Salem Health Cancer Institute

A diverse team with your health and recovery in mind

Salem Health Cancer Institute is the collaborative alliance bringing the many providers, practices, and services across the continuum of cancer care together to provide the best possible experience and outcome for our patients and their families.

Salem Health Cancer Institute works with primary and specialty practices across the mid-Willamette valley to bring the highest level of cancer care to our community. This means if you or a family member are facing a cancer diagnosis, you can rest assured knowing that a group of multidisciplinary providers are working together to decide on the best course of treatment and supportive care.

Award winning care close to home

OUR PROMISE

Exceptional care every day

At Salem Health Cancer Institute, we're intensly focused on providing exeptional care. That means providing more than just treatment. It's about lending a hand when it's needed most. It's about being there in both the best of times and also for the challenging times. This is life. Compassionate care is what we think about every day. Your experience here, or those of your friends and family, should be nothing short of exceptional. We're here when you need us. We promise to care for, and about you.

Partnering for our patients

We partner with the region's most advanced and knowledgeable cancer treatment centers. Our long-standing partnerships help us to create treatment plans that are tailored to each individual.

OHSU Knight Cancer Network® member

We have had an affiliation with the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute since 2007. Through this important partnership, cancer specialists from Salem Health Cancer Institute and Oregon Health & Science University are collaborating to strengthen a comprehensive, coordinated cancer program right here in Salem.

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Oregon Oncology Specialists partner

Oregon Oncology Specialists is dedicated to providing the highest quality care. Their physicians are highly trained experts who treat every patient with precision, confidence and compassion.

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Salem Cancer Institute Registration desk.

Annual reports

Our program is continually growing and evolving to meet the needs of our patients. Each year, we reflect on key accomplishments and highlights of our cancer program.

2019 annual report

2018 annual report

2017 annual report

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Cancer screening

Regular screenings are the cornerstone of cancer prevention

Cancer screening appointments

Talk with your primary care provider to find out what screenings are right for you.

Recommended cancer screenings

Breast cancer screening

Cervical cancer screening

Colon cancer screening

Lung cancer screening

Prostate cancer screening

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Cancer Genetics Program

More is learned every day about how cancer risk is affected by family history and inherited factors. Some families have hereditary cancer that can be identified with genetic testing.

Roughly five to ten percent of cancers are hereditary and develop due to a gene mutation that has been passed down in the family. As a result, individuals who inherit a mutation from their mother or father are at a higher risk to develop certain cancers.

Understanding your risk factors

Individuals who have a hereditary cancer syndrome have an increased risk for certain cancers and/or to develop second primary cancers. Other family members are also at risk to have the same mutation. In addition, you may have an increased risk for cancer if you or a family member has a history of:

Adult cancer diagnosed under the age of 50.
More than one type of cancer in the same person.
Two or more relatives with the same type of cancer.
Male breast cancer.
Breast and ovarian cancer in close family members.
Colon and uterine cancer in close family members.
Breast or ovarian cancer and a Jewish background.
More than 10 colon and/or rectal polyps in total (not necessarily found all at once).

Meet our genetic counselor

Genetic counselors conduct risk assessments for cancer based on a patient's medical and family history.

Katie Stoll genetic counselor

Katie Stoll, MS, CGC

Genetics

Genetic counseling can help you:

Learn how your own cancer and family history may affect you.
Understand if genetic testing makes sense for you.
Know what you may or may not gain from genetic testing.
Become aware and take steps to reduce your cancer risk.

Genetic counseling FAQs

What is a genetic risk assessment?

How do I schedule an appointment?

Preparing for your appointment

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For the most up-to-date information about each type of cancer, its treatment and its outlook, visit these national resources.

Cancer treatment

We represent every specialty involved in cancer treatment

At Salem Health Cancer Institute, we specialize in hope. Together, our team of multi-disciplinary providers create a treatment plan unique to each patient. And they use a wide variety of tools in the battle against cancer.

We want to prepare you for whatever treatment path you take. Part of that preparation is knowing the different types of available cancer treatment.

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We collaborate closely with OHSU Knight Cancer Institute and Oregon Oncology Specialists to provide the latest treatment options to our community.

Cancers we treat

The team at Salem Health Cancer Institute is made up of board-certified physicians, oncology-certified nurses, and other clinical specialists from every discipline involved in cancer care.

