research is promising, Dr. Bharat cautions that more work is needed before this approach can be used in clinical settings.

“We are in the early stages, but the potential to transform cancer treatment is there. Our next steps will involve clinical trials to see if we can safely and effectively use these findings to help cancer patients,” added Dr. Bharat.

The team hopes that, with further research, they can develop therapies that specifically target these cells to treat cancers that are currently difficult to manage. This could lead to new treatment options for patients who have exhausted all other possibilities.

The research could potentially play an important role with the Canning Thoracic Institute’s Double Lung Replacement and Multidisciplinary Care (DREAM) Program, a first-of-its-kind clinical initiative at Northwestern Medicine that provides double-lung transplants to select patients with advanced lung cancers who are not responding to conventional treatments. To date, more than 40 patients have received double-lung transplants through the DREAM Program.

“While the program has been highly successful, we do anticipate that some patients might have recurrence. Since we’re using monocytes with our research, we could potentially treat DREAM patients without risking rejection of their new lungs,” said Dr. Bharat.

The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Canning Thoracic Institute, and conducted by a team of scientists from Feinberg School of Medicine and clinicians at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. For more information about Northwestern Medicine, visit nm.org. 

CHICAGO – November 12, 2024 – At six years old, Luke Bucciarelli already knows he wants to be a surgeon when he grows up. But not just any surgeon – a thoracic surgeon; someone who operates on organs in the chest, including the lungs, esophagus, trachea and heart.

“I want to be a thoracic surgeon because we need lungs to breathe, and when the lungs get sick, I want to help make people feel better,” said Luke.

The kindergartner from Brentwood, Tenn., loves watching surgical videos on YouTube and when he stumbled across an “Inside the OR” video of Sam Kim, MD, a thoracic surgeon at Northwestern Medicine Canning Thoracic Institute, performing robotic lung cancer surgery, Luke couldn’t stop watching. In fact, Luke started performing “surgery” on a banana with surgical tools he borrowed from a retired surgeon and family friend, and was able to attend an educational event where he could test out a surgical robot. (Photos of the banana and surgical robot linked here.)

“The da Vinci® surgical robot that Dr. Kim uses for his cancer cases has different joystick levers, so it’s like watching a video game, which is very cool,” Luke said. 

“We created that ‘Inside the OR’ video several years ago for our patients who have lung cancer, because many patients get scared and don’t know what’s going to happen inside the operating room,” explained Dr. Kim. “With the video, we’re able to demystify the process and make patients feel more comfortable before surgery.”

Dr. Kim Surprises His Biggest (Little) Fan

Wanting to thank Dr. Kim for inspiring her son to become a thoracic surgeon, Luke’s mom, Katherine Bucciarelli, called Northwestern Medicine and left a message – anticipating maybe an email response. To her shock, not only did Dr. Kim want to talk to Luke, but he had a very special surprise for him.

“Dr. Kim called Luke via FaceTime and took him virtually inside his operating room, letting Luke see the surgical robot up close and personal. Dr. Kim also told us that if we’re ever in Chicago, we need to stop by Northwestern Memorial Hospital and he would give us a personal tour,” said Katherine. “Dr. Kim went above and beyond. Luke still hasn’t stopped talking about it!”

“It was so neat to see Dr. Kim’s operating room, and now I know how to wash my hands for surgery – you have to scrub past the elbows!” said Luke.

“I don’t have a lot of fans who are six years old, but when I heard that a kindergartner from Tennessee was watching our robotic lung cancer surgery video and it inspired him to one day become a thoracic surgeon, I knew I wanted to do something special for him,” said Dr. Kim. “Many kids want to grow up to be rockstars or athletes, but working in health care is a very fulfilling, rewarding job that does good for a lot of people. I hope videos like this inspire even more kids out there and demonstrates that if you apply yourself and are dedicated to your work, someday you can join me inside the operating room.”

Thoracic Surgeons in Demand

As the population grows and ages, demand for cardiothoracic surgeons is expected to increase. By 2035, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) projects 900 cardiothoracic surgeons will retire while demand for surgeries will increase by 20 percent, resulting in a 31 percent shortfall of surgeons within the specialty, which is the largest projected shortfall of any physician specialty.

“The demand for cardiothoracic surgeons is why it’s so important to inspire and invest in the next generation – like Luke,” added Dr. Kim. “While we’ve made strides in treating lung cancer, the disease is still the most commonly diagnosed cancer, and we need more surgeons who are willing and wanting to help these patients.”

Lung Cancer Awareness Month

November marks Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States, and cancers of the lung are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. in both men and women with more people dying of lung cancer than colon, breast and prostate cancers combined.

