Division of Hematology and Oncology Areas
Medical oncologists in the GI Oncology program are dedicated to the treatment of cancers of the digestive system including:
Intestinal cancers (small intestine, colon, rectum)
Our team works collaboratively with surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists and pathologists to provide state-of-the-art interdisciplinary care. Weekly tumor boards ensure that each patient’s case receives input from every discipline. Patients benefit from a dedicated GI cancer nurse navigator, patient support services and subspecialized advanced practice and nursing support. Patients also have access to clinical trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and industry partners as well as studies designed specifically for our patients in Vermont and northern New York by University of Vermont faculty. Infusion services for chemotherapy, targeted therapies and immunotherapy are available at UVM Medical Center in Burlington, Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin, Champlain Valley Physicians’ Hospital in Plattsburgh (NY) and Porter Hospital in Middlebury.
Medical oncologists in the GU Oncology program are dedicated to the treatment of cancers of the genitourinary system including:
Rarer cancers of the genitourinary system including but not limited to neuroendocrine cancers
Our team works collaboratively with urologic oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists and geneticists to provide state-of-the-art interdisciplinary care. Biweekly tumor boards ensure that each patient’s case receives input from every discipline. Patients benefit from a dedicated GU cancer nurse navigator, patient support services and subspecialized advanced practice and nursing support. Patients also have access to clinical trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and industry partners as well as studies designed specifically for our patients in Vermont and northern New York by University of Vermont faculty. Infusion services for chemotherapy, targeted therapies and immunotherapy are
available at UVM Medical Center in Burlington, Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin, Champlain Valley Physicians’ Hospital in Plattsburgh (NY) and Porter Hospital in Middlebury.
The Breast Oncology Program provides compassionate and state-of-the-art care for patients with breast cancer. Our medical oncologists work collaboratively with all our breast cancer clinicians to provide individualize treatment options in medical oncology, surgical options, breast reconstruction and radiation therapy. Patients benefit from a dedicated breast cancer nurse navigator, patient support services and subspecialized advanced practice and nursing support. Weekly tumor boards provide an opportunity for breast cancer subspecialists to review cases and ensure multidisciplinary care and communication. Infusion services for cancer-directed therapies are available at the UVM Medical Center in Burlington, Central Vermont
Medical Center in Berlin, Champlain Valley Physicians’ Hospital in Plattsburgh (NY) and Porter Hospital in Middlebury. Patients also have access to clinical trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and industry partners as well as studies designed by faculty at the University of Vermont.
Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcoma Oncology:
Medical oncologists in the Sarcoma Oncology program at UVM are dedicated to the treatment of cancers of the soft tissues (muscle, fat, nerves etc) and bones/cartilage like:
Liposarcomas (Well Differentiated and Dedifferentiated liposarcoma, Myxoid Liposarcoma)
Giant Cell Tumor of the Bone
Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor/Pigmented Villonodular Tenosynovitis
Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Tumor (PEComa)
Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma
Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma
Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans (DFSP) with Fibrosarcomatous Transformation
Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor
Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor
Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma
Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma
Our team works collaboratively with surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists and pathologists to provide state-of-the-art interdisciplinary care. Biweekly tumor boards ensure that each patient’s case receives input from every discipline. Patients benefit from a dedicated sarcoma nurse navigator, patient support services and subspecialized advanced practice and nursing support. Patients also have access to clinical trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and industry partners as well as studies designed specifically for our patients in Vermont and northern New York by University of Vermont faculty. Infusion services for chemotherapy, targeted therapies and immunotherapy are available at UVM Medical Center in Burlington, Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin, Champlain Valley Physicians’ Hospital in Plattsburgh (NY) and Porter Hospital in Middlebury.
Medical oncologists in the Cutaneous Oncology program at UVMCC are dedicated to the treatment of cancers of the skin like:
Our team works collaboratively with surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists and pathologists to provide state-of-the-art interdisciplinary care. Biweekly tumor boards ensure that each patient’s case receives input from every discipline. Patients benefit from a dedicated cutaneous nurse navigator, patient support services and subspecialized advanced practice and nursing support. Patients also have access to clinical trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and industry partners as well as studies designed specifically for our patients in Vermont and northern New York by University of Vermont faculty. Infusion services for chemotherapy, targeted therapies and immunotherapy are available at UVM Medical Center in Burlington, Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin, Champlain Valley Physicians’ Hospital in Plattsburgh (NY) and Porter Hospital in Middlebury.
