Contact SCOR
Southeast Clinical Oncology
Research Consortium
2150 Country Club Road,
Suite 200
Winston Salem, NC 27104
T: (336) 448-1417
F: (336) 448-1425
Member Communities
Asheville, NC – Messino
Cary, NC
Charleston, SC
Charlotte, NC
Chesapeake, VA
Cookeville, TN
Florence, SC
Fort Myers, FL
Gastonia, NC
Goldsboro, NC
Greensboro, NC
Hampton Roads, VA
Hendersonville, NC – Pardee
Hendersonville, NC – AdventHealth
Kingsport, TN
Martinsville, VA
New Bern, NC
Pinehurst, NC
Richmond, VA
Rocky Mount, NC
Savannah, GA
Wilmington, NC
Winston-Salem, NC
Why are a lower percentage of cancer patients dying?
/in Charlotte, Novant HealthThe cancer mortality rate in America is dropping.
Dr. Joseph Merriman
Cancer deaths have declined 29% in the past three decades, including a 2.2% drop in 2017, the largest single-year decline since recordkeeping began in 1930, according to the recent American Cancer Society annual statistics report.
“I hope it gives great hope that what we’re doing is making progress and moving the needle,” said Dr. Joseph Merriman, a medical oncologist at Novant Health Cancer Specialists – Charlotte. “The progress we see in this report reflects the commitment from patients, physicians and policymakers throughout the country, in addition to the science behind it.”
Merriman said several factors contribute to the decline:
“While we focus on and praise the research and therapies, we also have to credit those millions of selfless patients who have made this progress possible through participation in studies across the U.S.,” Merriman said.
Through clinical trials, doctors determine whether new treatments are safe and effective, and if they work better than current treatments. Clinical trials also help find new ways to prevent and detect cancer.
Talk with your doctor to determine if a clinical trial could be right for you. Call the Novant Health Oncology Research Institute in Charlotte (704-384-5369) or the Novant Health Clinical Research Institute in Winston-Salem (316-277-0910) to learn more about current trial participation opportunities.
Novant Health cancer patients and their caregivers will benefit from the new Edward I. and Agnes B. Weisiger Cancer Center, scheduled to open this fall.
“All these new treatments and innovations are only as good as they are accessible,” Merriman said. “Our focus is to bring the most innovative standard of care to the community locally. Charlotte is a robust community, so why not be able to offer the latest, whether it be optimizing the standard of care or a clinical trial or research for the community here?”
Novant Health Helps People with Cancer Thrive During and After Treatment
/in CharlotteCHARLOTTE, N.C. – Through the generosity of the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation and SherryStrong.org, Novant Health has partnered with the Healing Kitchens Institute to offer patients with a cancer diagnosis free online access to the Cancer Fighting Kitchen Course, a self-guided class that includes a library of short videos about healthy eating through cancer, as well as simple recipes that nourish body and spirit. The program can also be accessed by caregivers, family and friends who may want to offer their loved ones support by cooking nutritious, comforting meals. >>READ MORE
Novant Health appoints vice president of research, innovation
/in Charlotte, Novant Health, Winston SalemBy Jessica Kim Cohen
www.ModernHealthcare.com
Novant Health has named Mark J. King its vice president of research and innovation, effective March 11.
King joins Novant Health from the Winston-Salem, N.C.-based health system’s neighbor, Atrium Health. King serves as Atrium Health’s assistant vice president of research administration, where he oversees clinical trials and research operations. He will continue in that role until March.
King previously led development of oncology clinical trials as assistant vice president for the clinical trials office at Atrium Health’s Levine Cancer Institute.
Another component of King’s new role will involve helping Novant Health apply emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to clinical research efforts.
King will report to Dr. Eric Eskioglu, executive vice president and chief medical officer of Novant Health.
“Mark has over 15 years of experience in furthering research and development through clinical trials with medical and healthcare systems,” Eskioglu said in a news release. “His depth of knowledge will be valuable in helping Novant Health continue to grow in the remarkable care we provide to our patients with expanded treatment options through advanced clinical research.”