While smoking is a major risk factor for developing lung cancer, it can also affect those who have never smoked. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the U.S., about 10 to 20 percent of lung cancers (20,000-40,000 cases) happen in people who have never smoked or smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime. Exposure to secondhand smoke, radon, air pollution, asbestos and having a family history of lung cancer are all contributing risk factors.

Symptoms of lung cancer can include:

-        Frequent cough

-        Shortness of breath

-        Chest pain

-        Coughing up blood

-        Wheezing

-        Feeling tired or not well all the time

Those at high risk for developing lung cancer should ask their primary care physician about scheduling a low-dose chest CT scan. For more information about lung cancer treatment options and scheduling a low-dose chest CT scan, visit nm.org.

GENEVA, IL — October 21, 2024 —  Northwestern Medicine is teaming up with Lombard-based Valqari to test drone deliveries on the campus of Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital. The pilot-project is the first step in determining the feasibility of using drone technology for safe and efficient deliveries of specimens and medical supplies. Northwestern Medicine Delnor is among the first hospitals in the United States to trial drones for inter-site deliveries.

Lab testing capabilities vary across Northwestern Medicine’s campuses and often require blood samples to be sent to different lab locations. These deliveries affect turnaround time for results and can delay care.

“Traditionally, this type of delivery has been done through hired courier services or clinicians walking the specimens across the campus on a set schedule,” said Sylvester Dazzo, vice president of administration at Northwestern Medicine. “If proven feasible, drone delivery has the potential to create an on-demand option that doesn’t require staff to walk across campus, keeping our caregivers doing what they do best – providing world-class patient care.”   

The drones currently fly between Delnor Hospital’s south entrance and the cancer center across the street from two drone stations. It flies over the grass lawn and walkways and crosses the street and sidewalks when no people or cars are nearby. While the drone flies entirely on its own, a pilot is nearby to supervise the drone flight.

"We have a significant number of patients who require same-day blood product transfusions who have benefited from the service the drone is providing,” said Megha Shah, RN, oncology infusion charge nurse at the Delnor Cancer Center.  “It allows us to obtain our blood products outside our scheduled courier times - significantly reducing wait times for patients.”

Operations of the drone are overseen by Valqari, a recognized leader in drone deliveries headquartered just down the street from Delnor’s Geneva campus. Every morning before drone flights commence, Valqari’s team secures Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval to fly for the day. No patient information is visible to the flight team at any point during the delivery process. The drones are not equipped with cameras.

“When ready for transport, hospital staff makes an on-demand delivery request with Valqari’s app notifying the flight team of an inbound package,” explained Ryan Walsh, CEO and founder of Valqari. “The package is placed in a designated locker on the nearest Valqari DronePort and is then loaded onto an elevator that attaches the package to the drone. The drone ensures the airspace is clear before taking off then flies to the designated landing station to drop it off. An FAA-certified Part 107 pilot is within line of sight that can take over the controls at all times to ensure we are always meeting the current FAA requirements."

Without drones, most deliveries on the Delnor campus are made during four scheduled courier trips each day. For an on-demand delivery, staff walk the items out of the building and across the street something that occurs 40+ times per month.

"Prior to the drones, nursing staff walked back and forth between the cancer center and hospital sometimes several times per day,” said Kristen Goldsmith, RN, oncology infusion nurse at the Delnor Cancer Center. “Having the drones make deliveries helps because it keeps me at the chairside with my patients. In the cancer center, treatment decisions are based on bloodwork, so with this on-demand option, we are able to expedite care, and the quicker turnaround time takes some stress off our patients who are anxiously awaiting their results."

Current FAA guidelines require drones to operate within a line of sight, have 20 ft radius of open space around it, and to remain on the Delnor campus. Drones cannot operate within the city of Chicago or within five miles of an airport. However, drone regulations are expected to expand in 2025 opening the opportunity to further the use of drone deliveries to other sites in the Northwestern Medicine Health Network.

“If this project continues to validate drones as a safe and quick delivery option, we’ll explore where else in the health system drones may be beneficial,” said Dazzo. “We are particularly interested in how drones can potentially improve treatment times at our rural locations by providing a fast, efficient delivery option where one doesn’t currently exist.”

For Valqari, partnerships like the one with Northwestern Medicine present an opportunity to develop and refine solutions that drive innovation and efficiency in the field of drone deliveries.

"We are grateful to be able to work towards our company mission, which is to use our technology to improve people's lives,” said Walsh. “Getting the opportunity to do that alongside such an amazing company as Northwestern Medicine to be able to improve patient treatment times is a big step in our mission. Our collective efforts are instrumental in shaping the future of drone delivery, ensuring that this transformative technology evolves to meet the demands of a dynamic landscape.”

