Cancer Network News_Winter 2017

WINTER 2017 • ISSUE 5 

NEWS 

Letter from Leadership 

Over the past few months we have made 

significant progress integrating our Cancer 

Network. With input from team leaders 

across the system we have developed the 

framework for implementing two Cancer 

Committees beginning January 2017. Cancer 

Committee North will include Kennestone, 

Cobb, Douglas, Paulding, North Fulton and 

Windy Hill. Dr. Laura Pearson, North Fulton 

breast surgeon will Chair this committee. 

Atlanta Medical Center Main, Atlanta Medical 

Center South, West Georgia and Spalding 

will comprise our Cancer Committee South. 

Dr. Wassim Mchayleh, medical oncologist at 

West Georgia will be the Chair. Details of the 

Committee memberships and schedules are 

being finalized and will be disseminated soon. 

Another important development has been 

the selection of Chad Schaeffer, MS, FACHE 

for the Vice President Oncology Service 

Line position. Most recently he has been at 

Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center in 

Huntington, WV. Chad is familiar with the 

Atlanta area oncology market and brings a 

rich background in oncology leadership to 

our Network. He began in his new role here 

at WellStar in late December. 

Michael Andrews, M.D. 

Chief Cancer Officer 

Chad Schaeffer, MS, 

FACHE 

Vice President Oncology 

Service Line 

Looking ahead we have opportunities to 

expand our services and to create improved 

access for our patients through partnerships and business development. 

As we share more information about programs and services at each site, 

best practices as well as gaps in care are identified. It has been amazing 

to see the teams work together to standardize when appropriate and 

compromise or change when necessary to support integration. 

I am echoing the sentiments of many of our patients and families when 

I say that I appreciate all of the talented and experienced team members 

who support our vision to deliver exceptional patient-centered cancer care. 

VISION: 

TO DELIVER WORLD-CLASS 

CANCER CARE. 

MISSION: 

TO ELIMINATE THE BURDEN 

OF CANCER ON OUR 

COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING 

COMPREHENSIVE 

PREVENTION & EARLY 

DETECTION, TREATMENT 

AND SURVIVORSHIP 

PROGRAMS, DELIVERED 

IN A PATIENT-CENTERED 

ENVIRONMENT BY 

IMPASSIONED CAREGIVERS. 

THIS 

ISSUE 

Cancer Accreditation 02 

North Fulton Breast STAT 04 

Nurse Navigator Update 05 

Awards & Accolades 08

NEWS YOU 

CAN USE 

Five WellStar Hospitals receive Three-Year Accreditation 

with Gold Commendation by the Commission on Cancer 

WellStar’s Cancer Network has again been 

recognized for delivering world-class healthcare 

to our patients. Five WellStar hospitals have 

been granted a three-year accreditation with 

the Gold Commendation by the Commission on 

Cancer (CoC), a quality program of the American 

College of Surgeons (ACS). This is the highest 

honor awarded to a cancer program. WellStar has 

achieved this honor twice, the first time being in 

2013. Only 50 health systems in the United States 

have received this distinction. The five hospitals 

which received accreditation are Cobb, Douglas, 

Kennestone, Paulding and Windy Hill. 

To earn voluntary CoC accreditation, a cancer 

program must meet or exceed the CoC’s quality 

care standards, be evaluated every three years 

through a survey process and maintain levels 

of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive 

patient-centered care. Three-year accreditation 

with Commendation is only awarded to a facility 

that exceeds the standard requirements at the time 

of its survey. 

“This accreditation and Outstanding Achievement 

Award could not have been made possible without 

our gifted and passionate team,” said Michael 

Andrews, M.D., WellStar Chief Cancer Officer. “The 

Commission on Cancer and the American College of 

Surgeons are both well respected and distinguished 

institutions. This distinction is an indication of the 

quality of care we deliver to our patients every day.” 

