“We will forever be linked. You saved my life … Let me give some appreciation back to you. You will never know the difference you made in me.”
These words from one of our patients speaks to the heart of our UVA Health University Medical Center’s Gynecologic Oncology (GYN/ONC) team. Their commitment to compassion and innovation is noticed, deeply felt, and life-changing. Here’s a closer look at a team whose work exemplifies one of the best parts of being an academic medical center, translating discoveries into revolutionary therapies!
Our GYN/ONC team specializes in treating individuals facing some of the most challenging diagnoses — endometrial, cervical, vaginal, vulvar, and ovarian cancers. They provide personalized care and advanced treatment options to thousands while engaging in research that offers hopeful and innovative solutions to improve outcomes for patients facing gynecologic cancers. One patient shared:
“ … I chose to participate in a clinical trial because I felt it, in addition to chemotherapy, was my best chance to beat my cancer — and I did. I’m happy to say I was treated and cared about as a person and not once was I made to feel like a science experiment or project.”
This team is not only exceptional in care but leads in research, recently ranking fourth in the nation for clinical trial enrollment by enrolling 80 patients to NRG trials. Their strides in cancer research have helped bring FDA-approved treatments to the forefront, making real breakthroughs to improve outcomes for women everywhere.
They’re also the only gynecologic cancer specialists in our region. The team includes oncologists, surgeons, radiation experts, nurses, genetic counselors, and research coordinators — all working together to deliver hope through advanced surgery like robotic and laparoscopic procedures, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and exciting new clinical trials.
This grateful patient said it best:
“When the research team called me, I got hope again. One little talk can change this.”
To the GYN/ONC team, thank you. Your expertise, your compassion, and your unshakable dedication from diagnosis to treatment are changing lives. You set the bar for gynecologic cancer care across the Commonwealth and beyond.
Whose work would you like to learn more about? Share your recommendations with me through the Be Heard Suggestion Box.
Take care and be well,
Wendy