Meet the oncology leaders

Left to right: Mike Glenn, CEO; Tina Toner, Chief Nursing Officer; Dr. Deb Peterson, Director of MedOnc and Infusion Services; and Dr. Farnoush Abar, Medical Oncologist.

On March 7th, Jefferson Healthcare CEO Mike Glenn spoke to Foundation donors about the hospital's new radiation oncology service line and introduced members of the oncology team. 

The team spoke passionately about how this new service line isn't just making radiation treatment accessible: it's making it possible. For roughly 70 people per year, radiation is a nonstarter due to the distances people have to travel at a vulnerable time. The team estimates that, all told, about 300 people per year will be served by radiation oncology at Jefferson Healthcare. 

The oncology team has nine oncology-certified nurses. This is an astounding number for a small, rural healthcare system. Dr. Abar says that their collective matches or surpasses other large, well-known institutions. The oncology team is more than ready to incorporate radiation oncology, and it's particularly meaningful to the team that Jefferson Healthcare will now be able to provide comprehensive, coordinated cancer care to patients. 

Jefferson Healthcare will be partnering with the Tumor Institute Radiation Oncology Group (TIROG), a group that provides radiation services to Swedish Hospital. The oncology assigned to Jefferson Healthcare will be based in Port Townsend and have all the backup and support that being part of a larger network offers.

We're always grateful for the time that hospital staff take from their busy schedules to share their knowledge and expertise with us!