Like all CoC-accredited facilities, our accredited 

facilities maintain a cancer registry and contribute 

data to the National Cancer Database (NCDB), a 

joint program of the CoC and American Cancer 

Society. This nationwide oncology outcomes 

database is the largest clinical disease registry in the 

world. Data of all types of cancer are tracked and 

analyzed through the NCDB and used to explore 

trends in cancer care. CoC-accredited cancer 

centers, in turn, have access to information derived 

from this type of data analysis, which is used to 

create national, regional, and state benchmark 

reports. These reports help CoC facilities with their 

quality improvement efforts. 

(Above): Spalding RNs volunteer at KSU Breast 

Cancer Event 

Spalding RNs volunteer 

at KSU Breast Cancer Event 

Teresa Slaton, RN, and Jernarcka Johnson, RN, BSN, 

from WellStar Spalding Regional attended a Breast Cancer 

Awareness event at Kennesaw State University on October 8. 

They enjoyed educating our community on breast cancer 

and many other types of cancer by providing them with 

brochures and trivia questions. Teresa and Jernarcka both 

currently work on the Medical/Oncology unit at Spalding 

and are certified to administer chemotherapy and care for 

patients receiving radiation therapy. 

WINTER 2017 • ISSUE 5 02

BRAdazzled Event’s 

Third Time Truly A Charm 

WellStar Spalding Regional Hospital’s 2016 

BRAdazzled event and fundraiser was the most 

successful in its three-year history. The event, 

held October 22 in Griffin, raised $9,000 to 

benefit WellStar. The WellStar Foundation will 

use the funds raised to provide mammograms 

and other cancer diagnostics to uninsured and 

under-insured women in the hospital’s service 

area. Area organizations from Spalding, Butts, 

Lamar, Pike and Fulton counties designed 54 

artistic bras, and 19 brave men from the Spalding 

Regional community modeled them in a fashion 

show. The top 15 bras were chosen via Facebook 

voting and then sold during a live auction. The 

top bra was auctioned for $1,200, and two others 

brought in $500 each. 

(Above): The BRAdazzled men in all their glory 

Kim Stephens of WellStar Spalding Regional’s 

Community Engagement and co-director for 

the BRAdazzled program stated, “It is a joy 

when you can bring breast cancer awareness to 

light in such a fun and energetic way. My hope 

is that after all the fun and laughs we all had 

at BRAdazzled, each of us will encourage the 

people in our lives to take screening for breast 

cancer seriously and get their mammograms.” 

Paint the Town Pink/ 

HOPE for A Day 

Now in its 11th year, Paint the Town Pink continues to 

promote breast cancer awareness and offer free clinical 

breast exams and mammogram vouchers for uninsured 

or underinsured women living in Troup and surrounding 

counties. 

(Above): Sherry Callaway, breast cancer 

survivor and board member for HOPE and 

Breast Friends for Life celebrates at Paint 

the Town Pink 

Developed by West Georgia Medical Center and the 

Breast Friends for Life Support Group, the event is in its 

seventh year of partnering with HOPE for a Day’s 10-mile 

walk through the heart of downtown LaGrange on the 

last Saturday in September. Initially a grassroots effort 

by founder Pam Herndon and West Georgia’s oncology 

navigator, Wanda Lowe, the walk raised $80,000 this 

year with 113 walkers and more than 800 in attendance. 

Physicians, nurses and clinicians at the event staffed a 

health and wellness fair offering information on prevention 

and wellness and free blood pressure screenings. 

03 

WINTER 2017 • ISSUE 5

WellStar Hosts First GI Malignancies Symposium 

The WellStar Cancer Network hosted its first ever 

Multidisciplinary Symposium on Gastrointestinal 

Malignancies on Saturday, October 22 at the 

WellStar Development Center. Sixteen physicians 

from WellStar, Emory, University of Louisville and 

Southeastern Regional Medical Center in Virginia, 

spoke about diagnosis and treatment options for 

hepatic, pancreatic, esophageal and gastric cancers. 

