Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1364584
Oneida Health and Roswell Park: AN UNMATCHED APPROACH TO QUALITY IN 2016, ONEIDA Health set out to build a first-class oncology program. From the beginning, they knew one factor mat- tered more than any other: delivering an unmatched approach to quality. To achieve this, Oneida Health partnered w it h R os wel l Pa rk Comprehen sive Cancer Center. Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, ba sed i n Bu f fa lo, is ra n ked No. 14 nationa l ly i n ca ncer ca re by the 2020–2021 US News & World Report, putting them among the top 1.5% in the nation for comprehensive cancer cen- ters. Roswell Park is the only hospital system in Upstate New York to be rec- ognized in 2020–2021. They are also the only Nationa l Cancer Institute (NCI) Desig nated Comprehensive Ca ncer Center in Upstate New York. NCI is the highest federal rating a cancer center can achieve in recognition of their innovative research and leading-edge treatments. A s a member of t he Roswel l Pa rk Care Network, Oneida Hea lth brings the services of Roswell Park to Central New York. "Everyone deserves convenient access to the best ca re possible," says Gene Morreale, President and CEO at Oneida Hea lth. "Our aff iliation provides the impact of Roswell Park's comprehensive cancer services through pathway care plans developed with the expertise of their world-renowned physicians. Together with our onsite full-time Roswell Park Physicians and highly trained staff, we are able to provide patients with access to some of the latest treatment options from a nationally ranked cancer center." The most recent addition to Oneida Hea lth's Ca ncer Ca re progra m is the newly constructed 6,000 sq. ft. Dorothy G. Griffin Radiation Oncolog y Center. Maya Mat hew, M D, a Roswel l Pa rk radiation oncologist, is the full-time Medical Director of the center. As a child growing up in Kerala, India, Dr. Mathew knew she wanted to pursue a career in oncology when her aunt was diagnosed with cancer. After coming to the United States, Dr. Mathew completed a surgical internship at Penn State and residency at Loyola University Medica l Center in Chicago. Later on, while practicing radiation oncology for nearly three years at Memorial Hospital in Gulfport, she was struck by the number of advanced cancer patients she was seeing, particularly young patients. Mathew knew she wanted to be affiliated with a NCI-designated cancer center so she could actively focus on promoting awareness of cancer preven- tion, early detection and treatment in the community, which is what drew her to Roswell Park. "I was frustrated seeing advanced cases in a semi-rural area when I practiced. Now, I am able to bring Roswell-quality comprehensive cancer care, No. 14 in the nation, and No. 2 in New York State, to the people of Central New York," Dr. Mathew says. " When you are fighting the side effects of cancer treatment, it is help- ful for the patient to receive treatment BY BECCA TAURISANO WHEN THE DOROTHY G. GRIFFIN R ADIATION ONCOLOGY CENTER OPENED IN ONEIDA IN JULY 2019, IT ELIMINATED THE NEED FOR CENTR AL NE W YORKERS TO LE AVE THE REGION FOR HIGH-QUALIT Y R ADIATION TRE ATMENT. A S A MEMBER OF THE ROSWELL PARK CARE NE T WORK, THE NE W CENTER PROVIDES ROSWELL PARK COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER'S STRINGENT APPROACH TO QUALIT Y. Left to right: Shaun Maroney, RT(T) MHA; Kare Nicholas, RN, BSN; Vanessa Rundle, MS, CMD, RT(R)(T); Meghann Wright RT(T); Brianna Rossi RT(T); Maya Mathew, MD; and Rebecca Butka 1 6