From left, Salem Regional Medical Center President/CEO Dr. Anita Hackstedde promotes the hospital’s new partnership with University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center with oncologist Dr. Ayla Kessler, who will serve as medical director of the UH Seidman Cancer Center at SRMC, and with oncologist/hematologist Dr. Zoraida Mendez inside the Cancer & Infusion Center at SRMC. The collaboration on cancer care is expected to expand treatment options for patients, including access to clinical trials, a continuum of world-class care from diagnosis to treatment and access to a new advanced radiation treatment option — all in Salem. (Salem News photo by Mary Ann Greier)

SALEM –Area patients seeking nationally-recognized expertise in cancer care won’t have far to look or travel since University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center at Salem Regional Medical Center opened Monday.

“They should be confidant in the care they’re receiving here, the best options available, they’re here,” Dr. Anita Hackstedde said.

As President/CEO of Salem Regional Medical Center, she made the announcement about the partnership with UH Seidman Cancer Center aimed at increasing the availability of state-of-the-art cancer care to patients in Salem and the surrounding region in Columbiana and Mahoning counties and expanding options for treatment to include access to clinical trials and a new advanced linear accelerator coming in early 2018 for the newest option in radiation treatment.

“We know we have a high incidence of cancer in our region,” Hackstedde said, adding the community health needs assessment completed in 2016 showed “cancer was a priority from our focus groups and stakeholders. They wanted to have local access to expert cancer care.”

She noted that the hospital already had great cancer care here, especially with the opening two years ago of the expanded Cancer & Infusion Center, but the partnership with UH Seidman Cancer Center can provide patients with a higher level of confidence knowing that the hospital is working with a leading national expert in cancer care.

According to Hackstedde, for the patient that means access to the best care protocols in the nation considering UH Seidman Cancer Center participated in developing some of those protocols used all over the world for radiation therapy and chemotherapy. That also means access to teams of specialists for specific cancers and access to clinical trials for cancer research and treatment.

“That’s huge,” Hackstedde said.

Dr. Ayla Kessler, an oncologist who started Nov. 1, will serve as the medical director of the UH Seidman Cancer Center at SRMC and join oncologist/hematologist Dr. Zoraida Mendez in the care of patients inside the Cancer & Infusion Center located on the second floor. Kessler said 70 percent of cancer care is really evidence-based. meaning it’s based on scientific research of what works best. She said patients should get the latest and greatest cancer care wherever they are. The partnership ensures patients will have access to the highest level of evidence-based care and treatment available.

“I’m very privileged and very honored and proud to be part of this team. I think our people will get the best care right at home,” Kessler said.

Mendez, who’s been providing cancer care to the area the past 15 years, has some experience with University Hospitals and said she was delighted when Hackstedde told her about the partnership. She said she’s been looking forward to it.

“Our goal is the same as what it’s always been, to care for the patients the best way possible,” she said.

Mendez welcomed Kessler and said “the patients are going to be super happy.”

“SRMC chose to partner with the UH Seidman Cancer Center (UHSCC) because of its strong reputation in world-class cancer care. As a member of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center at Case Western Reserve University, the UHSCC is one of only 47 centers in the nation to be designated a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute, and is recognized by US News & World Report as one of the top hospitals for cancer care in the country. In addition, UHSCC is a leading researcher involved in the discovery of new forms of cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment,” Hackstedde said in a written press release.

With the medical oncology program now running, next up will be the addition of Dr. William Demas and Dr. Michael Seider to the UH Seidman Canter Center at SRMC team of physicians, to provide radiation oncology services in SRMC’s Salem Medical Arts Building. The new advanced linear accelerator will be installed early next year, giving SRMC the most advanced radiation treatment option in the region.

Teamed with the collaboration that will occur with experts at the main campus of UH Seidman Cancer Center, the clinical trials that will become available locally, the new radiation therapy and all that SRMC already has to offer, such as the 3T MRI and digital mammography, Hackstedde said the program at Salem will be “really outstanding.”

A welcome reception is being held today, with comments expected from SRMC Board of Directors Chair Matthew Bender, Hackstedde and Linda Mangosh, Vice President of Operations at UH Seidman Cancer Center. She is expected to talk about the birth of the UH Seidman Cancer Center Hospital in 2011 thanks to a generous $42 million gift from Jane and Lee Seidman, about access to 14 specialized cancer care teams for treatment of various cancers and access to clinical trials from research by top physician scientists on staff.

Besides all the treatments for cancer patients, the new program at UH Seidman Cancer Center at SRMC will include an extensive education component for patients and counseling for high-risk patients who may not have cancer but are at high-risk due to various factors.