Seventy-four people attended, including a mix of 

physicians, nurses, mid-levels and their guests. 

The symposium was hailed a success and we look 

forward to hosting one again in the future! 

(Above): It was a full house at the sympsoium 

WellStar North Fulton 

Opens Breast Cancer 

STAT Clinic 

WellStar North Fulton Hospital now offers a teambased 

approach for breast cancer patients to 

help them manage their care efficiently. The 

new Specialty Teams and Treatments (STAT) 

Breast Cancer Clinic helps patients find the best 

possible care, reducing the time from diagnosis to 

treatment by two weeks. Patients can usually see 

their entire team of specialists (including a breast 

surgeon, plastic surgeon, medical and radiation 

oncologists, and a genetic counselor) all in one 

place at the same time, depending on complexity 

of their situation. A nurse navigator works with 

patients to guide them through diagnosis and 

evaluation and creates a treatment plan based on 

each individual and their specific needs. 

To celebrate the opening, a brunch event was 

held at Country Club of the South with clinic 

staff to introduce the program. Attendees had 

the opportunity to decorate ornaments that are 

displayed on two breast cancer themed trees 

within the hospital. Guests could also donate to 

the American Cancer Society and in return select 

a handcrafted commemorative purple heart for a 

loved one affected by cancer. 

(Above): North Fulton Breast STAT Clinic Brunch at 

Country Club of the South 

William Thoms, M.D, FACR 

WINTER 2017 • ISSUE 5 04 

Prostate Seeds at Paulding 

Dr. William Thoms will begin offering Low Dose Rate (LDR) Brachytherapy 

prostate seed implants at Paulding Hospital in January. This procedure 

allows for men with prostate cancer to receive some or all or their treatment 

from implanted radioactive seeds that are strategically placed in the prostate 

via ultrasound guidance. This procedure is performed in tandem with the 

patient’s urologist. The benefit of the seed implant is to provide a higher dose 

to the prostate while minimizing dose to the surrounding healthy tissues.

Survivors Offering Support 

WellStar Cancer Support Services has launched a pilot 

program for our breast cancer patients called Survivors 

Offering Support (SOS). SOS is a peer-to-peer support 

program which links breast cancer patients with volunteers 

who have gone through breast cancer treatment. 

The SOS program matches a patient with a 

volunteer, who has had a similar breast cancer 

experience, is in a similar life stage and can give 

the patient her own unique insight. The patient 

and volunteer then create a personalized plan for 

contact and evaluate the amount of support that 

individual might need. 

If you have a patient that could benefit from being 

matched with a volunteer, please contact our 

breast health nurse navigators, Sara Owens at 

470-793-0070 or Lisa Sherman at 470-793-0067. 

Genetics Program 

Expands….Again 

Over the last six months, the genetics 

program has added three additional sites 

of service, bringing the current total to six 

locations providing genetic counseling 

within the WellStar Cancer Network. The 

three new sites are West Georgia, Douglas 

and North Fulton. 

In April, genetic counseling became 

available two Mondays per month in the 

Women’s Imaging Center at West Georgia 

Medical Center in LaGrange. In October, 

genetics patients were seen for the first time in 

the STAT Clinic at Douglas Hospital, held every 

other Thursday. Also in October, genetics was 

included in the Breast STAT Clinic which began 

at North Fulton Hospital. The genetic counselor 

is also available to see non-STAT Clinic patients 

while onsite at North Fulton. 

Recruitment is currently underway for an additional 

genetic counselor. This expansion of staff is planned 

to coincide with the establishment of genetic 

counseling services at the Riverdale Infusion Center, 

Atlanta Medical Center and Spalding. The goal is 

to ensure that all WellStar patients have access to 

genetics services in their communities. 

