Psychosocial Oncology Program – Resources

Cardio-Oncology

Our cardio-oncology program is led by cardiologists trained to evaluate and treat people who have heart disease or may develop heart disease before, during and after their course of treatment for cancer. Some cancer treatments, including radiation therapy and chemotherapy, can worsen or even cause heart problems.

Our program is among the nation’s leaders, and was the first of its kind in the greater Baltimore/Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. We are dedicated to improving cardiovascular outcomes for cancer survivors.

Our cardio-oncology program aims to:

Offer advice and direction for people with existing heart disease or at risk of developing heart disease before cancer therapy begins
Monitor people before and during cancer therapy to identify any heart complications and any cardiac toxic side effects from cancer treatments earlier
Prevent or reduce further heart damage—and, when possible, reverse it
Screen for any heart complications after cancer therapy is completed
Provide advice for lifestyle changes to help reduce the risk of heart disease and to maintain health
Eliminate heart disease as a barrier to effective cancer treatment
Better understand cardiac issues in patients with cancer by participating in research studies

Our specialized cardiologists work side by side with oncologists to discuss patients’ heart function and develop a specialized treatment plan to prevent and minimize heart risks without interfering with cancer treatment.

Appointments

Call for an appointment or referral at 888-354-3422 or visit https://www.medstarheartinstitute.org/appointments/

Contact: https://www.medstarheartinstitute.org/programs/cardio-oncology/

Radiation Oncology

The Department of Radiation Oncology at MGUH is dedicated to promoting health and wellness through expert and compassionate clinical care. By providing research offerings, leadership training and cutting-edge technology, we are able to offer patients the most advanced cancer treatment options in one, multidisciplinary clinic.

MedStar Georgetown is proud to be the first hospital on the East Coast and one of the only hospitals in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area with a CyberKnife® image-guided radiosurgery system. Our stereotactic radiosurgery program is very active, and we have extensive experience performing procedures for spine, lung and gastroenterologic (GI) tumors as well as intracranial and skull-based lesions. Radiation therapy services are provided on both an inpatient and outpatient basis. The Department of Radiation Oncology plays an important role in treating many conditions including:

Arterial venous malformations
Acoustic neuromas
Adrenal tumors
Benign tumors
Breast cancer
Extracranial tumors and lesions
Early stage non small cell lung cancer
Intracranial tumors and lesions
Hepatocellular CA
Malignant tumors
Meningiomas
Pancreatic cancer
Prostate cancer
Previously irradiated thoracic malignancies
Sarcomas
Schwannomas
Solitary or limited pulmonary metastases
Spine cancer and spinal cord tumors

Appointments

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call our scheduling line at 202-444-4639 or visit https://secure.medstarhealth.org/guhappointment/general/guh-appointment-request.cfm?c=Radiation_Medicine

Nutritional Services

The LCCC offers patients individualized and evidence-based medical nutrition therapy by a registered dietitian-nutritionist. Medical nutrition therapy services before, during, or after cancer treatment can help patients manage a variety of nutrition related-concerns. These may include:

Nutrition-related side effects during and after treatment (i.e., taste changes, nausea and vomiting, constipation or diarrhea, dehydration, and involuntary weight loss)
Nutritional needs post-surgery
Safe food handling and preparation (especially important for immune

compromised patients)

Use of multivitamins, minerals, and other natural/herbal products
Weight-gain and weight-loss management
Special and restricted diets
Survivorship and cancer risk reduction
Nutritional support (such as TPN or tube feedings)
Our registered dietitian-nutritionist works closely with your team of doctors,

nurses, and other healthcare providers to provide personalized recommendations based on current nutrition research, tailored to the type of treatment a patient is receiving

With over a decade of experience, our registered dietitian-nutritionist (RDN) is credentialed by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Our dietitian is a board certified specialist in oncology nutrition (CSO) and is licensed to practice in the District of Columbia (LDN).

Appointments

Individuals who are newly diagnosed, in active cancer treatment, or who are recent cancer survivors at the Medstar Georgetown University Hospital Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center are eligible for complimentary nutrition counseling services. To make an appointment, call Rachel Wong, RDN, CSO, LDN, at 202-444-7423.

LCCC Cancer Survivorship

The goal of the cancer survivorship program is to focus on screening and education for possible side effects and conditions following your treatment. Common symptoms and conditions that can develop weeks, months, or years following cancer treatment include:

Fatigue
Fertility issues
Heart issues
High blood sugar
Low mood
Memory trouble
Scarred lung tissue
Sexual health issues
Skin cancer
Worry

Any adult or pediatric cancer survivor who has completed active treatment at any location is eligible for a cancer survivorship plan. This includes patients who self-refer or are referred by their oncology or primary care team.

