A year to remember: Advancements, recognition and transitions

Friday, December 20, 2024

Providence Cancer Institute is ushering in a new chapter of leadership while remaining steadfast in our mission to provide trailblazing care that transforms lives. As the baton passes from Walter Urba, M.D., Ph.D., to R. Bryan Bell, M.D., D.D.S., FACS, FRCS(Ed), we reflect on how immunotherapy and personalized medicine have progressed under Dr. Urba’s leadership as chief medical officer of Providence Cancer Institute and director of the Earle A. Chiles Research Institute.

With the support of an exceptional care team, research advancements at Providence Cancer Institute help save lives, as demonstrated in Dean’s story. Dean Lookingbill is a cancer survivor because of CAR T-cell therapy, a revolutionary treatment using a patient’s own reprogrammed immune cells to target and destroy cancer cells.

Read on to discover how 2024 achievements in research, clinical care and community impact reflect our shared commitment to supporting patients and their families during some of life’s most challenging moments.

*These numbers are estimated through year-end.

Clinics and Programs

Over the past year, we’ve prioritized expanding cancer care in Oregon communities and attracting exceptional experts and leaders in their fields. Two new Liver, Pancreas and Surgical Oncology clinics opened at Providence Portland Medical Center and Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. We now have a dedicated hematology specialist focused on patients with benign blood diseases. Our sexual health services for cancer patients have expanded, and we continue to make clinical trials available to patients outside of major metropolitan areas. Under Dr. Bell’s leadership starting in 2025, Providence Cancer Institute will continue to expand access to leading-edge surgical treatments, multidisciplinary expertise and cancer resources to ensure patients throughout Oregon have the best cancer care possible.

Awards and accreditations: Benchmarks of excellence

Our dedication to excellence shines through in the recognition we’ve earned and the standards we uphold.

Here’s a shortlist of 2024 recognition and accreditation:

Becker’s Hospital Review named Providence Cancer Institute one of the 2024 Top 100 hospitals in the U.S., for excellence in oncology.
Providence Oregon received reaccreditation from the Commission on Cancer (CoC), American College of Surgeons (ACS).
Providence Colorectal Cancer Program received NAPRC (National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer) reaccreditation for Providence Portland Medical Center and Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.
The Hepatobiliary Surgical Fellowship at Providence Cancer Institute received accreditation from The Fellowship Council.
Providence Portland Medical Center and Providence St. Vincent Medical Center recognized by U.S. News & World Report as High-Performing Hospitals for lung, colon and prostate cancer surgery.

Professional achievements in patient-centered care

Our clinicians are widely recognized by their peers and communities for delivering exceptional care and prioritizing their patients’ well-being and long-term survial.

Here's some of the recognition received in 2024:

11 Providence Cancer Institute physicians made the 2024 Top Medical Professionals list by Portland Monthly magazine.

Amy Hawthorne, LCSW, received the Providence Health & Services Oregon Social Worker of the Year award for her outstanding work caring for and advocating for Providence patients.

Rachel Sanborn, M.D., medical director of the Thoracic Oncology Program, Providence Cancer Institute, and Phase I Clinical Trials Program, Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, was a 2024 American Lung Association PNW Breathe Easy Gala honoree.

Mark Whiteford, M.D., FACS, FASCRS, was honored with the SAGES (Society for American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons) Recognition of Excellence Award at the annual SAGES meeting in Cleveland, Ohio.

Nora Lersch, D.N.P., FNP-BC, AOCNP, gynecologic oncology nurse practitioner at Providence Cancer Institute, earned MSCP certification through The Menopause Society, making her one of less than 300 certified specialists in the country. Nora is also a certified sexual health counsel and leads the care team at PCI Franz Sexual Health Services.
The documentary Within Reach: The Fight to Finish Cancer, which features patients, physicians and reseachers at Providence Cancer Institute, was nominated for a regional Emmy by the Northwest chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Pioneering care and research through leadership and expertise

In 2024, we welcomed 16 new physicians and advanced practice providers to Providence Cancer Institute. Our growing team of experts is key to expanding care, clinical trials and resources to our patients and diverse communities throughout Oregon.

Hugo Akabane, M.D., Sydney Benton, LAc, John Creasy, M.D., Zipei Feng, M.D., Jon Gerry, M.D., Allie Grossmann, M.D., Ph.D, Baber Khatib, M.D., D.D.S, Mary Martel, FNP, Jamie Martinez, ARNP, Jessica Nagaoka, AGNP,-C, MSN, Eric Nesbit, M.D., Mark Stone, M.D, Diana Zellner, D.O.
Not pictured: Maryam Larki, D.C., Michelle Powell, NP, Ben Varughese, M.D.

Patient-friendly multi-lingual education videos and reference guide

Making culturally appropriate cancer care and resources available to everyone in our diverse communities is part of our mission. We're committed to this effort. As we expand our services, we are helping the most vulnerable members of our community get appropriate and necessary care.

With the Elsie Franz Finley philanthropic fund, we completed a Living Well Through Active Treatment patient education video on oral chemo. The video is narrated in English and includes subtitles in five languages: Chinese, Korean, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese. You can watch the video on oral chemo or other educational videos here.

In addition, we updated the 32-page Living Well Guide, which is available in six languages. (Currently, 2024 updates are available in the English version only.)

