Voyager Summer 2023

Dr. Ruben A. Mesa

Named President, LCI INSIDE

In January, Ruben A. Mesa, MD, FACP, joined Atrium Health as president of Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute (LCI) and Atrium Health Levine Cancer and executive director of the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center. He also serves as senior vice president of Atrium Health and both vice dean for cancer programs and professor of medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. An accomplished oncology researcher, physician, and educator, Dr. Mesa previously served as executive director of the NCI-designated Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson and professor of medicine at UT Health Science Center.

Dr. Mesa succeeds Derek Raghavan, MD, PhD, FACP, FRACP, who retired this January after serving for nearly 12 years as the founding president of LCI. Under Dr. Raghavan’s leadership, LCI has become a world-class destination for cancer care and one of the fastest growing cancer centers in the country, expanding to include more than 150 providers at more than 25 care locations. Dr. Mesa says he strives to continue Dr. Raghavan’s powerful legacy of advancing Atrium Health’s cancer care footprint and impact in communities across the region. Dr. Mesa is responsible for all aspects of Atrium Health’s cancer program, including clinical operations, research, education, community outreach, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Dr. Mesa is also tasked with the newly-announced integration of LCI and the NCI-designated Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center under one unifying name: Atrium Health Levine Cancer. The combined entity is the largest cancer program in the Carolinas and one of the largest programs in the Southeast. Dr. Mesa's wide breadth of experience positions him to bring together robust programs and cultures of two cancer centers, a combination he believes will present many benefits to patients.

“Together, we are creating a fully integrated cancer center with two main hubs and many sites that together tackle the cancer burden of a diverse and expanded area through innovative research, increased access to high quality care and clinical trials, trustworthy engagement and outreach, and meaningful pipeline programs that foster workforce diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said Dr. Mesa.

Solving health disparities — including tobacco-related mortality from lung cancer — is a major priority for Dr. Mesa in his new role. As he describes it, the job encompasses 30 counties in the Winston-Salem and Charlotte metro areas, serving almost 4.8 million individuals, 43% of whom reside in rural areas and 36% of whom are minorities, and representing 35,000 new cancer cases per year.

Patricia, 80, Beat the Odds and Found Hope at Levine Cancer Institute

Wilkesboro resident Patricia Knowles — a breast cancer, lung cancer, and melanoma survivor — believes seeking a second opinion at Levine Cancer Institute (LCI) truly saved her life. In addition to providing Patricia with the latest therapies available to fight her cancer, including a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, LCI's wholeperson approach to care gave Patricia renewed hope for survival.

"At LCI, we have always been happy to provide a second opinion to patients and their families," said Dr. Carrizosa, Patricia's oncologist and associate professor of Solid Tumor Oncology. He continued, "It should never be an issue to make sure that you understand your diagnosis and what the plans for therapy are." Before meeting Dr. Carrizosa, Patricia’s doctor in a different health system provided little hope, telling her Hospice care was her only option.

Patient-centered care is a cornerstone of LCI, where teammates prioritize patients’ wellbeing, comfort, and dignity. In 2022, LCI was awarded the Gold Certification for Excellence in Person-Centered Care by the Planetree International Organization, the highest level of achievement in patient-centered care delivery. In Patricia’s case, her care team took time to connect with her as a person, first, and not just as a patient.

"The fact that we have taken care of [Patricia] as a whole person and have been with her on this journey has made all the difference in her outlook and experience at LCI," said Dr. Carrizosa.

Patricia’s nurse navigator, Carlie Barnett, attributes Patricia’s positive outlook to the supportive connections she forged during treatment. “I have seen Patricia regularly throughout her treatments; it has been a pleasure to know her and walk by her through this cancer journey,” said Carlie.

The bonds Patricia formed with her care team and the care they provide continue to be a lifeline and source of hope in her cancer journey. She faces each day with gratitude for those who have supported her every step of the way.

“I couldn’t ask for a better doctor,” Patricia said of her oncologist, Dr. Carrizosa.

“He cares about you as a person — you’re not just another number coming in the door."

Now in the fourth year of her journey with LCI, Patricia's latest mammograms and lung scans were both clear.

Leon Levine

June 8, 1937 - April 5, 2023

The Atrium Health family grieves the loss of one of the Carolinas’ most beloved philanthropists and the largest individual donor to Atrium Health Foundation, Leon Levine.