How Does the Cancer Survivorship Program Work?

During an initial consultation with our team your current symptoms and risk for developing treatment-related health conditions will be assessed. From this initial assessment a detailed, personalized health evaluation specific to your cancer treatment is shared with you and your primary healthcare team. Your cancer survivorship plan will highlight preventive health screenings and other healthcare strategies specific to your own health status and risks. Our team will coordinate your care as you transition from your oncology team to your primary care team.

Appointments

To schedule a consultation please call 202-444-2223.

CAPE Connections: Caring for a Peer with Esophageal Cancer

There are over 45,000 people living with esophageal cancer in the United States, and new cancer diagnoses can be quite confusing and stressful for patients. CAPE Connections is a program that matches patients newly diagnosed with esophageal cancer with peers who are esophageal cancer survivors and can act as mentors or social support for the new patients. In addition to the unique insight the peer mentors have as survivors of the same disease, they also undergo training which includes modules on adaptation to cancer, defining the role of a peer mentor, boundary setting, communication skills and difficult conversation role-playing, confidentiality, and self-care.

How it works:

Fill out an intake form with your contact information and complete a short survey
The Program Coordinator will match you with a trained mentor based on your stage and treatment plan
Your mentor will contact you within 3-5 days via phone, email, or in-person, depending on your preference

Testimonial:

“I found somebody…who I was able to talk to about what was going on, how he was dealing with it, what kinds of reactions he was having, and it was very helpful for me to talk to somebody who was going through this.”

-Esophageal Cancer Survivor

Contact

If you are interested in becoming a mentor or receiving support, please contact Lady Nwadike at lcn15@georgetown.edu

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

A critical part of many cancer patients’ continuum of care is rehabilitation. The MedStar National Rehabilitation Network provides the highest level of rehabilitative care to the network’s cancer patients, and is one of the leading rehabilitation providers in the United States, ranking among the best in the country for more than 20 years by U.S. News & World Report. It also has one of the few specialized rehabilitation programs for people with all types and stages of cancer.

The MedStar Cancer Rehabilitation team is passionate about helping you address these challenges, enabling you to positively impact your quality of life before and during your cancer treatments. The involvement of rehabilitation will maximize the cancer survivor’s ability to gain endurance and mobility, and improve activities of daily living. In addition, highly skilled rehabilitation specialists empower the cancer survivor to gain independence and maximize the quality of his or her life.

Below are just a few of the many conditions/side effects that our therapists and physicians can help you conquer to get you back to feeling like yourself again.

Fatigue
Difficulty swallowing foods or speaking
Trouble with balance or walking
Interrupted sleep
Reduced mental sharpness or ability to concentrate
Pain, tingling or numbness
Difficulty with mobility or completing daily activities

For many people, the Cancer Rehabilitation Program begins with a pre-treatment assessment that provides baseline information on a person’s physical status, as well as their goals and needs. The rehabilitation team may be comprised of physicians, physical and occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, psychologists, and nurses with specific experience and expertise in cancer. These professionals will assess the patient and provide an education on steps they can take to help prevent problems during and after treatment. The rehabilitation process continues throughout treatment and beyond, and encompasses pain management, nutrition services, and stress management.

Appointments

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call our scheduling line at 202-444-4000.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapists can help cancer patients improve their quality of life by increasing motion and mobility, eliminating pain, and promoting the prevention of further injury. The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation provides adults and children physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology.

Appointments

For more information or to schedule an appointment with a rehab specialist, call our scheduling line at 202-295-0546 or visit https://www.medstargeorgetown.org/our-services/rehabilitation/request-an-appointment/

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy is based on engagement in meaningful activities of daily living and aims to restore, reinforce and enhance the abilities of those impacted by cancer to care for themselves, return to work and avoid further disability.

Appointments

Genetic Counseling

Genetic counseling is available to women and men with a personal or family history of cancer who want to learn about cancer risks, genetic testing options, and state-of-the-art cancer screening and risk-reduction options.