To care for patients with malignant cancers of the endocrine glands, such as thyroid cancer, our medical oncologists work closely with endocrinologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists and nuclear medicine physicians. Our collaboration supports seamless and timely treatment of these cancers with access to highly effective therapies like radioactive iodine therapy. Our team also benefits from supportive care services including social workers, mental health counselors, and nutritionists. As some endocrine cancers can be inherited as part of a genetic syndrome, our endocrine cancer program is also supported by our genetic counselors who provide recommendation for genetic testing and screening based on family and personal cancer history.
The University of Vermont’s hematologic malignancies team specializes in the treatment of the entire spectrum of blood and bone marrow cancers and has expertise in the most cutting-edge treatments available, including cellular therapy. Our nationally renowned oncologists see patients with:
Multiple Myeloma
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Your team works collaboratively with other specialists including radiation oncology, surgical oncology, pathology and radiology to provide you access to the advanced interdisciplinary care. Patients receive expert care from a multidisciplinary team
that also includes genetic counselors, financial counselors, social workers, nurse navigators, nutritionists, pharmacists, survivorship specialists and rehabilitation medicine specialists.
Patients treated at the University of Vermont have access to clinical trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and industry, as well as studies initiated by local investigators and physicians. Infusion services for chemotherapy, targeted therapies and immunotherapy are available at UVM Medical Center in Burlington, Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin, Champlain Valley Physicians’ Hospital in Plattsburgh (NY) and Porter Hospital in Middlebury.
Classical Hematology is the area of medicine that focuses on noncancerous blood disorders. Leaders in the field, our fellowship-trained hematologists use the latest diagnostic and treatment strategies for a variety of disorders including:
non-cancerous bone marrow disorders
hemophilia (bleeding disorders)
White blood cell disorders
Rare thrombotic disorders such as hemolytic uremic syndrome
As the leading hematology program in the region, we offer:
Specialized expertise: Our board-certified hematologists have a broad range of training and experience to provide specialty care for any blood condition.
Multidisciplinary teams: At the UVM Health Network, our hematologists collaborate across disciplines and use their collective expertise to determine the best treatment for you.
The Vermont Regional Hemophilia Treatment Center-a federally designated center for the treatment of patients with bleeding disorders. We are the only specialized bleeding disorder center in Vermont and Northern New York.
Opportunities to participate in research.
The Thrombosis and Hemostasis Program at The University of Vermont Health Network offers specialty evaluation and management of patients with blood-clotting abnormalities.
We deliver compassionate whole-person care for a variety of clotting and bleeding disorders. Our hematology specialists work as a team across our health system to ensure you have convenient access to our coordinated expertise.
Our mission is to consult with primary care providers and other specialists to support the care of patients with thrombosis and its complications, thrombophilia, and clotting disorders.
Expert care: Our board-certified hematologists and specialty-trained nurse practitioners, physician associates, and nurses work with other specialists across our health system to achieve the highest quality patient-centered care.
Research and leadership: We have extensive experience in all thrombosis and bleeding disorders. Our team participates in national and international conferences and serves on a variety of regional, national and international medical science organizations.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Pregnancy-related thrombosis
Venous thrombosis in abdominal veins
Bleeding disorders, including hemophilia and von Willebrand’s disease
Multispecialty Evaluations
A team of adult and pediatric hematologists and pathologists meets regularly to discuss cases and consider treatment options from all angles. Your primary hematologist will explain the team’s treatment recommendations to you, plan next steps
for care and answer your questions.
Coagulation Specialist Team
Our coagulation specialist team supports patients with blood clots in their veins (venous thrombosis) or other types of abnormal clotting. If you have inherited clotting abnormalities that place you at higher risk of abnormal clotting (such as factor
V Leiden or protein C deficiency), you may benefit from seeing a coagulation specialist.
Our coagulation lab is one of the region's foremost resources for coagulation studies. Our state-of-the art testing enhances our ability to diagnose congenital (inherited) and acquired bleeding and clotting disorders, hypercoagulable conditions and
autoimmune coagulation disorders. Examples of tests we run:
Routine coagulation including Protime, PTT, Fibrinogen, D-Dimer and Mixing Studies
1. Chemotherapy-Associated Thrombosis Risk Screening
One in five patients undergoing chemotherapy will develop blood clots. We screen all patients with cancer for blood clot risk before chemotherapy starts. If you are at high risk, we prescribe a blood thinner and manage your hematology care to minimize
clot risk. Our physician-researchers published the first paper in the country describing the success of this approach.