Nurse Navigator Update 

We’ve added several new team members as oncology nurse navigators! Congratulations to Diane Austin, 

RN, BSN (Douglas); Beverly Green, MSN, RN, CNL (Cobb); Sherry Henson, BSN, RNC (Spalding); 

Maureen Lavelle, RN, BSN, OCN (Paulding); and Pamela Plasket, RN, BSN, CHPN (North Fulton). 

Diane Austin, 

RN, BSN 

Beverly Green, 

MSN, RN, CNL 

Sherry Henson, 

BSN, RNC 

Maureen Lavelle, 

RN, BSN, OCN 

Pamela Plasket, RN, 

BSN, CHPN 

05 


ADIOS 

TO PROSTATE CANCER 

Each September, we celebrate Prostate Cancer Awareness Month with 

a celebration for our prostate cancer survivors. This year’s theme was 

“Adios to Cancer.” Guests enjoyed Mexican food, “benign” margaritas 

and trying to break open piñatas filled with candy. Justin Hart, M.D., gave 

some words of encouragement to the group and mingled with the survivors. 

Many of the oncology nurse navigators and radiation oncology nurses 

were on hand to help out. It was a team effort and fun was had by all! 

(Above, l-r): Prostate survivor group photo; Kennestone staff at the event 

(Above): Paula Smith, Miss Troup County, 

poses with Michelle Mock 

Art Therapy at West 

Georgia Medical Center 

Studies have found that art therapies are not only 

beneficial for the cognitive and emotional state of cancer 

patients but also help reduce pain, nausea and anxiety. 

The art therapy program at WellStar West Georgia, 

promotes the mind-body connection and encourages 

patients to engage in creative expression through various 

art techniques. Recently the art therapy program has 

been enriched with talent and beauty from our local area. 

Paula Smith, Miss Troup County, visited the art therapy 

class to share how art has helped her through the loss of 

her best friend. The theme for this class was “Princess,” 

and everyone in the class painted a castle. Another treat 

for the art therapy classes was having Megan Sharp, the 

daughter of one of the art instructors, Angela Sharp, 

perform a medley of songs during the class. 


Oncology Nursing Retreat 

One of the WellStar Oncology Nursing Goals for 

2016 was “To offer a system-wide meeting for all 

oncology nurses to address policies, standards and 

networking.” We met this goal on November 5 

with a retreat at the WellStar Development Center. 

There were 41 attendees, and they came from 

AMC, Cobb, Douglas, Kennestone, North Fulton, 

Paulding, Spalding and West Georgia. 

The retreat included a presentation by Michael 

Andrews, M.D., Chief Cancer Officer, who 

provided an overview of one cancer network and 

two cancer committees. Barb Wilson, Director 

Oncology Professional Practice, and Margaret 

Torres led the general session. Participants 

networked, participated in presentations on 

options for locating information and resources 

within WellStar, Commission on Cancer (CoC) 

accreditation and nursing-related standards, 

(Above): WellStar Oncology Nursing Retreat attendees 

listen to a presentation by Barb Wilson. 

followed by 90-minute break out sessions. The 

breakout session for Navigators was led by Gigi 

Bellamy while Kathy Gresham and Kim Ragle 

led the Infusion breakout session. Patti Harrison 

led the Inpatient breakout session, which included 

simulating care for a patient experiencing a 

hypersensitivity reaction. 

The Shoulder 

to Lean On 

As her mother went through treatment for 

breast cancer, Paola Berrios, a high school 

student, felt she had nowhere to turn for support 

as a teenager with a family member diagnosed 

with cancer. Hoping to keep others from having 

to go through the journey alone, and with WellStar 

team members serving as mentors, Paola created 

The Shoulder to Lean On Project, a website whose 

goal is to educate teenagers affected by a loved 

one’s cancer diagnosis and remind them that no 

matter how difficult the circumstance, they are 

not alone. The website includes stories written by 

teenagers on how they coped with their family 

member’s cancer diagnosis as well as an Education 

Station and On the Table, a section on nutrition. 