Northwestern Medicine is committed to rapidly finding, evaluating and activating internal and external innovative solutions for challenges affecting patients and care teams today and to optimize future care delivery. The Northwestern Medicine Mansueto Innovation Institute connects innovators and collaborators to an extensive network of leaders with expertise in medicine, innovation, data, business and more within Northwestern Medicine and across the healthcare industry. To learn more, visit the Mansueto Innovation Institute website.

In the United States, breast cancer incidence in Hispanic women is 28 percent lower than in non-Hispanic white women, who have the highest incidence rate. Despite these lower occurrence rates, Hispanic women are more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer and have a 30 percent higher mortality rate highlighting the significant health disparities this population faces when it comes to accessing high-quality breast cancer care and screening.  

“What we see in the Hispanic community is that the women are being diagnosed at later stages, even though their diagnosis tends to be at a younger age,” says Claudia Tellez, MD, a medical oncologist at Lurie Cancer Center at Northwestern Medicine. “And because they’re being diagnosed at a later stage, their cancers are generally more aggressive, and the prognosis is less favorable.” 

Dr. Tellez is working to change this by breaking down barriers and providing Chicago’s Hispanic women with better access to breast cancer screening, treatment and research with the recently launched Lurie Cancer Center Hispanic Breast Cancer Clinic at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.  

“Many Hispanic women in Chicago struggle to access care or are not receiving the highest standard of care because of language barriers, financial limitations and other factors,” says Dr. Tellez, medical director of the new clinic. “Our team is dedicated to addressing these disparities and improving access by providing culturally sensitive care, bilingual support, and educational resources tailored to the needs of Hispanic patients.”  

Led by Dr. Tellez, who is a native of Colombia, the Hispanic Breast Cancer Clinic offers personalized care from a multidisciplinary team of breast cancer experts, supportive care specialists and administrative staff who all speak Spanish. The core clinic team includes a physician, nurse, medical assistant, social worker and research assistant.  

“Getting a breast cancer diagnosis is scary and overwhelming – even more so when you can’t access care in your preferred language,” says Dr. Tellez. “Patients who come to us can expect a safe and welcoming environment where each person they encounter – starting from their first phone call through their treatment – will speak Spanish. We want every patient to be confident in her treatment plan and feel comfortable communicating with a care team that embraces her culture and speaks her preferred language.”  

One of Dr. Tellez’s goals with the new clinic is to increase the number of Hispanic patients participating in clinical trials for breast cancer, an area where they are consistently underrepresented.  

“Breast cancer patients that are Hispanic represent about a third in the city of Chicago. A third of the patients that we’re seeing for clinical trials should be Hispanic,” says Dr. Tellez “And yet, we see less than 10 percent Hispanic patients participating in clinical trials in the city of Chicago. And for pharmaceutical company trials, it’s even lower at around 2.5 percent.” 

In addition to often being diagnosed younger and with later stage cancers, Hispanic women are at higher-risk for triple-negative breast cancer and HER-2 positive breast cancer, aggressive subtypes of the disease that require a targeted, specific treatment plan.  

“There are distinctive features about Hispanic women with breast cancer. For instance, they have subtypes of breast cancer that are unique, and we need to be aware of that and treat them accordingly,” says Dr. Tellez. “Participation in clinical trials often means access to new drugs or treatments that aren’t available otherwise. More participation and representation also create an opportunity for clinical trials that are very specific to those subtypes, such as triple negative, and can help improve treatments for the disease.”       

Community outreach and partnerships with Hispanic health advocates will be an important element to the success of the new Hispanic Breast Cancer Clinic.  

 “We’re working with community groups and health advocates who are known and trusted in the community. Together, we want to ensure that Hispanic women are knowledgeable about the importance of regular screenings and early detection,” says Dr. Tellez. “And if they need care, we’re here and ready to help. Our goal is to ensure that every patient who walks through our door has the information, education and resources needed for the best possible outcome in their breast cancer journey,”  

On Saturday, October 28, Dr. Tellez will participate in Lurie Cancer Center’s annual Breast Cancer Community Forum for Hispanic women. The event will feature educational presentations in Spanish about breast cancer, followed by an interactive discussion with a panel of experts who will answer questions about treatments, surgeries, as well as the emotions and challenges faced by cancer survivors. The event is free and open to the public. Register online: Foro Comunitario Sobre Cáncer de Seno.  

To schedule an appointment with the Hispanic Breast Cancer Clinic, call our Spanish-speaking patient liaison at 312.472.0805 (TTY: 711) or visit the clinic's website in Spanish or English.