You should consider genetic counseling and testing if you have a personal and/or family history of:

Breast, colon, or uterine cancer diagnosed at age 50 or younger
Pancreatic, ovarian, or metastatic prostate cancer diagnosed at any age
Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry and a personal/family history of one or more cancers above
Multiple cancers in the same individual
10 or more colorectal polyps
Cancer in several close relatives on the same side of your family, particularly breast or colon cancer
A rare type of cancer (e.g., male breast cancer, sarcoma, diffuse type gastric cancer, medullary thyroid cancer, pheochromocytoma)
A known cancer-predisposing genetic change already identified in your family

If you are unsure whether you are a good candidate for genetic counseling and/or testing, you can talk with your doctor or you may contact us directly.

Appointments

For more information or to schedule an appointment with a genetic counselor, call our scheduling line: 202-444-0023.

STAR: Smoking Treatment and Recovery Program

STAR provides individual tobacco cessation support to all current and former cancer patients, regardless of treatment stage, as well as their family members. Nicotine patches/lozenges may be offered to you at a free or reduced rate. We will work with you to find the most effective strategies to help you quit. Medicare and most other insurance plans will cover smoking and tobacco cessation treatment and medications. Please call your insurance company for details on your coverage. We will work with you to figure out an approach to quitting that’s right for you. Our experienced health care team has expertise in the latest research on helping cancer patients quit. Starting a conversation is your first step.

How STAR Works

A knowledgeable clinical team will talk with you to understand your smoking history and goals. Together, you and the team will develop a treatment plan.
This may include medication to help with quitting and strategies for changing smoking-related habits.
Depending on your preference, appointments can be in person, via telehealth, or by phone.

You do not need to be ready to quit when you make an appointment with the STAR Team. We will work with you to figure out an approach to quitting that’s right for you.

Appointments

STAR program appointments are available now at two convenient locations, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

Call 202-784-STAR (7827) for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Pastoral Services

The Department of Mission and Pastoral Care provides spiritual and emotional support to cancer patients, families, and staff through sacramental and liturgical ministries, as well as through spiritual presence and conversation. An interfaith team of chaplains and volunteers serves people of every religious affiliation who are receiving inpatient or outpatient care at LCCC.

Mission and Pastoral Care provides:

Religious Services and Masses
Patient visits by a chaplain within 48 hours of admission
Sacramental ministry
Spiritual resources for all faith traditions
24 hour on-call coverage
Ethical decision-making counseling
Televised religious services on Channel 2
Clinical Pastoral Education

Contact

To contact the Department of Mission and Pastoral Care, please call 202-444-3030.

Arts and Humanities

For the past 30 years, the Georgetown Lombardi Arts & Humanities Program (AHP) has promoted cura personalis, or care of the whole person, for MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (MGUH) cancer patients, family members, caregivers, medical staff and visitors through its programs of music, expressive writing, dance and visual arts. These therapeutic art modalities encourage a creative response to illness. They also promote emotional, as well as physical, wellness. Currently, the AHP is offering a host of online courses, support groups, and materials to help people cope with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (see program website for more details).

Expressive Writing

Artist-in-residence, Michelle Berberet, offers bi-monthly writing workshops for patients, caregivers, and staff members at MGUH. Her thirty minute workshops begin with a poem or prompt to which guests respond. Members of the workshop are encouraged to share their writings with the group. Many of the works begun in Michelle’s workshop go on to be revised and submitted for reading at the AHP’s annual Poetry Café.

Music

The AHP provides four types of modalities throughout the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (MGUH): visual arts, dance, expressive writing and music. The use of therapeutic music has significantly grown in popularity in recent years. Music continues to provide immeasurable benefits to patients, caregivers and medical staff throughout the MGUH.

Visual Arts

The AHP has a variety of visual artists-in-residence. Claire Wagner, our knitter, has been a part of the program for many years and continues to teach knitting to Lombardi patients in the Outpatient Waiting Room as well as at patient’s bedsides (upon request). Paper arts artists, Michelle Berberet, works with patients in the Lombardi Outpatient clinic to create cards and other paper arts projects. Additionally, Nevin Bossart, our painter, provides workshops for staff members upon request with projects such as creating sunflower murals and painting flower pots.

Wig Closet

Donated wigs are provided to patients in need – or who need a new look.

Contact Cheryl Hughes, LICSW, OSW-C at 202-444-3020.

For more information, please visit our website at: https://lombardi.georgetown.edu/artsandhumanities/

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is an evidence-based eight-week course that teaches participants skills to reduce physical and emotional stress, and enhance day-to-day well-being. Created in the late 1970’s by Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD, MBSR has been shown to be effective at helping participants with a wide variety of needs, goals and physical conditions reduce stress, pain, anxiety and other symptoms, and improve their quality of life. (Note: first class is 3 hours, and last class is 3.5 hours) and one day-long (7 hour) retreat on a weekend.