Visionary and compassionate, Leon embodied everything that represented good in the world. Not only was he a beloved family man, but he was also a facilitator of change. Over the years, he and his wife, Sandra, thoughtfully nurtured Charlotte’s evolution by supporting the community’s physical, mental, and emotional needs through medical assistance in scientific research; pursuing academic excellence; providing access for disadvantaged or deserving individuals; building Jewish identity and strengthening Jewish communities locally and worldwide; eliminating homelessness; improving the lives of families, children, and the elderly; and supporting cultural expression. No matter where one lives in our community, it is likely a stone’s throw from a charitable organization impacted by Leon and Sandra Levine’s generous support or even a building that bears their name.

Among Charlotte’s most prominent leaders, Leon Levine established a legacy of philanthropic support to benefit the people of the Carolinas in more ways than one. The founder of Family Dollar Stores and a lifelong entrepreneur, he leaves a rich legacy at Atrium Health. His first gift to the organization was in 1987 — a pledge to support Children’s Miracle Network. Given Leon’s keen sense of responsibility to children, he continued to support pediatric health and committed a $10 million gift in 2003 to establish Levine Children’s Hospital.

In 2010, Leon and Sandra stepped up again, this time to change the course of cancer care in the Carolinas with a $20 million leadership gift to establish Levine Cancer Institute (LCI). Leon realized the need for LCI to take a national leadership role in building a research and treatment model that would provide better access to cancer care and offer hope to his fellow citizens. Building upon their first gift to LCI, in 2016, they supported a second LCI facility with a $25 million gift. Announced this June, The Leon Levine Foundation most recently contributed an additional $7.5 million to support LCI's new radiation therapy facility, currently under construction on Atrium Health's campus in midtown Charlotte.

Passionate about meeting the unmet needs of the behavioral health system, Leon and his family established the Mindy Ellen Levine Behavioral Health Center in Davidson in 2014. The following year, they funded a psychiatry residency program to address the shortage of providers.

A selfless philanthropist, Leon went on to invest in many other areas of Atrium Health to ensure world-class care, innovative research, and excellence in education. His gifts spanned supporting Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute, a young women’s breast cancer program, endowed chairs in cancer research, an adolescent and young adult cancer survivorship clinic, a bone marrow transplant unit at Levine Children’s Hospital, muscular dystrophy research, and so much more.

Leon’s greatest gift is his legacy. The programs and facilities he has supported have truly changed the course of care at Atrium Health. Our teammates and patients will forever feel his imprint on their lives.

Atrium Health Gains Momentum on Construction of Advanced Radiation Center

Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute’s footprint continues to expand with the addition of a state-of-the-art radiation therapy facility under construction in Midtown Charlotte. Slated to open later this year, the Atrium Health Levine Cancer Proton & Advanced Radiation Center will house the most technologically advanced radiation services, including gamma knife radiosurgery and the Carolinas’ first proton beam therapy program. The official “topping out” of the facility was celebrated earlier this spring as the final steel beam was placed by the construction team.

To house advanced radiation therapies safely, the building is being outfitted with special features to protect patients and teammates. The complex and highly coordinated installation process, including placing a large gamma knife and proton beam, will begin this summer and take several months to complete. These advanced technologies will allow Levine Cancer Institute (LCI) to provide adults and children diagnosed with complex tumors with unprecedented access to more precise and minimally invasive treatment options.

The creation of the advanced radiation facility represents the collective vision of many multidisciplinary teams across Atrium Health, including experts in pediatrics; anesthesia; neurosurgery; supportive oncology; global health services; radiation oncology; and clinical trials.

Plans for the new facility were conceived with a “person-centered” approach, ensuring the patient experience was at the heart of every detail, such as accessibility, integrative oncology services, patient privacy, and more. The design team even solicited input from LCI’s patient family advisory council — one of several patient resources that contributed to LCI’s achievement of Planetree International’s Gold Certification for Excellence in Person-Centered Care in 2022.

The construction team is working toward the official grand opening of the facility at the end of this year, with the first gamma knife patients being treated in December, followed by proton beam patients in 2024.

Follow Atrium Health Levine Cancer on Facebook for the latest construction updates: Facebook.com/LevineCancer

1. Exterior photo of the advanced radiation facility under construction as of May 2023. 2. Lead gamma knife physicist David Piantino poses with proton beam doors constructed of thick concrete to shield radiation. 3. The project leadership team.