B-ROLL, SOUNDBITES & PHOTOS: Hispanic Breast Cancer Clinic - Dropbox 

VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL DEL COMUNICADO DE PRENSA: El Centro Oncológico Lurie lanza una clínica hispana de cáncer de mama en el Northwestern Memorial Hospital
 
For more information about Northwestern Medicine, visit https://news.nm.org/.  

It’s hard to say who was more taken aback by Chicago pastor Brenda Bravatty’s pancreatic cancer diagnosis: Brenda or Rajesh Keswani, MD, MS, an interventional gastroenterologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Brenda felt perfectly healthy when she met Dr. Keswani as a precautionary measure after genetic tests revealed she was at high risk for pancreatic cancer. An MRI screening was normal, but Dr. Keswani knew that early-stage pancreatic cancer does not cause symptoms and is hard to detect with medical imaging. He recommended an endoscopic ultrasound to look for even the smallest sign of the disease.

After the procedure, Dr. Keswani sat with Brenda and her husband and shared shocking news.

“He said, I found something, and it’s so small, I can’t believe it,” Brenda said. “He called the next day and said the biopsy showed I had pancreatic cancer. I’d never had any health problems, and he was saying I had a serious disease. I could hardly believe what I was hearing.”

Although Dr. Keswani regularly performs advanced procedures to screen for pancreatic cancer, he said it is rare that it is caught as early as Brenda’s.

“I was really dismayed during her endoscopy,” Dr. Keswani, director of endoscopy for Northwestern Memorial Hospital and director of quality for the Northwestern Medicine Digestive Health Center. “She’d had a recent scan that didn't show anything, and it hits you that you’re about to diagnose someone with something that is life-altering. That is very humbling.”

Brenda’s diagnosis started a year of treatment that would keep her away from the church and ministry that were central to her life. The experience reinforced her trust in preventive care, but at the beginning, it tested her faith in God. She struggled to find hope in her diagnosis. After watching two of her brothers undergo pancreatic cancer treatment, Brenda knew the path would be difficult.

“I felt that I was sinking,” she said. “When I heard I needed chemo, I was shaking, I was so fearful. The chemo for pancreatic cancer is so strong, and I relied on my family and my friends to get through it. My faith in God was my daily companion, but there were moments when I really struggled to understand or make sense of this difficult situation that was happening to me.”

A couple of months after finishing chemotherapy, Brenda asked Dr. Keswani a question that would change her perspective.

 “I asked him, how often do you find pancreatic cancer so early, and he said, ‘Never,’" she said. "I knew my life is a miracle, and I started looking at my process as an opportunity.”

Devalingam Mahalingam, MD, PhD, hematology and medical oncology at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, led the multidisciplinary team that developed Brenda’s care plan. He said the early detection of Brenda’s cancer gave her an advantage as she began treatment.

“It’s hard to detect pancreatic cancers early, and 80 percent of patients present with advanced disease that is not able to be curatively treated,” Dr. Mahalingam said. “Pancreatic cancer’s symptoms are quite insidious – vague abdominal pain, and new-onset diabetes. Often, those don’t immediately indicate the need for a pancreatic cancer evaluation.”

Brenda had surgery called a Whipple procedure and then took several weeks to recover. When she felt stronger, she began a rigorous course of chemotherapy that included a cocktail of three intravenous drugs given every two weeks.

“Brenda completed six months of chemotherapy and she tolerated the treatment really well because she had a positive attitude and she stayed physically active,” Dr. Mahalingam said. “We recommended physical therapy so she could maintain her energy throughout her treatment. It worked so well that she was able to share some of that energy with our staff and with other patients who were also at our cancer center for care.”

Those conversations with other patients reinvigorated Brenda’s faith, and she used each infusion appointment as an opportunity to help others.

“When I was in the waiting area, I saw people who were crying. I talked to them and said, ‘I’m going through this too,’” Brenda said. “Every time a nurse performed a procedure on me, I said, ‘you are doing something that has great value.’”

Throughout the treatment process, Brenda realized she wanted to help others become more intentional about their health. She returned to her ministry, where she helps women overcome domestic violence, single parenthood, emotional issues and other challenges that often make personal health a lower priority.

“Preventive care is so important, and so many people in the Latino community need to hear that,” she said. “I’d always been so healthy that I really am fortunate that I followed up with Dr. Keswani after my genetic screening. That really wasn’t in my nature.”

Dr. Keswani said many pancreatic cancers do not have genetic causes, but for Brenda, there was little that could be done to prevent the disease because of her genetic mutation. Since her cancer was detected early, she wasn’t yet experiencing symptoms that would have made her recovery even more difficult.