MBSR is appropriate for people with a wide variety of conditions, needs and goals, including:

Medical conditions such as cancer, chronic pain or fatigue, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, seizures, autoimmune disorders and many others
Psychological conditions including depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders
Stress in the context of work, relationships, school, finances, moving and other situations
Illness prevention and wellness, cultivating balance in one’s life, and developing a more consistent meditation practice
Health care providers, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists, mental health professionals, and others.

Contact

For questions about the content of the program or whether it may be appropriate for you at this time, you are encouraged to attend one of the scheduled free orientation sessions. If you have further questions, please contact Dr. Paul Jones at Paul.M.Jones@gunet.georgetown.edu.

For any additional questions regarding registration or enrollment, please contact Allison Wymer at allison.e.wymer@gunet.georgetown.edu.

Fitness Consultation

Breast cancer patients seeking medical advice on maintaining and/or improving physical fitness can request a consultation with a physician who performs a physical examination, fitness evaluation, and provides specific recommendations for cardiovascular, strength and core training and nutrition before, during and after cancer treatment.

Appointments

For more information, contact Priscilla Furth at (202) 687-8986.

Translation Services

MedStar Georgetown offers free medical interpretation in 175 languages, including American Sign Language. Services are available in person, by phone, or by video conferencing and other technology 24/7. Helping you to communicate comfortably throughout your medical treatment is our goal.

The International Services department provides foreign language interpreters at no charge for patients and their families. Patient Care Coordinators from this department also assist with any special needs. Interpreter Services provides on-site interpreters and access to Language Line® Dual Handset Telephones. These special phones can be installed in patient rooms to provide direct connection to a multilingual medical interpreter.

Contact

Call International Services ext. 4-1588, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. For assistance after hours and on weekends, please speak with your nurse.

Ethics Consult

Ethicists familiar with health care issues are available to discuss any moral conflicts or ethical concerns with patients and families who are dealing with challenging health care decisions.

The Ethics Consult Service is a free, confidential advisory service available at any time to assist MedStar Georgetown University Hospital patients, families and health care professionals in identifying, analyzing and resolving ethical issues. A Clinical Ethicist reviews each consult request. A full consult will generally involve a meeting of several ethicists, the health care team, you, and/or your family as appropriate. The ethicists facilitate discussions and clarify ethical issues in making important decisions.

Contact

To request a consult call the Page Operator ext. 4-PAGE (ext. 4-7243) and request the “Ethics Consult Service.” For more information, contact: (202) 405-3959.

Lombardi CancerLine

Call the Lombardi CancerLine and reach a registered nurse who can give you information you need — for yourself, a family member, or a friend.

Learn how to access the latest cancer treatment options and information, or how to find a doctor. Ask questions about risk, second opinions, symptoms, cancer screenings or treatment options. You’ll find all of the answers at the Lombardi CancerLine.

Call us today — it may be the most important research you’ll ever do. And remember: your call is always free and confidential.Contact For more information, contact: (202) 444-4000.

Specialty Offerings

Betty Lou Ourisman Breast Health Center

The expertise and range of services offered at this comprehensive facility are unrivaled in the Washington, DC, area. Dedicated in the fall of 1998, the Betty Lou Ourisman Breast Health Center at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital is a one-of-a-kind clinic designed to provide the most professional breast health care possible by coordinating services across specialties to maximize efficiency and produce optimal outcomes.

Interdisciplinary breast professionals, working within steps of each other, offer seamless, confident, accurate and efficient management of breast care. In one visit, you may be seen by a doctor or a nurse practitioner who specializes exclusively in breast health, by a radiologist who dedicates their practice to interpreting only mammograms, or by a surgeon who exclusively practices breast surgery. You may have a consultation with a risk assessment group, led by one of the world’s leading experts in breast cancer risk assessment.