Celebrating Dr. Derek Raghavan’s Distinguished Legacy of Leadership

This February, colleagues, family members, and friends celebrated Dr. Derek Raghavan's retirement as president of Levine Cancer Institute, capping off a distinguished and exemplary career that has spanned the globe. Appointed as the founding president of Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute (LCI) in 2010, Dr. Raghavan was recruited to create a model of decentralized cancer care, one that would expand the health system’s reach into underserved populations across the Carolinas.

During his tenure, Dr. Raghavan helped expand LCI's network to include more than 150 providers at over 25 care locations; the region’s first adult blood and marrow transplant unit; robust survivorship, integrative oncology, and cancer rehabilitation programs; a distinguished clinical research program offering the latest therapies and treatments; and a comprehensive disparities and outreach program providing unparalleled access to care for those who need it most.

Dr. Raghavan was also a devoted advocate of patient-centered care, helping LCI to achieve designation as a Planetree organization — the world’s first cancer network to receive this highest achievement in patient-centered care.

Dr. Raghavan’s legacy will live on through the establishment of the Dr. Derek Raghavan Endowed Chair in Cancer Research and Education. Representing the highest level of distinction for a physician at Atrium Health, the endowed chair will provide a permanent funding source to ensure the long-term success and impact of the Levine Cancer Institute network, allowing medical students, residents, and fellows the opportunity to work with and learn from the distinguished recipient.

To learn more, visit AtriumHealthFoundation.org/Raghavan.

1. Pictured: Derek Raghavan, MD, PhD, FACP, FRACP, FASCO, FAAS 2. Dr. Raghavan joined Armando Chardiet (left), president of Atrium Health Foundation, and benefactor Sandra Levine (right) to receive his honorary white coat. 3. From left: Dr. Peter Voorhees, Dr. Asim Amin, Dr. Antoinette Tan, and Dr. Nilanjan Ghosh were among esteemed LCI colleagues who joined Dr. Raghavan for his celebration

On the Road with LCI's Mobile Lung Cancer Screening Program

At Levine Cancer Institute, some of the innovations in cancer care begin with thinking “big” and bringing care to community members where they need it most: close to home.

LCI did just that, by transforming a bus into a mobile lung cancer screening unit with low-dose CT (Computerized Tomographic) equipment on board. LCI’s providers invite people with elevated risk for lung cancer for screenings on the bus at no cost to participants, right in their neighborhood. The mobile lung CT initiative, which now includes two vehicles, is part of a broader LCI Outreach & Disparities program known as LCI Lung B.A.S.E.S. for Life. The program provides patients with comprehensive wrap-around services, including tobacco cessation counseling, patient navigation, and connections to primary care and local resources that alleviate barriers to care, such as food insecurity and transportation.

As of this May, the mobile lung CT units have screened more than 2,400 people and detected more than 40 cases of lung cancer — 63 percent of which were early-stage cancers treated with curative intent. Importantly, the program also detected other, non-lung cancer types in 12 participants screened, leading to additional diagnoses.

These outcomes are encouraging, but they’re only a start. LCI’s researchers continue to study the effectiveness of the mobile lung CT units for early diagnosis of lung cancer in underserved populations. Initial findings were recently presented by LCI at a conference of the American Association for Cancer Research. The mobile units were recently designated as Screening Centers of Excellence by the Lung Cancer Alliance.

“It’s amazing to see the effect this program has had on local communities. We’re finding cancer early, educating individuals, and always discovering innovative ways to make our patients’ lives even better,” said Darcy Doege, clinical supervisor of the Mobile Lung Cancer Screening Program.

To learn more, visit AtriumHealthFoundation.org/CancerNews2023.

• Thanks to funding from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, LCI was able to join forces with Samsung Neurologica and Frazier Ltd. in 2017 to build a 35-foot mobile CT screening unit.

• The first mobile unit of its kind nation-wide, LCI's original lung mobile CT unit was so successful, a second unit was produced for LCI with support from The Leon Levine Foundation.

• Each lung bus also includes a waiting room and exam table, and its efficient design enables teammates to complete intake and screening in 30 minutes or less, with results available in 24 to 48 hours.

Record-Breaking Attendance as Runners ‘Keep Pounding’ Cancer

On June 3, Atrium Health Foundation hosted the 13th Annual Keep Pounding 5K in partnership with the Carolina Panthers. Co-presented by JELD-WEN and Rodgers Builders, the event welcomed a record number of participants to Charlotte, North Carolina, raising over $130,000 for cancer research and patient support programs at Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute (LCI) and Atrium Health Levine Children's.