“It’s hard to say someone is lucky when they have pancreatic cancer, but with Brenda you have to recognize the blessing of early detection,” Dr. Keswani said. “It’s a story of hope because medicine is advancing. More blood tests are being developed, and artificial intelligence will help us detect pancreatic cancer earlier. If we’re going to make a dent with this disease, it’s going to be with early detection. Brenda was proactive, and it has changed her life.”

CHICAGO – March 15, 2023 – Cancers of the lung are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States with more people dying of lung cancer than colon, breast and prostate cancers combined. For the second time at Northwestern Medicine, surgeons have successfully performed a double-lung transplant on a patient with stage 4 lung cancer who was being considered for hospice. The treatment option is now available for select patients with stage 4 lung cancers confined to the lungs in a first-of-its-kind clinical program at Northwestern Medicine called Double Lung Replacement and Multidisciplinary Care (DREAM).

“These are patients diagnosed with some forms of lung cancer that have spread within the lung, are out of treatment options and have limited time to live,” said Ankit Bharat, MD, chief of thoracic surgery and director of Northwestern Medicine Canning Thoracic Institute. “In this unique program we will include select patients with some forms of lung cancer that are limited to the lungs for the consideration of double-lung transplant if conventional or experimental treatments have failed. The purpose of DREAM is to provide the most comprehensive multidisciplinary care for these complex patients.”

“We’re excited to formally launch this unique multidisciplinary program that will include highly experienced specialists across disciplines such as thoracic surgery, pulmonary, and oncology, to help some of the most hopeless patients,” said Rade Tomic, MD, pulmonologist and medical director of the Northwestern Medicine Canning Thoracic Institute Lung Transplant Program.

On September 25, 2021, at the age of 54, Albert Khoury from Chicago, Ill., became the first patient with stage 4 lung cancer to receive a lung transplant at Northwestern Medicine. In early 2020, Khoury was working as a cement finisher when he developed back pain, sneezing, chills, and a cough with mucus. At first, Khoury thought it was COVID-19, but then he was diagnosed with lung cancer and ended up in the intensive care unit on a ventilator when chemotherapy treatments failed. As hospice care was being considered for Khoury, Northwestern Medicine surgeons determined that because his tumor was localized to the chest completely encasing both lungs and hadn’t spread to other parts of his body, he was a candidate for a double-lung transplant. Eighteen months after receiving the lifesaving surgery, Khoury still has no signs of cancer left in his body and has returned to work.

“My life went from zero to 100 because of Northwestern Medicine,” said Khoury. “You didn’t see this smile on my face for over a year, but now I can’t stop smiling. My medical team never gave up on me.”

As Khoury was receiving his transplant in September 2021, Tannaz Ameli of Minneapolis, Minn., was struggling with a lingering cough. By January 2022, the retired nurse went to a large health system in Minnesota where they confirmed she had stage 4 lung cancer. When chemotherapy treatments didn’t help and hospice was recommended, Ameli’s husband reached out to the Northwestern Medicine Canning Thoracic Institute’s Second Opinion Program. Because Ameli’s cancer was confined to the lungs and hadn’t spread to other parts of the body, the 64-year-old was listed for a transplant and received new lungs within 10 days on July 13, 2022.

“I begged my doctors in Minnesota to consider a lung transplant, but they wouldn’t do it. Luckily, my husband refused to give up and pushed for a second opinion,” said Ameli. “When I came to Northwestern Medicine, the first thing Dr. Bharat told me was, ‘I think we can make you cancer-free,’ and he delivered on those words. If you or your loved one has complex conditions such as lung cancer, Northwestern Medicine is the place to be. Everyone is amazing and I can’t thank them enough for saving my life.”

Khoury and Ameli didn’t require any further cancer therapy after transplant. 

“Innovation and research have always been a foundational cornerstone at Northwestern Medicine and we’re committed to continually improving the field of transplantation,” said Satish Nadig, MD, PhD, transplant surgeon and director of the Northwestern Medicine Comprehensive Transplant Center. “Liver transplantation for cancer is commonplace, and while it’s not suitable for all, it’s highly effective in many. Further, transplantation for metastatic cancer to the liver, from the colon, for example, is now past proof-of-concept. It will be exciting to better understand whether we can use transplant principles for certain lung cancer types that have only spread within the lungs.”

Northwestern Medicine surgeons were the first to perform double-lung transplants on COVID-19 patients in the United States, and in the largest single-center series published to date, the post-transplant survival at one year for those patients was above 90%, exceeding national metrics. Using lessons learned from pioneering COVID-19 lung transplantation, Northwestern Medicine surgeons developed a novel surgical technique to clear the cancer during surgery while minimizing the risk of spread that has plagued prior such attempts at other hospitals.