The Shoulder to Lean on Project was presented 

by Paola to the WellStar Cancer Patient and 

Family Advisory Board as a resource for patients 

and families. A Girl Scout ambassador, Paola 

was awarded the Gold Award, The Girl Scout’s 

highest achievement, for her project. Paola and 

her website were featured on a Fox News Atlanta 

Health news segment. 

You can find the project online at 

www.TheShoulderToLeanOnProject.wordpress.com, 

on Facebook at The Shoulder to Lean On Project, on 

Instagram @thestloproject and Twitter @thestloproject. 

07 


AWARDS & 

ACCOLADES 

Newly Certified Staff 

Congratulations to the newest Oncology Certified Nurses (OCN): 

A round of applause to 

our Certified Breast Care 

Nurse (CBCN): 

Betsy Barnette, 

BSN, RN, OCN 

(West Georgia) 

Gigi Bellamy, 

BSN, RN, OCN 

(Kennestone) 

Lisa Sherman, 

BSN, RN, CBCN 

(Kennestone) 

Regina McDonald, 

RN, OCN 


Tiffany Shanks, 

BSN, RN, OCN 

(North Fulton) 

And a job well-done 

for Lydeana Mullin 

(West Georgia), who 

received a Radiation 

Oncology Coding 

Certification. 

Heather Tippy, 

RN, OCN 


Susan Willard, 

BSN, RN, OCN 

(Kennestone) 

Lydeana Mullin 



Congrats are in Order! 

Marian Laizure celebrates 30+ years with WellStar 

Marian Laizure, R.T. (R) (T) began her journey at WellStar 

on July 15, 1985. She said that it took now Retired Medical 

Director, Dr. Ken Haile three different attempts to convince her 

to come to WellStar. When she finally said, yes, she has never 

looked back. 

As a radiation therapist at Kennestone, she is responsible for 

warming up the treatment machines every day and performing 

the QA on them before patients are treated. She says she 

feels like the machines’ mother and treats the equipment like 

her babies; when a machine is having a bad day she gets to 

analyze the problem and help resolve it. 

When asked what has been the greatest advancement in 

the field over your career, Marian says the advancements 

in technology that spare normal tissues while allowing for a 

higher tumor dose of radiation leading to better outcomes. 

Marian says she, “loves, loves, loves,” her job and feels really 

blessed by the people she works with. Thank you Marian for 

all your years of service, dedication to the people we serve 

and your charming personality. We look forward to many more 

years of working with you and your infectious smiles. 

Jennifer Smith, RN, OCN, nurse manager in Ambulatory Infusion 

and office manager for medical oncology at West Georgia, was 

honored this fall as one of the top five WellStar Working Mother 

of the Year finalists. Smith has played an integral role in the 

smooth operation and growth of West Georgia’s Ambulatory 

Infusion suite over the past four years. As a full-time mom to her 

son, who has dyslexia, her passion for dyslexia education led to a 

change in education curriculum for her home state of Alabama. 

She currently serves on the Dyslexia Advisory Council for the 

Alabama Board of Education. 

continued >> 

09 


AWARDS & 

ACCOLADES 

The DAISY Award 

Winner Heather Tippy 

Heather Tippy, RN, OCN, of West Georgia’s 

Infusion Department received the DAISY Award for 

Extraordinary Nurses, a national nurses’ program 

that lets patients recognize nurses who have gone 

above and beyond for them during their hospital 

stay. Heather was nominated by a patient and 

another patient’s family member. 

Charlene McClanahan, director of Oncology 

Services, said Tippy’s dedication and compassion 

are demonstrated in every interaction she has with 

others. “In an area where bad news, sadness and 

Heather Tippy, RN, OCN 


grief come far too often, Heather is consistently 

positive and upbeat, frequently laughing and 

joking with the patients to create a more enjoyable 

atmosphere for patients and staff members alike,” 

McClanahan said. “Heather is always willing to 

do whatever is necessary to be certain patients 

are taken care of, and in the process, makes each 

patient feel valued.” 