“We have seen firsthand how the funds raised by this race have impacted those at Levine Children’s and Levine Cancer Institute,” said Page Stroup, director of development at Atrium Health Foundation, to a crowd of nearly 1,500 supporters. “Patients, young and old, have access to cutting-edge clinical trials that just a few years ago were not available here. This gives them, and their families, hope and inspiration.”

Steve Kramer and David Buckland, both cancer warriors who have benefited from Atrium Health's world-class cancer programs, helped kick off the race, which began at LCI. Runners then made their way to Bank of America Stadium, home of the Carolina Panthers, crossing the finish line on the field.

Since the Keep Pounding initiative began 20 years ago, over $4.5 million has been raised to advance cancer research at Atrium Health.

1. Nearly 1,500 participants joined the Keep Pounding 5K this June, a record year for the 13th annual road race. Pictured (2, 3): Runners of all ages crossed the finish line inside Bank of America stadium for the Keep Pounding 5K.

Save

SEPTEMBER 28

Pink Pint Night NoDa Brewing Company

Benefiting the Levine Cancer Institute: Project PINK breast cancer screening program.

AtriumHealthFoundation.org/ PinkPintNight

OCTOBER 8

Swim Across AmericaCharlotte Open-Water Swim Camp Thunderbird, Lake Wylie, South Carolina

Benefiting cancer research at Levine Cancer Institute and Levine Children’s Hospital. SwimAcrossAmerica.org/ Charlotte

OCTOBER 19

Tickled Pink Rolling Hill Farms, Monroe, NC

Benefiting breast cancer screening and education for residents of Union County and surrounding counties.

AtriumHealthFoundation.org/ TickledPink

NOVEMBER 13

Save Your Skin Melanoma

Awareness Golf Classic Ballantyne Country Club

Benefiting the Carolinas Melanoma & Immunotherapy Fund

AtriumHealthFoundation.org/ SaveYourSkin

Atrium Health Teammates Make Their Mark at ASCO’s 2023 Annual Meeting

This June, teammates from Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute (LCI), Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the Wake Forest University School of Medicine attended the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago. Atrium Health leaders and researchers led or co-authored more than 30 posters, oral abstracts, and presentations to advance cancer care and scientific knowledge. A sample of LCI's numerous poster presentations on recent research findings included:

• Dr. Earle Burgess, chief of LCI’s Genitourinary Oncology program, shared ENZADA trial results — a phase II study initiated at LCI.

• Dr. Daniel Carrizosa, a co-author on a national phase II randomized study, shared research findings related to extensive stage small cell lung cancer.

• Dr. Nilanjan Ghosh, chief of LCI’s Lymphoma Division and chair of the Department of Hematologic Oncology and Blood Disorders, presented on outcomes by race in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

During the annual meeting, several LCI teammates received prestigious accolades. Dr. Antoinette R. Tan, chair of Solid Tumor Oncology and Investigational Therapeutics at LCI, was named a Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (FASCO) in recognition of her extraordinary volunteer service and engagement with ASCO. Dr. Ashley Sumrall, section chief of Neuro-Oncology at LCI, was recognized as ASCO’s “Advocate of the Year” for 2022. Dr. Declan Walsh, LCI's Hemby Family Endowed Chair in Supportive Oncology, received one of ASCO’s highest honors — the Walther Cancer Foundation Endowed Supportive Oncology Award — for his leadership and contributions to supportive oncology and palliative care.

1. From left: Dr. Declan Walsh, LCI's Hemby Family Endowed Chair in Supportive Oncology, pictured with colleague Dr. Antoinette R. Tan, chair of Solid Tumor Oncology and Investigational Therapeutics, was honored with ASCO's prestigious Walther Cancer Foundation Endowed Supportive Oncology Award. 2. Dr. Ashley Sumrall (second from far right) was joined by her colleagues and recognized as “Advocate of the Year” for 2022. 3. Dr. Earle Burgess, chief of LCI’s Genitourinary Oncology program, shared ENZADA trial results.

The Microbiome as Biomarker of Disease: New Findings

The key to fighting many types of cancer may lie deep within the human body. Emerging research being conducted in the UK and Netherlands indicates the microbiome — a spectrum of bacteria and other microorganisms found throughout the body — has direct and indirect effects on cancer immunotherapy, a promising form of treatment that uses the immune system to fight cancer.

“The development of immunotherapies has been groundbreaking in many disease types including melanoma and lung cancer,” shared LCI medical oncologist Arielle Heeke, MD. “Research teams globally are assessing variables that can influence a patient's immunity and therefore responsiveness to immunotherapy,” she added.