“While lung transplantation is an accepted indication for certain forms of lung cancer by national organizations, it’s infrequently performed due to the concerns of recurrence following surgery. Unlike the conventional technique of sequential transplants, this innovative technique involves putting the patient on full heart and lung bypass, delicately taking both cancer-ridden lungs out at the same time along with the lymph nodes, washing the airways and the chest cavity to clear the cancer, and then putting new lungs in,” said Dr. Bharat. “These patients can have billions of cancer cells in the lungs, so we must be extremely meticulous to not let a single cell spill into the patient’s chest cavity or blood stream. We believe this technique can help reduce the risk of recurrence, which we learned through our experience with pioneering COVID-19 lung transplants.”

“Similar to our experience with COVID-19 lung transplantation, when it comes to donor lung availability, we do not anticipate causing any disadvantage to the non-cancer patients awaiting lung transplant,” said Dr. Tomic. “We plan to mitigate any issues with donor lung availability using our newly launched 'lungs in a box' program, where our surgeons can repair damaged lungs and successfully use them for transplant.”

The outcomes of the program’s first 75 patients will be tracked in a new research registry also called DREAM (Double Lung Transplant Registry Aimed for Lung-limited Malignancies – a prospective observational registry study for patients undergoing lung transplantation for some forms of medically refractory lung cancer confined to the lungs) available on ClinicalTrials.gov. The research registry is focused on the outcomes of the treatment intervention. Participation in the research registry is voluntary. A patient may receive a double-lung transplant as part of the DREAM clinical program, without enrolling in the DREAM research registry.

“Encouraged by our first two patients, the goal of following these registry participants is to maintain close follow-up care by our multidisciplinary team and demonstrate good outcomes while learning new insights about lung cancer,” said Young Chae, MD, medical oncologist at Northwestern Medicine.

Patients interested in being evaluated for a lung transplant can contact the referral line at 844.639.5864. For more information about Northwestern Medicine’s lung cancer and lung transplant programs, as well as advanced therapies, visit nm.org.  

Winfield, Ill. – Children’s Oncology Group (COG) recently approved Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital as an affiliate member institution through the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.

The distinction is an expansion of the current COG status, and it allows pediatric hematology and oncology specialists at Central DuPage Hospital to provide eligible patients and families with the opportunity to enroll in the latest clinical trials and therapies, including trials that involve investigational drugs.

“The distinction as an affiliate member institution with COG is very important to patients and their families seeking clinical trials in the western suburbs,” said Ammar Hayani, MD, pediatric hematologist and oncologist, Lurie Children’s at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital. “Patients no longer have to travel long distances in order to receive this specialized care. This is not only more convenient for families but also safer for the patients.”

Pediatric hematology and oncology specialists at Central DuPage Hospital provide comprehensive care for children and adolescents with a wide range of cancers and blood diseases. Using a family-centered, multidisciplinary approach to care, specialists help young patients return to a life focused on the future.

Specialized services available to pediatric hematology/oncology patients ranging from newborns to young adults at Central DuPage Hospital include: chemotherapy, radiation therapy, transfusions, coagulation replacement therapy and minimally invasive surgery. Should hospitalization be necessary, patients benefit from the 24-hour onsite coverage provided by Lurie Children’s hospitalists and critical care specialists in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Pediatric Units at Central DuPage Hospital.

COG is the world leader in pediatric oncology research. The vast majority of children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer each year in the U.S. are cared for at COG member institutions.

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital and Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital offers leading-edge and compassionate specialty care to families in Chicago's west suburbs. This unique program offers access to Lurie Children’s physicians in 35 specialties at outpatient centers throughout the west suburbs.

To learn more about Northwestern Medicine, visit nm.org.

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Orland Park, Ill. – The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a quality program administered by the American College of Surgeons (ACS), has granted accredited status to Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital and the Northwestern Medicine Breast Health Program in Orland Park. To achieve NAPBC accreditation, a breast center demonstrates compliance with the NAPBC standards addressing leadership, clinical services, research, community outreach, professional education, and quality improvement for patients. Breast centers seeking NAPBC accreditation undergo a site visit every three years.

“We are thrilled to be recognized by the NAPBC with this accreditation,” said Miraj Shah-Khan, MD, medical director of the breast cancer program at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital. “At Palos Hospital, we strive to provide patients with exceptional comprehensive breast cancer care from the moment they walk through the door.”

As a NAPBC-accredited center, Palos Hospital and the Breast Health Program are committed to maintaining levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive, patient-centered care for patients with breast disease. Patients can be confident their breast care team includes health care professionals from a variety of disciplines who are committed to working together to provide the highest quality care available through their entire course of treatment.