Bone cancer

Breast cancer

Blood

Leukemia
Lymphoma — Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s
Myeloma

Brain tumor

Astrocytoma
Glioblastoma
Meningioma
Brain metastases

Carcinoid tumor

Gastrointestinal

Anal
Colorectal
Esophageal
Liver
Stomach
Pancreatic

Gynecologic

Cervical
Endometrial
Ovarian
Uterine
Vaginal
Vulvar

Head and neck

Laryngeal
Nasal cavity and paranasal sinus
Nasopharyngeal
Oral
Salivary gland
Thyroid

Thoracic cancer

Chest wall tumors
Lung
Mediastinal tumors
Mesothelioma
Non-small cell
Pulmonary metastasis
Small cell

Skin Cancer

Melanoma
Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Sarcoma

Urological

Bladder
Kidney
Prostate
Testicular

For the most up-to-date information about each type of cancer, its treatment and its outlook, visit these national resources.

Preparing for cancer treatment

Soon after a cancer diagnosis, a doctor will discuss treatment options with you. It is very easy to become overwhelmed during this time — you may feel like you’ve lost control of your body. One way to feel more in control is to take an active approach to preparing for treatment. Below are four ways to feel more in control.

Talk to your employer

Whether you can work during cancer treatment will depend on your health status and how you feel. Some employers offer flexible work hours or other options.

You won't know how you will feel until treatment starts, but it doesn't hurt to have a conversation about it ahead of time.

Our resource coordinator can help you assess your health insurance, address any financial concerns and find community resources to help you during this time. Talk to your employer about your Oregon Family Leave Act and Family Medical Leave Act options.

Learn more

Clinical trials

Cancer clinical trials often compare the most accepted cancer treatment with a new type of treatment. The hope is that the new treatment will be better.

Our affiliation with OHSU Knight Cancer Institute means we work closely with researchers to provide high-quality cancer care. We tailor the clinical trials to the needs of the community — including quality of life trials.

Talk with your doctor or call the Salem Health clinical research department at 503-814-1435 to see if clinical trials are an option for you.

Learn more

Cancer support

Resources to help you throughout your cancer journey

“I went through chemo, surgery and radiation for breast cancer. I'm so grateful for all the incredible support I got — and to be alive and well!"

Andrea D. — Salem Health Cancer Institute patient

Treating the whole person

Exceptional care means going above and beyond. Each person's cancer experience is different. We customize treatment and support plans for everyone that walks through our doors. Besides receiving medical treatment from oncologists, you'll meet with specialists that will help with everything else.

Patient meeting with a cancer nurse navigator

Meet our support team

We realize a new cancer diagnosis brings a mix of emotions, questions and uncertainty that may be overwhelming. Our team is here for you and your family, providing free support services and communicating with your providers, to assure continuity in your overall care.

Melanie Berry - Oncology Counselor

Melanie Berry
Oncology Counselor

Teresa Pimentel - Registered Dietitian

Teresa Pimentel
Registered dietitian

Michelle Garibay

Michelle Garibay
Resource coordinator

Sabrina Borup

Sabrina Borup
Intake coordinator

Kathy Wolfe - Nurse Navigator

Kathy Wolfe
Breast nurse navigator

Liz Colwell

Liz Colwell
Breast nurse navigator

Jeanette Keating

Jeanette Keating
Nurse navigator

Lisa Rausch — nurse navigator

Lisa Rausch
Nurse navigator

Cancer support groups

People often find comfort when they talk to others with similar experiences. Our support groups are essential for positive emotional healing and recovery.

COVID-19 has created many obstacles for conducting safe social group gatherings. Call us at 503-814-1449, option 5, for details about current meeting times.

Our support groups

Breast cancer support group

Latina cancer support group

Gynecologic cancer support group

Knit Well Support Group

Prostate cancer support group

Thriving and Surviving Cancer Support Group

Women’s advanced cancer support group

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Cancer wellness

Resources to help you throughout your cancer journey

Cancer Survivors Day

Education and awareness

Salem Health Cancer Institute partners with cancer specialists to provide education and awareness to our patients and communities.

Colon cancer screening awareness

Robert Ponec, MD presents an in-depth, virtual talk about the importance of colon cancer screening – including new recommendations to begin screening at a younger age (45 to 49 years old).

Cancer doesn’t wait – so neither should you. The American Cancer Society estimates 35% of Americans put elective medical procedures on hold, including cancer screenings, due to COVID-19-related fears and service disruptions. The earlier the cancer is detected, the more options there are for treatment, and the better the chances of survival.

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Maintaining physical activity is important to your cancer journey

Regular exercise promotes lifelong wellness and helps combat cancer risk and recurrence. Following an exercise program during treatment can help improve your quality of life. The American Cancer Society recommends these actions for safe exercise.

To demonstrate staying active while staying safe at home, the Salem Health Cancer Institute partnered with our physical therapists to show you how to turn sitting in a chair into a healthy workout.

Always talk to your doctor before starting any exercise program.

Survivorship notebooks

Our cancer program recognizes you and your loved ones may have questions or concerns as you transition into life after cancer. Our team is here to support you as you move beyond treatment and return to wellness.

We hope you will find this notebook a helpful resource. It includes information about treatment side effects and management, follow up and wellness recommendations, and support services available to you into the future.