Appointments

To schedule an appointment with a breast cancer specialist, please call our scheduling line at (202) 295-0555

https://lombardi.georgetown.edu/patient/diseases/breast_cancer/ourisman/

Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers

At the Ruesch Center, we believe the future of GI cancer treatment hinges on a highly personalized approach to finding the right drugs for the right patients. As an international center of excellence, part of one of only 40 comprehensive cancer centers in the country and one of only a few that focuses exclusively on GI cancers, we are working tirelessly by:

Advancing Science and Research: In the last four years, the Ruesch Center has supported more than 50 clinical trials, with 119 (18%) of our current patients enrolled on a trial. More than 2,000 tissue and blood samples, in combination with clinical data, of GI patients have been stored and are available for use in future cancer research.
Changing Lives and Outcomes: Our nurse navigators, who offer critical medical guidance, support, and direction for patients and their families through the cancer treatment process, have touched the lives of more than 2,800 patients.
Cultivating Innovators of the Future: Our student summer program has grown from two students in the early years to 14 in the coming summer and engages participants in research and patient care.
Collaborating and Sharing Insights: The center has established scientific collaborations with over 12 local, national and international partners, including the creation of a Global Alliance, resulting in research papers that have influenced treatment across the globe.

Contact

For more information call (202) 444-0275 or email: rueschcenter@georgetown.edu.

Pediatric and Adolescent /Young Adult Oncology

These specialized programs are maintained by MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and treat patients from birth to age 25, in either an inpatient or outpatient setting. Many of our pediatric oncologists trained at the National Institutes of Health. They focus on caring for children and teens, and each member further specializes in different and complementary areas of cancer care. When needed, additional network specialists come to our program, so you don’t have additional travel. That gives us expertise to care for any cancer, from the rarest to the most common.

Medical Services

Leukemia & Lymphoma Program
Solid Tumor and Brain Tumor Program
Retinoblastoma Program
Blood disorders Program including General Hematology
Sickle Cell Program
Long Term Survivor Program
Palliative Care program
Cancer Nutrition Program
Surgical Oncology
Radiation Oncology
Pediatric Sedation Service

Supportive Care Services

Social Work
Art Therapy
Child Psychiatry and Neuropsychology
Back to School Transition Services
Nutrition
Physical, Occupational, & Speech Therapies
Chaplain
Parent Link Program

Clinical Trials and Research

We’re a full member of the Children’s Oncology Group, a National Cancer Institute-backed group that runs pediatric cancer clinical trials. We also have a close relationship with the National Institutes of Health and can refer patients to age-appropriate trials run by adult cancer programs in our network. That all means access to promising new therapies not always available elsewhere.

Appointments

To make an appointment, please call (202) 444-7599.

Partner Organizations

Smith Center

Founded in 1996, Smith Center for Healing and the Arts (formerly Smith Farm) is a Washington, DC-based non-profit health, education, and arts organization.

Our major focuses include:

Cancer Programs: We offer empowering retreats and programs for adults living with cancer and their caregivers including yoga and stress reduction, creative expression, nutrition classes, as well as lectures and support programs.

Patient Navigation: Through the Institute of Integrative Oncology Navigation, we offer innovative national and local patient navigation trainings and contribute to the developing dialogue about patient care nationwide.

Arts & Healing: Smith Center has become a leader in the nationwide movement to promote the use of the arts in healing. We do this through programs and exhibitions at the Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery and by developing and sharing a range of innovative programs and initiatives in the community and across the nation.

Smith Center was recognized by the 2016-2017 Catalogue for Philanthropy as one of the best small charities in the region.

Our Philosophy on Healing

Healing is a natural and often deeply personal process that can encompass the entire spectrum of our lives – physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual. For some it is a return to wholeness or a return of hope – to others it is a sense that “I will be alright, no matter what happens.” It can be a return of a long lost sense of joy in life or a renewed sense of purpose despite difficult circumstances. For others a new or renewed sense of belonging in the world, or of a sense that somehow everything makes sense.

There is an important dialogue that is taking place in contemporary biomedicine about the distinction between curing and healing. We want both. Curing is successful medical treatment. It is what the physician hopes to bring to the patient. Healing is broader, and comes from within. It is the inner process through which a person becomes whole. Curing affects the illness, while healing affects the experience of the illness. A person engaged in healing work can make a significant transformation in their quality of life. And that itself can sometimes have a positive effect on outcome.

Our work at the Smith Center is to help ‘create the conditions for healing’ through support, community, and providing tools and techniques that promote healing. We believe that everyone harbors innate capacities for healing. We believe that healing is always possible even when curing is not.

Capital Breast Center

At Capital Breast Care Center, our mission is to provide navigation and access to culturally sensitive breast cancer screening services, and health and wellness education guided by evidence-based practices to underserved women in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area.

The patient navigators’ individualized educational approach of informing women makes the mammography process less scary. This outreach also enables women to be informed, participate in their care, and encourages them to use CBCC. The navigators are continuously building relationships with clinics and community partners in the DC metropolitan area to reach the women who may benefit the most from their seminars.