The NAPBC provides the structure and resources to develop and operate a high-quality breast center and accredited program. Patients receiving care through the Palos Hospital and the Breast Health Program have access to:

• Comprehensive breast cancer screening, including three-dimensional (3D) mammography, breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and automated breast ultrasound (ABUS)
• A multidisciplinary team of breast cancer experts who provide a full range of state-of-the-art services and leading-edge treatments
• Access to clinical trials, patient navigation support, supportive oncology services, genetic counseling, and novel treatment options  
• High-risk breast clinic, providing comprehensive risk assessment and surveillance strategies for patients at elevated breast cancer risk

About the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers

The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers represents a consortium of national, professional organizations dedicated to the quality of care of patients with diseases of the breast. Its board membership includes professionals from more than 20 national organizations that represent the full spectrum of breast care.  For more information, visit https://www.facs.org/quality-programs/napbc.

To learn more about Northwestern Medicine, visit nm.org.

CHICAGO -  When Erika Aleman began training for marathons in 2015, she struggled to embrace her running coach’s mantra: “Take it one mile at a time.”

New to running, all she could think about was crossing the finish line.

“I was frustrated, but my coach was right. When I focused on the finish, I was overwhelmed,” says Erika, now 43-years-old, who saw her times improve and her love of running grow as she changed her approach.

Now, seven years later, Erika is again turning to that philosophy, but this time for a different type of challenge – to guide her through treatment for breast cancer.

On Sunday, October 9, Erika completed the Chicago Marathon, a race she trained for through 16 rounds of neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy. On Friday, October 14, just five days after the marathon, she underwent a bilateral mastectomy for stage II triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). 

“When I was diagnosed, I felt like I lost control of my life,” says Erika of her diagnosis. “I didn’t understand how this could happen. Everything went dark for me.”

Scared for her life and what the diagnosis meant for her two daughters, Erika also worried she would have to stop running, something that had become her personal form of therapy.

“Running is my ‘me time’ and the place where I can be in my own head,” she says. “Any trouble in my life, I’d grab my shoes and head outside. I couldn’t lose that, not now.”

Erika sought treatment at the Lurie Cancer Center at Northwestern Medicine where she met oncologist Regina Stein, MD, who supported her in continuing to run and remaining active.

“In our first appointment, Dr. Stein told me, ‘You will see the light at the end of the tunnel,’ and then she said it was okay to run,” said Erika. “That’s when I promised myself that I would survive this. Dr. Stein gave me hope when I needed it.”

Recalling their first meeting, Dr. Stein remembers her patient’s initial fear, but then that fear turned into a resolve to beat cancer. “I outlined what treatment she would need to achieve the goal of curing her cancer. Erika very confidently said a phrase in Spanish that I know very well. She said ‘así será,’ which means ‘that is what it will be.’ It’s a promise,” says Dr. Stein. “When she said that, I knew not just what we were trying to achieve, but that it would happen.” 

As her treatment progressed, Erika never stopped running or training. When it came time to schedule surgery, Erika had a surprising request – could she have her procedure after she ran the Chicago Marathon? Erika’s care team came up with a treatment plan that had the best odds of eradicating the cancer but was timed so she could still train and run the marathon without disrupting the necessary timeline. 

Erika says she relied on her faith, her family and her running to carry her through chemo and immunotherapy. And she never forgot her coach’s earlier words: Trust the process, take it one step at a time.

“I had to focus on what I could control and that was my running,” says Erika. “On the days I couldn’t run, then I would walk. Sometimes, I would only be able to walk around my living room, but I did it. I never stopped.”

Throughout treatment, Erika has relied on the support of her two daughters, Abby (16) and Marcia (21), who she calls her biggest cheerleaders and the reason she originally began running.

“I started running to prove to my daughters that you can accomplish anything you put your mind to,” says Erika, who is a single mom. “I told myself I would survive this for them. I am strong for my daughters, so they don’t have to worry about this.”  

At the marathon, Dr. Stein was excited to be along the course, cheering on the patient she calls an inspiration. 

“We can often think we’re running away from something, but Erika was running toward something,” says Dr. Stein. “She was running towards her cure, towards her life, towards her family. She was running towards the end of this, and she has run faster and stronger with each cycle.”

Reflecting on what was her 13^th marathon, Erika says yesterday’s race was her slowest, but also her most important.

“Life will punch you in the gut, but it doesn’t mean you should stop breathing,” says Erika. “You don’t get to pick and choose what happens to you, but you get to choose how to respond. I chose life, I chose to fight, I chose to embrace my reality and to keep going forward with my head held high. Yesterday, I ran THE BEST MARATHON OF my life.”