2. Women’s Hemostasis and Thrombosis Clinic
Women with blood clotting and bleeding disorders face unique challenges, such as with menstruation or pregnancy. Our specialized team of physicians and physician associates is experienced in evaluating and managing these conditions, providing comprehensive
care to address both bleeding and clotting concerns.
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is an innovative treatment that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and certain leukemias. The therapy involves engineering your own
infection-fighting white blood cells (T-cells) to identify and destroy cancer cells.
UVM is home to the only cancer program in Vermont and northern New York offering CAR T-cell therapy. Our experienced team takes a patient-centered approach that delivers this state-of-the-art treatment in a caring and supportive environment.
As a leading cancer program in the region, we offer:
National accreditation: Our program has received accreditation for CAR-T cell therapy from the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT)).
This achievement reflects the expertise of our physicians and a commitment to meeting national standards for quality and safety.
Expert team: At the UVM Health Network, you will receive CART-cell therapy from medical oncologists who work closely with nurses, advanced practice providers, social workers, pharmacists, pathologists, and quality assurance coordinators to
provide the best possible care. The health system is anchored by an academic medical center, and our physicians are leaders who also train the next generation of experts.
Clinical trials: CAR-T cell therapy is an active area of research. Scientists are working to develop new CAR-T cell therapies, make existing ones more effective and expand the use of this technology to different cancer types. Our specialists participate in and lead clinical trials that give eligible patients access to new treatments before they become widely available.
Education and support: We understand that cancer treatment can be stressful. Our dedicated CAR T-cell nurse coordinator will guide you throughout your treatment. Your cancer care team also includes social workers who provide emotional
support and help you navigate common issues, like changes in insurance. Our other supportive care services include health coaching, support groups and rehabilitation.
CAR T-Cell Therapy Services
At the UVM Health Network, our specialists are familiar with the latest advances in cellular therapy. They provide careful evaluation to determine whether CAR T-cell therapy is appropriate for you. Factors your doctor will consider include:
Previous treatments you received
If your doctor determines you are eligible, the process for CAR T-cell therapy is as follows:
Step 1: T-Cell Removal
Your doctor collects some of your T cells using a process called leukapheresis. During this procedure your provider will draw blood, separate out the T cells, then return your blood back to you.
Step 2: T-Cell Engineering
Your doctor sends the T-cells to a laboratory, where they are genetically modified to produce surface receptors called chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). CARs recognize and bind to cancer cells so your T-cells can attack them. The lab then creates
millions of copies of the CAR T-cells.
CAR T-cell production usually takes a few weeks. While you wait, you may receive bridging therapy to prevent cancer from advancing. Types of bridging therapies include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy and steroids.
Step 3: Administering CAR T-Cells
Once CAR T-cell production is complete, you undergo several days of chemotherapy so your body doesn’t reject the new cells. The CAR T-cells are then delivered into your blood through an intravenous infusion.
Step 4: Short-Term Monitoring
Over the next month, your care team will monitor you closely for side effects. You may spend part of this time in the hospital. If you are not in the hospital, you will need to stay close to the UVM Medical Center, where this treatment is offered,
to attend frequent appointments.
Step 5: Long-Term Monitoring
Two to three months after you receive the CAR T-cells, your doctor will perform imaging or blood tests to find out if therapy was effective. CAR T-cells can remain in your blood and protect you from cancer for several years. Your doctor will develop
a long-term plan to monitor your progress.
Immunotherapy and targeted therapy
Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapies: Transforming Cancer Care
The landscape of cancer treatment is rapidly evolving, with immunotherapy and targeted therapies leading toward more personalized and effective care. These innovative approaches offer new hope for patients with various cancers, including lung, melanoma,
breast, renal cancers, and blood cancers like lymphoma.
Immunotherapy leverages the body’s immune system to identify and attack cancer cells. By enhancing the immune system's ability to recognize and fight cancer, this treatment has achieved remarkable success, particularly in advanced melanoma and
lung cancer. For many patients, immunotherapy has led to long-lasting remissions, even in cases once deemed incurable. At UVM, we proudly provide a full range of approved immunotherapies tailored to individual needs.
Targeted therapies, on the other hand, focus on specific genetic mutations or proteins that drive cancer growth. Focusing on a tumor's unique biology makes these treatments more precise and often have fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy.
