SquamousCellCarcinomaofSkin near Pinehurst, NC

Biography: I am an oncologist in Salisbury, North Carolina, where I have the privilege of caring for hematology and oncology patients from many different backgrounds. \n I believe being compassionate, patient and calm is essential when caring for people who are facing some of the most difficult phases of their lives. My personal experiences have given me a deeper understanding of the challenges my patients and their caregivers meet after a cancer diagnosis. \n My approach to healthcare starts with providing a simple explanation of the diagnosis and its implications. This helps patients weigh the risks and benefits of treatment. I feel honored to be able to provide care to our patients in a community setting. \n I am originally from India and moved to the United States to complete my medical training in Little Rock, Arkansas. I enjoy reading and cooking, as well as spending time with my husband, daughter and son. We love to go on hikes as a family.

Biography: Dr. Kuykendal has spent many years in North Carolina but has called Charlotte home since 2013. He believes in bringing the latest evidence-based medicine to his patients and working with them to make the best treatment decisions. During his career he has worked in basic science, clinical trials and patient outcomes research to advance the oncology field for current and future patients. He treats patients with a variety of cancers and blood diseases but has a special focus on cancers of the GI tract including colon, rectum, pancreas and liver cancer as well as prostate, kidney and testicular cancer. He has three children who keep him quite busy, and during his free time enjoys sporting events, theater and trying new restaurants.

Biography: Medicine, and oncology specifically, have been a calling for me from a young age. My family has no medical professionals, yet I knew from childhood that a career in medicine was in my future. I have always had a particular interest in the science of oncology and the incredible advancements in cancer treatments that have occurred in the last century. Today, I am a hematology and oncology specialist focusing on the treatment and management of breast and lung cancers. \n My colleagues and I believe in a team approach to care. That is why I serve on thoracic and breast tumor site councils and the committee for cancer at Novant Health. This is an opportunity for us to come together with our colleagues to discuss cases, explore treatment options and develop care plans for our patients as a team. \n What I love most about oncology is the relationships I develop with my patients and their families. Cancer can often be a long journey, and I consider it an honor to help patients navigate through these challenging times and beyond. \n I am originally from Columbia, South Carolina, and did most of my training in my home state at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. After completing my medical training, my husband and I relocated to Charlotte to be close to family. I am happily married to my husband, and we have two boys who are the light of our lives. In my personal time, I enjoy exploring nature with my children, traveling and reading, as well as daily exercise.

Biography: I want to help people live well, which is why I chose to pursue medicine as a career. When it came time to select my specialty, oncology was a clear choice for me. It is a field where the bond between physician and patient is so importantly grounded in trust and shared vision, and there is a sense of closeness that is formed that is unique to this field. \n The key to successful treatment is having the patient take ownership of the treatment by having a complete understanding of their care plan. I make it a priority to carefully explain the disease and the treatment to the patient and their family, so they have all the tools necessary to make the best decisions for themselves. It's a personal goal to treat everyone with absolute respect so that we are on a level playing field, fighting the disease together as a team. \n I serve on the Novant Health Breast Cancer Tumor Council and lead the Novant Health Huntersville Cancer Network group. And when not in clinic with my patients, I also participate in clinical research to help advance our knowledge of cancer and ways to fight this disease. \n I am married and have two children. I play an active role in my church and enjoy family time outdoors, hiking and reading.

Biography: Dr. Jepsen cares for hematology and oncology patients with all tumor types with a special focus on the treatment of breast cancer, as well as breast cancer prevention, genetics and survivorship. She also focuses on treating gastrointestinal malignancies. She has done research in molecular genetics and published translational research through Merck Inc. Her work has focused on DNA gene sequences for drug targets and sequencing of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) for vaccine development. She worked on colon cancer tumor profile expression with microarray analysis at Princeton University. Dr. Jepsen enjoys spending free time with her husband, daughter and extended family. She also enjoys traveling, cooking and vacationing at the beach.