Six days following her surgery, Erika got the phone call she been waiting for since her cancer diagnosis: “Dr. Stein called me and told me I’m cancer-free. What’s better than that? We need to celebrate life. I’m a lucky one.”

The new cancer center offers hematology and medical oncology care, laboratory services, nutritional counseling and social work. A full-service infusion suite and specialty pharmacy provide onsite chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy and supportive care. In the future, the center will also offer surgical oncology, gynecologic oncology, genetic counselors and other subspecialties. Plans are also in place to bring new cancer therapies to the south suburbs through clinical trials before these treatments become more widely available.

The Orland Park site is staffed by members and affiliates of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, ranked No. 9 in the country for Cancer by U.S. News & World Report in its 2022-2023 “America's Best Hospitals” rankings. Virtual and in-person tumor boards give Northwestern Medicine Palos physicians access to the clinical expertise of the entire Northwestern system to collaborate on complex cases and determine the best-possible treatment plan.

“We are creating a center of excellence where patients receive comprehensive cancer care in one facility to improve patient experience, care coordination and quality,” said Christopher George, MD, medical director of Northwestern Medicine’s oncology program in the south and west suburbs. “Our vision is to bring innovative, leading-edge, novel therapies from the Lurie Cancer Center to patients in the southern suburbs.”

The clinic features eight exam rooms, 13 infusion bays, a flex room, a pharmacy for compounding drugs and a laboratory for onsite diagnostic services. The physical space is easy to navigate and designed with pleasing colors and textures to provide a comfortable, calming environment.

Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Orland Park will feature three medical oncologists. Sudhir Sekhon, MD, is joining Northwestern Medicine from Advocate Health Care in Aurora, bringing more than 15 years of experience in hematology and medical oncology to his new role. Dr. Sekhon trained at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. Yaseen Alkaddoumi, MD, has practiced in the Chicago region for five years, and completed residencies at Loyola University Medical Center and the University of Illinois at Chicago Hospital. Yazan Numan, MD, assistant professor of Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, completed his fellowship in hematology and oncology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

These oncologists will partner with other physicians who are making an impact on cancer care in the south suburbs, such as Imad Qayyum, MD, colorectal surgery; Samer R. Rajjoub, MD, an endocrine surgeon who focuses on thyroid cancer; and breast surgical oncologist Miraj G. Shah-Khan, MD, medical director of the Breast Cancer and Breast Health Program at Palos Hospital.

Dr. Shah-Khan completed her fellowship in breast surgical oncology at the Mayo Clinic and joined Northwestern Medicine through the 2021 Palos Health integration. She brings over 10 years of experience in academic medicine to Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital.  Dr. Shah-Khan is the chairperson of the Northwestern Medicine Palos Multidisciplinary Breast conference and the Breast Cancer Leadership committee and has taken on leadership of Northwestern Medicine Breast Cancer Collaborative, a system wide effort to improve quality and outcomes in breast cancer care across the Northwestern Medicine network. She sees patients at the Women’s Center at Northwestern Medicine Orland Park and has been leading efforts to develop a robust multidisciplinary, accredited breast program for the Orland Park community.

“It’s exciting that it is a system priority to build this space into a destination cancer center equipped with the latest diagnostic and treatment modalities, access to specialty care and clinical trials. This infrastructure, along with the expertise provided by specialists, offers everything a patient would need during their treatment,” said Dr. Shah-Khan.

Dr. Rajjoub is chairperson of the Cancer Committee at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital, vice chairperson of the Tumor Board and the Cancer Liaison Physician.

“The opening of the Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center in Orland Park is a dream come true for the south suburbs,” said Dr. Rajjoub. “Patients in our community stand to benefit tremendously from direct access to the breadth of Northwestern Medicine’s resources, including advanced diagnostic testing, the latest treatment strategies, and new cancer therapies while remaining close to home.”

Radiation oncology services will remain at the Tinley Park location. Medical Director Haider Ali Shirazi, MD, is a radiation oncologist, chairperson of the Palos Cancer Program Tumor Board and vice chair of the Cancer Committee at Palos Hospital. Having trained at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Dr. Shirazi is excited to have rejoined an integrated academic health system in fall 2021.

“With access to Northwestern Medicine’s depth of resources, treatments, clinical trials and Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, we can better collaborate to bring world-class care to the southwest suburbs,” said Dr. Shirazi. “Many oncology subspecialties that we haven’t seen previously in our community will now be represented.”

Patients can schedule an appointment at the Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Orland Park by calling 708.226.2318 (TTY: 711).