Downloads

Cancer Survivorship Notebook (English)

Breast cancer survivorship notebook (English)

Breast Cancer Survivorship Notebook (Spanish)

Improve your spiritual and mental health

Tending the mind

Learn more about relaxing, improving your spiritual health and enjoying the moment.

Tending the spirit

“The events of the past year have presented us with many lessons to consider. A few of them are that life is worthy of celebration, that life is best lived in community, that our approach to a situation oftentimes effects the outcome, and that life is too short to postpone joy.” — Rev. Ken Morse, Salem Health chaplain

Read the full message

Cancer providers

The most experienced group of cancer providers in the Mid-Willamette Valley

Provider specialties

Choose a specialty to see practicing providers. Then select a provider's picture to learn more.

Cancer surgery

Gastroenterology

Genetic counseling

Gynecologic oncology

Radiation oncology

Radiology

Thoracic surgery

Urology

Cancer surgery

Cancer surgeons treat cancer by surgically removing tumors and cancerous cells. Our providers are certified through the American Board of Surgery.

Catherine Boulay, MD

General Surgery
G. Clarke, MD

General Surgery
Andrew Cleary, MD

Surgical Critical Care
Kristopher Dozier, MD

General Surgery
Juan Carlos Esguerra, MD

General Surgery
Nervin Fanous, MD

Cardiothoracic Surgery
Jiyoun Kim, MD

General Surgery
Eric Laro, MD

General Surgery
Hsinchen Lin, MD

General Surgery
Patricia Luckeroth, MD

General Surgery
Sarah Markham, MD

General Surgery
Gloria Marlowe, MD

General Surgery
Rajan Nair, MD

General Surgery
Patrick O'Herron, MD

General Surgery
Brandon Tieu, MD

Cardiothoracic Surgery
Nicole VanDerHeyden, MD

Surgical Critical Care

Gastroenterology

Gastroenterologists focus on the function of — and disease in — the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, rectum, pancreas, bile ducts and liver.

Falguny Bhavan, MD

Gastroenterology
Nabil Choueiri, MD

Gastroenterology
Makkalearn Em, MD

Gastroenterology
Katherine Hoda, MD

Gastroenterology
Patricia Kao, MD

Gastroenterology
Robert Ponec, MD

Gastroenterology
Christian Speer, MD

Gastroenterology
Srinivasan Subramanian, MD

Gastroenterology

Gynecologic oncology

Gynecologic oncologists use an integrated approach of surgically managing the cancerous and non-cancerous conditions of the female reproductive system.

Amanda Bruegl, MD

Gynecologic Oncology
Jenna Emerson, MD

Gynecologic Oncology
Jessica Jou, MD

Gynecologic Oncology
Elizabeth Munro, MD

Gynecologic Oncology

Medical oncology

Medical oncologists are the main cancer providers. They specialize in diagnosing and treating cancer using chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and targeted therapies.

Nicholas Barber, MD

Hematology Oncology
Russell Lewis, MD

Hematology Oncology
Janelle Meyer, MD

Hematology Oncology
Charles Petrunin, MD

Hematology Oncology
William Pierce, MD

Hematology Oncology
Renee Prins, MD

Hematology Oncology
John Strother, MD

Hematology Oncology
Natasha Tiffany, MD

Hematology Oncology

Neurosurgery

Neurosurgeons provide surgical treatment to patients who have cancer in their neurological system (brain or spinal cord/column).

Maurice Collada, MD

Neurosurgery
Seymur Gahramanov, MD

Neurosurgery
Charles Hatchette, MD

Neurosurgery
Benjamin Kafka, MD

Neurosurgery
Michael Nanaszko, MD

Neurosurgery

Otolaryngology

Otolaryngologists provide medical and surgical management of cancers in the head, neck and throat.

John Donovan, MD

Otolaryngology
Bruce Johnson, MD

Otolaryngology
Christopher Prze, MD

Otolaryngology
Suzanne Strand, DO

Otolaryngology
Clark Thompson, MD

Otolaryngology

Pathology

Pathologists examine organs and tissue samples to help diagnose diseases.

Elizabeth Dacey, MD

Pathology
Andrew Judd, MD

Pathology
Matthew Raines, MD

Pathology
Rebekah Raines, MD

Pathology
Pamela Smith, MD

Pathology
Sara Smith, MD

Pathology
Debbie Wu, MD

Pathology

Plastic surgery

Plastic surgeons perform reconstructive surgery to help patients regain as much form and function after cancer is removed.

Edwin Austin, MD

Plastic Surgery
Dustin Christiansen, MD

Plastic Surgery
Dann Leonard, MD

Plastic Surgery
Gennaya Mattison, MD

Plastic Surgery
Keith Neaman, MD

Plastic Surgery
Katie Yonker, MD

Plastic Surgery

Pulmonology

Pulmonologists provide treatment for patients with a cancer diagnosis of the respiratory and pulmonary system. These providers often play a key role in diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.

