UMC Health System - Physician Notes

A Q CREATING COMPREHENSIVE YOU BECAME INTERESTED IN MEDICINE AT A YOUNG AGE. HOW DID THAT INTEREST BEGIN? When I was around 13 years old, I was introduced to biochemistry and learned how to purify proteins. As a result, I came up with some pretty unique stuff. When I was 14, I purified certain enzymes that turned out to be very important in the treatment of radiation poisoning. I eventually created a company that manufactured this drug but relinquished it to government agencies so I could pursue medical school. WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THE SOUTHWEST CANCER CENTER AT UMC? e people of Lubbock charmed me. My wife and I were both offered positions at UMC — she as a cancer psychiatrist and myself as an oncologist — and saw an amazing opportunity to build a comprehensive cancer center that may one day achieve a National Cancer Institute designation. I have a habit of dreaming big and so does the leadership at UMC, so it has been a good match. HOW IS THE TUMOR BOARD AT UMC IMPROVING PATIENT CARE? One of the problems with cancer treatment is that a patient may have three to five doctors involved in his or her care. e patient starts with a primary care doctor and then visits an oncologist, who then may turn him or her over to a radiologist or surgeon. So a common question I get is, "Are you all communicating?" at's what a tumor board is for. It allows us to bring together specialists from various fields and backgrounds to discuss a patient's case, in detail, to make the best possible decisions regarding care. WHAT IS THE COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORTIVE CARE PROGRAM AT UMC AND WHY IS IT SO CRUCIAL FOR CANCER CARE? By the time a cancer patient gets to us, he or she is often frustrated and has been through the wringer. Cancer doesn't just take a physical toll on a person. It has a major emotional and mental impact as well. It's our job to create a safe haven where all of a patient's needs are met. at's why we've made it a priority to bring together a complete team of cancer care professionals under one roof to provide the most convenient and state-of-the-art cancer care to the people of Lubbock. In addition to surgical, medical, radiological and pathology specialists, the cancer center has psychiatrists, social workers, physical therapists and nutritionists. We even have a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner to help ensure we've done everything we can to not only cure a patient, but to make their stay as comfortable as possible with treatments such as acupuncture. PROFESSOR AND DIVISION CHIEF OF ONCOLOGY AT TEXAS TECH PHYSICIANS AND DIRECTOR OF THE SOUTHWEST CANCER CENTER AT UMC HEALTH SYSTEM, SANJAY AWASTHI, M.D., SHARES HOW UMC COVERS EVERY FACET OF CANCER CARE. CANCER CARE Q. | Q. | Q. | Q. | A Q LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UMC SOUTHWEST CANCER CENTER AT UMCHEALTHSYSTEM.COM. UNDER "MEDICAL SERVICES," CLICK "CANCER CARE." 6 PHYSICIAN NOTES /// FALL 2016

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