Biography: I am a medical oncologist at Novant Health, specializing in lung cancer and thoracic malignancies. My father was my role model growing up and worked as an oral surgeon, which drew me towards a career in medicine from an early age. Like many families, my family was no stranger to cancer. \n Very quickly in my medical training, I identified oncology as my area of interest. I made it my goal to always be accessible to my patients, and to communicate the details of their illness, treatment, and prognosis in clear and concise language. I believe it is the patient's right to know all of the details regarding their case and that I should prioritize their input in making treatment decisions. \n I am passionate about identifying the latest cutting-edge research opportunities for my patients. That is why I am participating in Novant Health's effort to identify and overcome barriers to treatment for lung cancer patients in order to reduce the time from diagnosis to treatment and improve lung cancer outcomes. This is also why I co-chair the Thoracic Tumor Council and help lead the cancer physician team at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center.

Biography: It's an honor to wear several hats at Novant Health and within the medical community. I'm the Agnes B. and Edward I. Weisiger Endowed Chair at the Novant Health Agnes B. and Edward I. Weisiger Cancer Institute, as well as the institute's senior vice president and system physician executive. Because I also am committed to advancing the field of clinical research and enjoy teaching the physicians of the future, I'm a clinical professor of medicine at the UNC School of Medicine. During my time as a professor at Duke University School of Medicine (1997-2021), I was nominated by Duke medical residents for the Eugene Stead Teaching Award and by Duke medical students for the Davidson Teaching Award. \n I have always enjoyed using my skills in service to others. As a hematologist and oncologist, I personalize care plans for each of my patients. Blood cancers affect everyone differently, and there is no one correct way to treat them all - or to treat all patients. \n Each person deserves a care plan tailored to their goals, and one that offers them the most advanced treatment and supportive care options. That's what we strive to offer at the Cancer Institute. It's what we feel provides our patients the remarkable experience they deserve. \n I've been honored with a number of professional awards throughout my career. They include: \n - Duke University, First Annual Cellular Therapy Education Award, 2011 \n - National Cancer Institute Team Leadership Award, 2010 \n - Society for Clinical and Translational Science, 2010 \n - Wendel Ross Teaching Award, voted on by Duke University School of Medicine fellows, 2010 \n - Scholar in Clinical Research, awarded by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 2010 \n - National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Investigator Team Leadership Award, 2010 \n - Castle Connelly's Top Doctor since 2008 (Castle Connolly Top Doctors is a select group of physicians nominated by their peers as leaders in the field.) \n - Lisa M. Stafford Memorial Research Prize, given in recognition of a promising junior investigator, Duke University, 1999 \n Cancer research, bringing novel therapies to the bedside to improve the care of patients with cancer, has always been a primary interest of mine. As a translational researcher, I have focused on developing new therapies for patients with bloodborne cancers, such as leukemia or lymphoma. \n I have been recognized by the National Cancer Institute for leadership in clinical research and for offering multiple "first-in-human" trials to bring innovative treatments to cancer patients in need of groundbreaking options, such as new forms of stem cell transplantation and novel immunotherapies. \n At the national level, I serve on various NIH and National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute grant review committees. I am also a member of American Society of Hematology (ASH), American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Association for Cancer Research, American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation, American Society for Clinical Investigation and various ASH subcommittees. \n I am an avid reader and love CrossFit. I'm a proud dad and my kids keep me both young and are taking years off my life! I am husband to a more famous doc, Cristina Gasparetto, MD. Still trying to figure out why she puts up with me.

Biography: My interest in treating cancers of the breast, urinary tract and genitals developed during my medical training and continues in my work at Novant Health. Staying on the leading edge of cancer care is important to me. This is one reason that I am a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncologists and the lead physician for Charlotte GU (Genitourinary) Tumor Council. Clinical research is also a way that I can learn and provide treatment options that typically would be unavailable. To support those efforts, I often serve as the principal investigator for Novant Health clinical trials. \n A cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming. Patients and families not only have the physical challenges, but they also must learn an entirely new language of medical terms. My goal is to communicate with patients and family members in ways that are easy to understand. And I take time to explain the reasoning behind my suggested treatment plan because knowledge is power. \n A cancer diagnosis often leaves the patient and family feeling unsettled because so much is unknown. That's why I do everything I can to put patients at ease. I enjoy the relationships I build with my patients and their families and can't see myself doing a different type of work. \n I am from the Midwest, where most of my immediate family still lives. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my dog, Julio, running, entering races and traveling.