Support Groups, Seminars and Workshops

Through our wonderful partner organizations, patients have access to the following supportive offerings.

DC Young Adult Cancer Community

The DC Young Adult Cancer Community (DCYACC) is all about addressing the unique challenges and concerns of young adults in their 20’s, 30’s, and early 40’s who are living with cancer. This initiative, the DC Young Adult Cancer Community Meetup and Support Group, meets monthly at Smith Center for support and socialization. Each session is led by a licensed facilitator.

Caregiver Support Groups

The Smith Center offers caregiver support and resources that will help you prepare for and deal with the challenges that come from caring for a loved one. Our stress reduction, creative expression, and educational programs can help you feel more balanced, supported, and empowered.

Patient Provider Education Project

The Patient-Provider Education Project (PPEP) engages healthcare providers with African-American breast cancer survivors to collectively develop solutions for improving care in these targeted communities. Utilizing dialogue and education, we will improve patient-provider communication, understanding and trust fostering more effective clinical health encounters. Training will address cultural competence challenges, communication skills, informed decision-making, cancer screening guidelines and available resources leading to improved overall patient outcomes.

Smith Center Cancer Survivorship Program

Our programs empower individuals to live as well and as long as possible by offering emotional support, self-care resources and conventional and complementary choices in healing. Workshops and retreats led by experts focus on time-tested wellness techniques such as health-supportive nutrition, creative expression, personal reflection, stress reduction, and other healthy choices that enhance emotional, spiritual, and physical wellbeing.

Complementary and Integrative Medicine Seminar Series

The Georgetown CAM Program Seminar Series hosts a variety of speakers that consist of providers and researchers in the integrative and complementary medicine space that include topics such as mind-body medicine, nutrition, indigenous and eastern medical approaches, wellness and emerging research.

LCCC’s Commitment to Research

The Department of Oncology is an intensively research-based department whose goal is to move fundamental discoveries in molecular and cellular biology, genetics, and behavioral sciences from the bench to the clinic. The mission of the department is to provide a home for faculty and students in which their professional development can be enlarged by appropriate programmatic organization, professional and collegial mentoring, and focused educational programs. Departmental members have in excess of $30 million annually in research grants.

The Department is closely intertwined with Georgetown Lombardi (an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center), and as a result, has access to superb infrastructure resources spanning most of biotechnology. Major areas of departmental research include growth regulation of cancer, cell death, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis, cancer prevention and control, molecular epidemiology, radiation carcinogenesis, developmental therapeutics and breast cancer.For more information, please visit: https://gumc.georgetown.edu/areas-of-focus/cancer/ or https://lombardi.georgetown.edu/research/clinicaltrials

The Lombardi Survivorship Research Initiative

The Lombardi Survivorship Research Initiative seeks to promote, support and lead high impact cancer survivorship research to improve the lives of people diagnosed with cancer. We foster collaborative and multidisciplinary approaches that span from basic science to collaborations with community. Recent collaborations of the Survivorship Research Initiative include a multisite clinical trial to evaluate a writing intervention among patients with hematological cancers who are receiving stem cell transplants, a lifestyle intervention to promote physical activity and healthy eating among women diagnosed with breast cancer, a survey study to assess coping and quality of life over time with patients undergoing stem cell transplants and and their caregivers, a peer support program for individuals diagnosed with esophageal cancer and a study to better understand symptoms experienced by individuals diagnosed with thyroid cancer following radioactive iodine therapy.

For more information about the Survivorship Research Initiative, please email survivorship@georgetown.edu

The Georgetown Lombardi Health Disparities Initiative

The Mission of the Initiative is to facilitate, stimulate, and promote synergy in addressing the biological and environmental basis of cancer health disparities via research, training, communication, and education.

The Black Women’s Health Study, conducted in partnership with Boston University (PI: Lynn Rosenberg) and Lucile Adams-Campbell (PI: subcontract at Lombardi), which began in 1995, is the largest cohort study of African-American women in existence today. It tracks weight, nutrition, body mass index, reproductive history, smoking and alcohol use, physical activity, and disease incidence. The study provides researchers with invaluable epidemiological data on health risks and disease development. African-American women have the highest rate of breast cancer mortality in the US, the highest incidence and mortality due to colorectal cancer, and are twice as likely to die from cervical cancer than Caucasian women, yet little data exists to explain the divergence.

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