Claxton-Hepburn

Dr. John Gebert with radiation oncology staff Shauna Halpin, Jan Slate, and Amy Wright Treating Cancer with Precision The radiation oncology team at Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center combines compassion and skill to provide advanced cancer treatment with a human touch. WITH MORE THAN 103,000 new cases of cancer occurring last year in New York, you or a loved one has likely been affected by cancer in some way. However, thanks to the radiation oncology team at the Richard E. Winter Cancer Center, residents of Ogdensburg, New York, and the North Country have hope. Who We Are John Gebert, MD, radiation oncologist at Claxton-Hepburn, leads the radiation oncology team at the Richard E. Winter Cancer Center. He is joined by a patient-centered staff that includes three radiation therapists, one medical dosimetrist, and one medical physicist. "Every member of our team has the same goal in mind—to provide quality patient care," Dr. Gebert says. "We're all aware that cancer patients present with a constellation of problems, not just cancer. Our patients have financial concerns, relationship strains, and secondary medical issues such as pain and side effects from medication, and we address all of those issues." "Patients and their referring physicians prefer Dr. Gebert because he takes the time to communicate with them," says Doug Salhani, PhD, FCCPM, board-certified medical physicist at Claxton-Hepburn. "We all bring a great deal of experience to the table, but what sets us apart is that we are committed to making patients feel cared for and informed at every step of the treatment process." Accelerating Cancer Care With more than 30 years of experience in cancer care, Dr. Gebert is known for staying in step with the most advanced cancer treatment techniques available. The 5 L I V ING WE L L Richard E. Winter Cancer Center incorporates a number of treatment modalities and cutting-edge imaging capabilities, including intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). The radiation oncology team utilizes a linear accelerator to facilitate IMRT treatment. This accelerator delivers radiation doses in highly concentrated beams to destroy cancer cells without damaging surrounding normal tissue. The accelerator also eliminates the need for an incision, making treatment less invasive. Dr. Salhani ensures each dose of radiation is safely and accurately delivered to the cancer site, optimizing treatment outcomes. "The limitation of radiation therapy has always been the risk of affecting healthy tissue around the tumor," Dr. Gebert says. "Using the accelerator, we can specifically target the tumor and achieve better control rates with minimal collateral damage. We have the most experience using this technology of the facilities in the area." For more information about our radiation oncology team, visit www.claxtonhepburn.org and select "Cancer Care" under the "Our Services" tab. Compared to the national average, New York has higher cancer rates in nine of the most common cancers: breast, prostate, lung, colon, bladder, pancreatic, thyroid, uterine, and ovarian. www.claxtonhepburn.org

• Cover