Media partnerships, publications showcase expertise and humanity

The stories and expertise shared by Providence Cancer Institute clinicians and patients are a valued source of information and inspiration for our communities.

2024 highlights include:

KPTV: Breast cancer survivor Kirsten Ulmer and her Providence Cancer Institute oncologist, David Page, M.D., MS, discuss a clinical trial that saved her life. (video)
KATU: John Creasy, M.D., and Jon Gerry, M.D., discuss HPB and pancreatic cancer, covering risk factors, symptoms and treatments on KATU.
KATU: Rodney Wyatt, a patient at Providence Cancer Institute Newberg Clinic, and Kelly Perlewitz, M.D., medical oncologist and hematologist, discuss his colon cancer diagnosis at age 48, treatment and survivorship.
InScope: Steven Seung, M.D., Ph.D., FACR, radiation oncologist, Providence Cancer Institute and The Oregon Clinic, explains how the upgrade to the Gamma Knife system reduces physical and psychological discomfort for patients during treatment.

The power of giving

Donor support fuels 70% of groundbreaking research at Providence Cancer Institute, driving advancements that save lives and shape the future of cancer care. But its impact doesn’t stop there. Donations also empower vital community outreach events like free cancer screenings, educational talks, patient resources and support services like oncology nutrition and nurse navigation.

Research Advancements

At Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, a division of Providence Cancer Institute, our team of researchers is exploring new frontiers in immunotherapy, genomics and AI to change what’s possible in cancer care. As part of a global community of experts in the field, we’re finding smarter, more personal ways to treat cancer, helping people live longer and better lives.

Notable awards, grants and appointments

We take pride in the recognition our clinicians and researchers received this year and celebrate the dedication of everyone who helped advance cancer care in 2024.

Some of the 2024 recognition and appointments include:

- Marka Crittenden, M.D., Ph.D., was presented with the Michael Kelley Endowed Chair for Cancer Research. Dr. Crittenden is director of Translational Radiation Research, co-leader of the Integrated Therapies Lab at Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, and a radiation oncologist with The Oregon Clinic.
- Bernard A. Fox, Ph.D., received the 2024 SITC Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Fox is leader of the Laboratory of Molecular and Tumor Immunology and Harder Family Endowed Chair in Cancer Research.
- Allie Grossmann, M.D., Ph.D., physician scientist, joined Providence Cancer Institute as an associate member of the Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, where she launched the Cancer Signaling and Immunosuppressive Trafficking Laboratory.
- Providence Genomics and Earle A. Chiles Research Institute received a Portland Business Journal Health Care Innovation Award for their work to advance AI-powered digital pathology through Prov-GigaPath. The honor is given to health care organizations or individuals who are working to improve, transform and shake up the health care industry.
- Di Wen, Ph.D., received a Research Support Grant from the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Foundation for his project, "Bioresponsive hydrogel enhances adoptive T cell therapy against head and neck squamous cell carcinoma."
- William Redmond, Ph.D., and Brendan Curti, M.D., recieved an R01 Research Project Grant from the National Cancer Institute to support an investigator-initiated clinical trial of a galectin-3 inhibitor in combination with checkpoint immunotherapy for patients with metastatic melanoma and head and neck cancer.

Published articles, public engagements and professional conferences

Our researchers published groundbreaking studies, participated in key professional conferences and shared their expertise with international audiences.

Read the abstracts and learn about studies presented at 2024 conferences:

In 2024, Earle A. Chiles Research Institute researchers gave more than 57 faculty presentations and contributed to more than:

2 Books
94 Conference abstracts
55 Peer-review articles in medical and research journals

To view these and earlier publications, visit our scholarly repository on Providence Digital Commons.

Community Partnerships

We are deeply committed to improving the health of our communities. By collaborating with local partners, we strive to make health care more accessible, especially for underserved and vulnerable communities. We recognize the challenges many face—whether financial difficulties, language barriers or limited transportation—and are dedicated to breaking down these barriers to care.

Community engagement and education

2024 event and screening highlights include:

A free mammography and oral, head and neck screening event was supported by Providence Cancer Institute in collaboration with Providence Newberg Medical Center and Community Health Division / Population Health - Promotores de Salud. A generous donation from the Glenn Dahl and Linda Illig Charitable Fund supported various cancer screenings, community resources and on-site interpretation services in Spanish for participants.
"Living with Melanoma,” a virtual patient education symposium presented by AIM at Melanoma Foundation and Providence Cancer Institute. Chris Fountain, RN, was moderator. Brendan Curti, M.D., Matthew Taylor, M.D., and Noa Curtis, MSW, LCSW, were presenters.
Get Your Rear in Gear 5K Run/Walk at Mount Tabor Park. This family-friendly event presented by the Colon Cancer Coalition and sponsored by Providence Cancer Institute, raised funds to help reduce the financial burden of colorectal cancer patients and their families.
In collaboration with Pink Lemonade Project, Ovarian Cancer Alliance and the filmmakers of "Trans Dudes with Lady Cancer," we held an educational event for our breast and gynecologic oncology professionals to improve cancer care for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Mind Over Matter (MOM) was launched. MOM is a five-week program available in Spanish and English, designed to help people affected by cancer navigate the big feelings associated with a diagnosis.
Our free, virtual cancer nutrition class is open to the public.