BiliaryTractCancer near Concord, NC

Biography: I have helped thousands of cancer patients since 1998, when I completed a fellowship in medical oncology. My training enables me to diagnose multiple types of cancer and devise non-surgical treatment plans, including chemotherapy, to help patients. \n I was inspired to do this work at a young age by the loss of my mother to lymphoma. That experience helps me relate to patients dealing with more aggressive forms of cancer and provide the kind of compassionate and expert care all of us should expect. \n In 2020, we brought an unprecedented level of cancer care to Rowan County with the opening of Novant Health Wallace Cancer Institute in Salisbury. The institute offers advanced radiotherapy technology, genetic counseling, private chemotherapy suites and access to an oncology dietitian, nurse navigators, and social services all under one roof. And, it provides local access to clinical trials of advanced cancer treatments. \n I am honored to have helped bring such a comprehensive level of care to my community and value every day I have with my patients. \n My wife Trish and I are raising two daughters, Brianna and Marissa. We enjoy travelling, good food, thoroughbred horse racing and watching University of North Carolina sports. I also have a personal passion for medical mission trips.

Biography: Even as a young child, I knew I wanted to be a doctor. I found my calling in radiation oncology, where I have the honor and privilege of helping patients through one of the most difficult journeys of their life. \n I practice patient-centered medicine. That means I serve the patient by educating them about their treatment options and guiding them through their individual plan. \n During medical school I was selected to participate in the Howard Hughes Medical Institute-National Institute of Health Research Scholar Cloister Program. After graduating from the UNC School of Medicine with honors, I served as the youngest chief resident in the history of the Harvard Radiation Oncology program. After completion of my residency, I returned to North Carolina where I became a partner at Southeast Radiation Oncology. \n At Novant Health, I have been the principal investigator or radiology oncology lead on several clinical trials, and I serve on Novant Health's head and neck as well as thoracic tumor site councils. \n Other professional duties have included chairing the BCBS-NC Radiation Oncology Advisory Board, serving on the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology on Health Policy committee and serving as North Carolina's representative for Radiation Oncology on the Medicare Carrier Advisory Committee. \n I serve as vice president at Radiation Oncology Centers of the Carolinas and on the boards of Radiation Oncology Venture, Oncology Practice Solutions and Southeast Radiation Oncology. \n Out of the office, I enjoy boating, swimming, surfing, skiing, hiking - anything that involves spending time outdoors. I love attending musicals at the theater, performances at the symphony and just spending a quiet night at home with my wife, children and two dogs.

Biography: My focus is caring for women through all stages of breast cancer - from diagnosis and treatment to recovery and beyond. At Novant Health, I've been able to pursue this mission through a highly rewarding combination of clinical work and research. I have been principal investigator on several clinical trials involving drugs targeting proteins that cause cancer to grow and spread. These targeted therapies are particularly exciting because the drugs can manage specific types of breast cancer that are difficult to eliminate through surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. \n My role as a medical oncologist is to develop a clear treatment plan that takes advantage of the growing options available and be available to address all your questions. I strive to make sure my patients take advantage of the many resources Novant Health offers, whether that's participation in a clinical trial, helping you prevent hair loss during chemotherapy, or referring you to our cancer wellness exercise program for cancer survivors. \n The opportunity to work with patients over an extended period is a big part of what attracted me to oncology. During my residency, I had the opportunity to see the meaningful relationships that patients form with their oncologist and how rewarding it can be to guide a patient through their cancer journey. This is why I volunteer to participate in every initiative I can that supports and benefits my breast cancer warriors. \n I have lived in Charlotte since 2010, when I moved here with my husband and two kids after completing my training in New York City. I enjoy travelling, relaxing at the beach, reading, and watching my kids play sports and mentoring young children through Charlotte's Wayfinders program.

Biography: During residency, I worked alongside an oncologist who inspired me to pursue the specialty. I saw the tremendous impact new treatments could have for patients and wanted to offer the same life-prolonging and lifesaving treatments to my own patients. \n I also admired the close relationships my oncologist mentor had with his patients and their families. I liked the idea of using science, which I'd always loved, to help people fight this disease. \n It is a humbling privilege to care for patients facing cancer. I take the time to listen to their concerns and fears and provide them extensive education on their disease and possible treatment options. I also leverage all the expertise within our multidisciplinary cancer institute so patients get the best of our collective experience. \n Cancer can be isolating. It's easy for patients to feel vulnerable. So, throughout their treatment and follow-up, I stay in frequent communication with patients and their families. \n I am board-certified in oncology, hematology and internal medicine. I have a special interest in clinical research and appreciate that, at Novant Health, we can offer novel therapies through clinical trials. I've served as principal investigator and co-investigator on several phase I, II and III clinical trials. \n My wife, Nada, and I live in Concord with our daughter (Sophia), son (Sami) and our Goldendoodle, (Chippey). I treasure family time and enjoy coaching tennis, travel, skiing and road biking.

Biography: One of the hardest things anyone can do is face a cancer diagnosis. \n While I was in medical school, a close friend learned he had cancer. With most current treatment modalities unavailable in our country - Nepal - at the time, the disease took its toll. I witnessed the physical suffering and emotional turmoil he endured. I saw the far-reaching consequences cancer can have on people's lives, their work, their relationships. \n But at the same time, I was learning about new and promising treatment options that were giving hope to millions. This, I realized, was an area of medicine that would allow me to have an impact on patients' quality of life and their very survival. \n The following year, I began my residency with a mission statement: "To practice medicine with vigor and enthusiasm, serve the ideals of goodness and beauty through medicine and to love what I do, for it shall enrich patients' lives as well as my own." \n There were such exciting advancements being made in hematology and oncology. I wanted to be part of that work, so I embarked on a challenging, yet rewarding, career as a hematologist and oncologist. \n Delivering compassionate care and developing long-term relationships with patients are as rewarding as I thought they'd be when I was a medical student. I love to take the complexity of cancer and try to simplify it so my patients understand their disease and treatment plan. \n I appreciate being part of Novant Health, because we believe in taking care of the whole patient, not just an organ. And not just their disease. And we practice the art, as well as the science, of medicine. \n My wife, who's also originally from Nepal, and I and have two daughters, and we love spending time together as a family. I enjoy all manner of outdoor activities, especially playing tennis.

Biography: Dr. Lamar McGinnis III, MD is a Radiation Oncology Specialist who practices in Charlotte, NC. He is 67 years old and has been practicing for 36 years. Dr. Lamar McGinnis III, MD is affiliated with Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center.

Biography: Dr. Yvonne Mack, MD is a Radiation Oncology Specialist who practices in Charlotte, NC. She is 66 years old and has been practicing for 37 years. Dr. Yvonne Mack, MD is affiliated with Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center.

Biography: Dr. Vipul Thakkar, MD is a Radiation Oncology Specialist who practices in Charlotte, NC. He is 49 years old and has been practicing for 24 years. Dr. Vipul Thakkar, MD is affiliated with Novant Health Rowan Medical Center.