Berman Cancer Institute Updates and Accomplishments

Michael Stein Promoted to GBMC Senior Leadership

Michael Stein, MHSA, FACMPE, has been promoted to Vice President, Clinical and Support Operations, effective November 14. In this new role, Mike oversees oncology, radiology, laboratory, volunteers, food and nutrition, environmental services, patient transport, and the Service Response Center (SRC). Prior to this, Mike served as the Executive Director of the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute.

Dr. Celano Appointed by Gov. Hogan to Council on Cancer Control

Dr. Paul Celano, FASC, FASCO, the Herman and Walter Samuelson Medical Director of the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute, has been appointed to the Maryland State Council on Cancer Control by Governor Larry Hogan. Dr. Celano joins a 25-member body appointed by the Governor to educate and advise government officials, public and private organizations, and the general public concerning policies, programs, and innovations with the goal of reducing the incidence and mortality of cancer in Maryland.

Commission on Cancer Renews Accreditation

Through the American College of Surgeons, the Commission on Cancer (CoC) recognizes cancer programs for their commitment to providing comprehensive, high quality, and multidisciplinary patient-centered care. A consortium of professional organization, the CoC is improving survival and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education, and the monitoring of comprehensive quality of care.

After an intensive site visit in November, the CoC renewed its accreditation of the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute. This accreditation signifies that the Berman Cancer Institute has invested in systems aimed toward providing high quality, coordinated care to our patients and that we have made efforts to provide supportive services and resources addressing the full continuum of care available in our community.

With CoC accreditation comes access to infrastructure and data that impact patient care, as well as opportunities for leadership and programmatic development.

Dr. Brookland Honored for Contributions to Oncology

Robert Brookland, MD, Chairman of Radiation Oncology at GBMC, received an award from Towson-Catonsville Alumni Chapter (TACS) of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity during a Prostate Center Roundtable Event. The panel discussion included a comprehensive overview of the advancements in the treatment and detection of prostate cancer. While membership is open and unrestricted, Kappa Alpha Psi is a historically African American Fraternity, founded at Indiana University in 1911. The fraternity is reported to have more than 700 chapters across the country and around the world.

Integrative and Palliative Medicine Team Is Growing

Advance Practitioner Suki Parks, PhD, PA-C, has joined the Integrative and Palliative Medicine team of the Berman Cancer Institute. Dr. Parks has experience in treating radiation oncology patients, as well as cardiology patients, in both cases as a physician assistant. She held an American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellowship at Princeton University after earning her doctorate in molecular biology at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Parks will be working alongside Mind Body Therapist Lolly Forsythe-Chisolm.

Dance Center Team Member on International Panel

Karen Ulmer, MS, RN, CORLN, an Otolaryngology Nurse Specialist at GBMC’s Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head & Neck Center, served as a panelist for a Webinar hosted by The Global Tracheostomy Collaborative (GTC). Her fellow panelists included an ENT physician from the United States and a Clinical Specialist in Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) from the United Kingdom. The GTC is a global partnership of physicians, nurses, therapists, caregivers and patients who work together to disseminate best practices and improve outcomes in tracheostomy care.

Staff Members Achieve Certification

Kathryn Tower, CCRC, has passed the certification exam to become a Certified Clinical Research Coordinator. The credential is overseen by the Association of Clinical Research Professionals.

Those taking the CCRC exam are required to have provided at least 3,000 hours of work experience involving clinical research coordination.

Kim Taylor, RN and Lisa Kight, RN are the first nurses on GBMC’s Radiation Oncology staff to earn their ONS/ONCC Radiation Therapy Certification. The Oncology Nurses Society and Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation combine to form an independent accrediting body that has established nationally acknowledged standards and criteria for professional practice.

GBMC strives to have all team members achieve appropriate certifications.