For instance, targeted therapies for HER2-positive breast cancer or lung cancers with mutations like EGFR or ALK have transformed the outcomes of many patients. A key component of this personalized approach is genomic testing, which identifies
the genetic changes driving a patient’s cancer. This information enables oncologists to select treatments most likely to work for that individual. For many, genomic testing has unlocked the door to therapies that extend life and improve
its quality.
Unlike chemotherapy, which can affect all rapidly dividing cells and lead to significant side effects, immunotherapy, and targeted therapies are more selective. These advances offer better tolerability and an improved quality of life, giving patients
and their families renewed hope. Together, these approaches are reshaping the future of cancer care, providing more effective and personalized options than ever before.
Supportive care and Integrative Oncology
Clinical trials are research studies that test new treatments to see how well they work. At the University of Vermont Cancer Center (UVMCC), patients who choose to participate in a trial receive some of the most advanced cancer treatment available,
sometimes years before it’s available at other hospitals.
At the UVMCC, we encourage our patients from all races, genders, ages, and backgrounds to consider participating in a clinical trial from the start of their care. If you join a UVMCC clinical trial, you will be cared for by experienced healthcare
providers and researchers. It is possible the treatment in a clinical trial may not work, it may cause unwarranted side effects. Clinical trial participation may help other people, but not you. Whatever the outcome, clinical trials are designed
to keep you safe. Researchers must follow strict rules, and every clinical trial is approved and monitored by an institutional review board and government agencies that ensure your safety. The IRB ensures the risks are as low as possible and that
there are more benefits than risks. Its job is to ensure that each clinical trial is ethical and protects our patient’s rights.
Clinical Trials: The Basics
Before you decide whether a clinical trial is right for you, please consider the following.
Almost every cancer treatment offered to patients today has come about because of a clinical trial.
The goals of individual clinical trials vary. They range from looking at new, potentially curative therapies to ones with fewer side effects.
Patients who enroll in a clinical trial at UVMCC receive a very high level of care and treatment from a compassionate and experienced staff recognized for their focus on safety and care.
A clinical trial may take more time for treatment than normal care. There can be more visits, phone calls, treatments, a hospital stay, or more complicated treatments.
There are no additional out-of-pocket costs to patients for treatments being studied as part of a trial.
The vast majority of clinical trials do not use a placebo. For clinical trials that do, patients will be fully informed before they begin the trial.
Clinical trials are integral to any cancer center. Patients at the University of Vermont Cancer Center (UVMCC) have access to a range of clinical trials offered through a centralized infrastructure. The UVMCC’s Clinical Trials Office (CTO) supports
the collaborative efforts of its dedicated physician investigators and researchers to pioneer ground-breaking advancements in clinical and translational cancer research to better the lives of our patients and survivors. The CTO has a clearly defined
and recognized reporting and accountability structure, upholds the highest standards of clinical research, provide professional research personnel, and efficient, dependable processes to support the ethical and compliant conduct of cancer clinical
research.
Our physician investigators and the CTO personnel have specialized training to ensure patient safety, regulatory compliance, and data integrity while enhancing the lives of those at risk for and affected by cancer. With the CTO, the UVMCC physician
investigators plan clinical trials very carefully. Together, they closely watch over people in the trial, and they follow rules to manage any problems and can stop the trial if something does not seem right. The CTO serves as a central point of
contact, coordinating closely with clinical trial participants, your physicians, regulatory authorities, investigational pharmacy, laboratory services, compliance committees, and sponsors.
Cancer Genetics and Prevention Program
The Cancer Genetics and Prevention Program (formally called the Familial Cancer Program) is comprised of a team of genetic counselors and medical oncologists with expertise in cancer genetics. This program provides comprehensive genetic counseling and genetic testing, as well as cancer risk assessments and personalized recommendations for managing cancer risk. This program evaluates individuals with cancer and individuals with a family history of cancer. Services are provided in person, as well as by telehealth throughout Vermont and upstate New York.
Our team works collaboratively with other specialists to incorporate the outcomes of genetic counseling and testing into individual patient care. Due to increasing use of genetic information in oncology care, our team is working to develop new models for delivering care to patients to meet their treatment needs. An example of this is recent development of a pre-test education video for newly diagnosed cancer patients where the results of genetic testing may impact treatment decisions. The
effort was supported by the Buffum Foundation. Additionally, our team is actively engaged in research to improve care of individuals with inherited cancer risk, including providing opportunities for clinical trials.
“I cannot say enough nice things about the wonderful care I have received from all of the oncology staff; receptionist(s), nurses, techs, schedulers and doctors.”
- A Hem/Onc patient