Fayez Bader, MD

Pulmonary Medicine
Yasaman Eslaamizaad, MD

Pulmonary Medicine
Kamran Firoozi, MD

Pulmonary Medicine
Martin Johnson II, MD

Pulmonary Medicine
Nimeshkumar Mehta, MD

Pulmonary Medicine
Kavan Ramachandran, MD

Pulmonary Medicine
Laila Sroujieh, MD

Pulmonary Medicine
Kovid Trivedi, MD

Pulmonary Medicine
Samar Vanaik, MD

Pulmonary Medicine

Radiation oncology

Radiation oncologists specialize in delivering carefully targeted doses of high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells (i.e., tumors).

William Chance, MD

Radiation Oncology
Matthew Kang, MD

Radiation Oncology
Nancy Reyes-Molyneux, MD

Radiation Oncology
Samuel Wang, MD

Radiation Oncology

Radiology

Radiologists are involved with locating and diagnosing diseases within the body. They review and interpret imaging scans and send results to the ordering provider.

M. Bret Abbott, MD

Radiology
Scott Ambruster, MD

Radiology
John Bradshaw, MD

Radiology
S. Burrows, MD

Radiology
Richard Collins, MD

Radiology
Thomas Cullen, MD

Radiology
Travis Fromwiller, MD

Radiology
Michael George, MD

Radiology
Nicholas Hanson, MD

Radiology
David Harrison, MD

Radiology
J. Cody Hedge, MD

Radiology
Jessica Hoyle, MD

Radiology
Yama Kharoti, MD

Radiology
Kyu Kim, MD

Radiology
Ryan Moore, MD

Radiology
Tyler Moore, MD

Radiology
Jose Novoa, MD

Radiology
Michael Pass, MD

Radiology
D. Dominik Prosser, MD

Radiology
Jared Sadler, MD

Radiology
Jake Sharp, MD

Radiology
Kathryn Snyder, MD

Radiology
Sean Stack, MD

Radiology
Peter White, DO

Radiology

Thoracic surgery

Surgeons focus on the chest to remove cancers that affect the lungs and lymph nodes.

Nervin Fanous, MD

Cardiothoracic Surgery
Eric Laro, MD

General Surgery
Brandon Tieu, MD

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Urology

Urologists diagnose and treat cancers of the bladder, kidneys, prostate and male reproductive organs.

Jaffer Bashey, MD

Urology
Andrea Hatchette, MD

Urology
Alan Hay, MD

Urology
Theresa Koppie, MD

Urology
J. Mhoon, MD

Urology
Philip Rosen, MD

Urology
Bradley Warner, MD

Urology

Salem Health Cancer Institute

A diverse team with your health and recovery in mind

Award winning care close to home

OUR PROMISE

Exceptional care every day

Partnering for our patients

OHSU Knight Cancer Network® member

Oregon Oncology Specialists partner

Annual reports

Cancer screening

Regular screenings are the cornerstone of cancer prevention

Cancer screening appointments

Talk with your primary care provider to find out what screenings are right for you.

Recommended cancer screenings

Cancer Genetics Program

Meet our genetic counselor

Genetic counseling FAQs

For the most up-to-date information about each type of cancer, its treatment and its outlook, visit these national resources.

Cancer treatment

We represent every specialty involved in cancer treatment

We collaborate closely with OHSU Knight Cancer Institute and Oregon Oncology Specialists to provide the latest treatment options to our community.

Cancers we treat

For the most up-to-date information about each type of cancer, its treatment and its outlook, visit these national resources.

Treatment for the mind and body

Preparing for cancer treatment

Clinical trials

Cancer support

Resources to help you throughout your cancer journey

Treating the whole person

Nurse navigators

Oncology counselor

Resource coordinator

Registered dietitian

Peer support volunteers

Meet our support team

Cancer support groups

Our support groups

Help with headwear

Creative art activities

Cancer wellness

Resources to help you throughout your cancer journey

Cancer Survivors Day

Education and awareness

Survivorship notebooks

Downloads

Cancer Survivorship Notebook (English)

Breast cancer survivorship notebook (English)

Breast Cancer Survivorship Notebook (Spanish)

Improve your spiritual and mental health

Tending the mind

Tending the spirit

Cancer providers

The most experienced group of cancer providers in the Mid-Willamette Valley

Provider specialties

Cancer surgery

Gastroenterology

Gynecologic oncology

Medical oncology

Neurosurgery

Otolaryngology

Pathology

Plastic surgery

Pulmonology

Radiation oncology

Radiology

Thoracic surgery

Urology