Congratulations to the 

new hires in Kennestone 

Radiation Oncology! 

(Left, front row): Justin Clarke, BS, R.T.(T) Radiation therapist; 

Megan Whitley, R.T.(T), MSCMD, Radiation Therapist; Raquel 

Dunn, R.T.(T), Lead Radiation Therapist; MyThu Ho, R.T.(T), 

Radiation Therapist; (middle row): Rachel Flack, RN; Anne 

Albanus, RN; (back row): Bradley Graham, van driver 

New Hires at Paulding 

Norma Green, patient access specialist 

Margaret Jourden, R.N. radiation oncology nurse 

Jocelyn Torres, R.T. (T), radiation therapist 

11 


WELLSTAR CANCER NETWORK 

DEPARTMENT DIRECTORY 

ATLANTA MEDICAL CENTER 

IMAGING.................................... 404-265-6586 

ATLANTA MEDICAL CENTER SOUTH 

IMAGING.................................... 404-466-1500 

COBB 

CT/MRI........................................ 470-732-1515 

DIAGNOSTIC.............................. 470-732-3526 

IMAGING.................................... 470-732-3551 

INFUSION................................... 770-732-4330 

IP ................................................ 770-732-4660 

NM.............................................. 470-732-3513 

RAD ONC.................................... 770-948-6000 

STAT............................................ 470-732-4816 

DOUGLAS 

IMAGING.................................... 678-715-6601 

INFUSION................................... 678-715-6860 

IP 2N............................................ 770-920-6250 

STAT............................................ 678-715-6613 

Call the WellStar Cancer Connect Line 

at 877-366-6032 to refer a patient to 

one of our multidisciplinary programs. 

Option 0: Hope Line/Operator 

Option 1: TomoTherapy ® and CyberKnife ® 

Option 2: Pancreatic Hepatobiliary 

Malignancies 

Option 3: Lung STAT Clinic 

Option 4: Prostate STAT Clinic 

Option 5: Center for Genetics 

Contact 

Us 

KENNESTONE 

IMAGING.................................... 470-793-0060 

INFUSION COBB TOWER RD.... 770-793-7518 

IP BLUE MAIN............................. 470-793-4162 

IP MEDICAL IMAGING............... 770-793-5556 

LUNG SCREENING..................... 470-793-4247 

RAD ONC.................................... 770-793-7500 

STAT............................................ 770-793-7440 

NORTH FULTON 

IMAGING.................................... 770-751-2720 

INFUSION................................... 770-751-2724 

PAULDING 

RAD ONC.................................... 470-644-8160 

IMAGING.................................... 470-644-8060 

INFUSION................................... 470-644-7235 

SPALDING 

IMAGING (OFFSITE)................... 770-229-4660 

IMAGING (ONSITE).................... 770-228-2721, EXT 6908 

INFUSION................................... 770-228-2721, EXT 3405 

IP................................................. 770-229-6960 

RAD ONC.................................... 770-227-3737 

WEST GEORGIA 

IMAGING.................................... 706-845-3785 

INFUSION................................... 706-845-3331 

RAD ONC.................................... 706-845-3544 

WEST GEORGIA ONCOLOGY... 706-812-2426 

WINDY HILL 

IMAGING.................................... 770-644-1240 

SURGERY CENTER..................... 770-644-1284 

WELLSTAR IMAGING (LEGACY ONLY) 

SCHEDULING............................. 678-581-5900 

WellStar Cancer Network News is published 

three times a year. Please submit content for future 

issues to cancernetworknews@wellstar.org. 

When submitting employee names, please include 

their credentials, title and department. Anyone 

other than team members featured in photos must 

sign a consent form, and these can be obtained by 

emailing cancernetworknews@wellstar.org. 

wellstar.org 

1/17 CNC0203

Cancer Network News_Winter 2017

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