Category Archives: MSK in the News

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At the Intersection of Research and Treatment: Interviews with MSK Physician-Researchers

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Dr. Luis Diaz, Jr., left, and Dr. Michael Postow, right.

Dr. Luis Diaz, Jr., left. and Dr. Michael Postow, right. Photos by Rick DeWitt (l) and Chad Hunt (r).

Two MSK physician-researchers were profiled in the media last month.

Fast Company spoke with Dr. Luis Diaz, Jr., Head of the Division of Solid Tumor Oncology. Dr. Diaz co-led a clinical trial of an immunotherapy for rectal cancer that proved effective without the need for surgery in all 14 participating patients. He aims to expand this research to cancers that are usually treated by extensive, life-altering surgeries, like esophageal, pancreatic, and stomach malignancies.

Becker’s Hospital Review interviewed Dr. Michael Postow, Chief of MSK’s Melanoma Service. Dr. Postow is excited about the growing efficacy of immunotherapies and the progress vaccines are making in cancer care. His research is motivated in part by the awareness that current treatment modalities do not yet help every patient; we have miles to go to improve care for everyone.

From Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor

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Larry Norton, MD

Larry Norton, MD. Photo by Juliana Thomas.

A recent Washington Post article about advances in cancer treatment features MSK.

The article begins by sharing the experiences of a patient, Kelly Spill, who enrolled in an MSK clinical trial using immunotherapy to treat her rectal cancer. She and the other 17 trial participants all had a complete clinical response from the treatment. Ms. Spill has been cancer-free for nearly three years.

For many, cancer is now serious but treatable. MSK’s Dr. Larry Norton attributes this to improvements in prevention, screening, diagnostics, and treatment. He makes special note of the impact immunotherapies have had on many patient outcomes.

These positive changes make the need for survivorship care even more critical. Learn more about MSK’s survivorship and follow-up care programs.

Helping Patients, One Call at a Time

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This May, National Nurses Month, Cure featured MSK’s Kimberly Rosencrance in a column by MSK’s Lead Patient Access Nurse, Ann Culkin.

In her role as a Patient Access Nurse Coordinator, Ms. Rosencrance speaks to patients and families over the phone to help navigate their care, financial concerns, and insurance questions. Her work leaves patients feeling calmer and reassured:

Kim conducts these emotionally loaded conversations with insight, expertise and listening skills to remove obstacles to the best oncology care. Kim reassures every caller that she is ‘really listening,’ often letting her silence do the heavy lifting as the patient shares their story.

We salute Ms. Rosencrance, Ms. Culkin, and all MSK nurses. Your work saves lives every day.