Dr. Heeke and other clinicians at LCI are currently investigating how changes in microbiomes, including those of the gut and breast, predict responses to certain cancer therapies and improve long-term outcomes in patients. One such cancer therapy involves immune checkpoint inhibitors, which help the body identify and attack cancer cells.

Dr. Heeke, who was recently published in ASCO Daily News, an online periodical of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, has a positive outlook on the trajectory of this research and its implications for patients at LCI. “Particularly for patients being treated with immunotherapy, a diverse gut microbiome may facilitate improved and durable responses to therapy and may facilitate an improved toxicity profile, especially as it relates to colitis,” commented Dr. Heeke.

To learn how biology, lifestyle, and geographic factors play a role in harnessing the power of the gut microbiome, read more from Dr. Heeke on ASCO Daily News: Bit.ly/microbiomestudy

Immunotherapy Trial Gives Renewed Hope

After being diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer that had spread to his bones, Rodney learned about a new study involving chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy from his LCI care team.

CAR T-cell therapy is a personalized treatment that is made by removing T lymphocytes (also called T cells) from the patient and engineering them to be able to recognize and attack the patient’s own cancer cells.

Last year, Rodney became one of the first patients in the country and the first in the region to receive CAR T-cell therapy for prostate cancer. Since receiving his modified T cells, Rodney has not required any further therapy.

In 2022, Rodney Glover, pictured with his care team, became one of the first patients in the country and the first in the region to receive CAR T-cell therapy for prostate cancer.

Discover what Rodney's promising results could mean for other patients with metastatic disease. Read the full article at Atriumhealth.org/dailydose

Integrative and Supportive Oncology Show Promise for Young Women with Breast Cancer

Each year, an estimated 7 percent of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients worldwide are women aged 40 or younger. Complications of breast cancer diagnoses among young women can be incredibly challenging and impact women’s ability to raise families, navigate relationships, or advance in their careers and education, all while facing cancer treatment decisions.

Conducted by LCI's departments of Supportive Oncology and Surgical Oncology, in partnership with the Sandra Levine Young Women’s Breast Cancer Program, important clinical research is currently shedding light on the power of integrative and supportive oncology to mitigate negative side effects of breast cancer treatment and to potentially lower the risk of cancer recurrence.

Published on the cover of Cancer Network medical journal ONCOLOGY last fall, LCI’s study focused on 64 young women who underwent breast cancer treatment and simultaneously received integrative oncology consultations between 2014 and 2019. Of the patients studied, 98 percent received chemotherapy and 95 percent underwent surgery. Researchers found that integrative approaches were most often used to counter side effects of treatment, such as hot flashes, heart palpitations, and anxiety, and to lower the risk of cancer recurrence.

This and future studies by physicians at LCI will help to define how to best support young women as they go through treatment, enabling patients to maintain physical and emotional wellbeing, and increasing the chance of positive outcomes.

To learn more about LCI’s Supportive and Integrative Oncology programs supported by Atrium Health Foundation, visit: AtriumHealthFoundation.org/IntegrativeOncology

Use of Integrative Oncology Services Among Young Women with Breast Cancer*

23% of patients utilized Acupuncture

30% of patients utilized Oncology Massage

28% of patients utilized Healing Touch

of patients took part in other modalities including music or art therapy, meditation, yoga, spiritual care, and nutrition counseling.

69%

75% of interventions were initiated while the women were undergoing standard cancer treatment.

*Participants in LCI's study included 64 young women with breast cancer who simultaneously underwent integrative oncology consultations between 2014-2019.

Edward John Brown III

Atrium Health Foundation celebrates the life and legacy of Ed Brown, a prominent business leader and selfless philanthropist who inspired others to make a difference in the community. Ed’s commitment to the community is illustrated by his unwavering dedication to making life better for others. He served on the Atrium Health Board of Commissioners for 19 years, including as chairman from 2013 to 2021, where his leadership was instrumental in guiding the health care system through significant changes, including the partnership with Wake Forest Baptist Health.

Ed and his beloved wife Jan found joy in giving back to others. Over the years, they supported many causes close to their hearts, mostly in education and health care. In 2020, he seized the opportunity to help lead significant change in our community with a $2 million gift to enhance pulmonary care at Atrium Health. The Jan & Ed Brown Center for Pulmonary Medicine at Atrium Health drives advances in clinical research and care delivery of pulmonary medicine.

In 2021, Jan and Ed Brown stepped forward once more, making a $1 million gift to help transform the trajectory of lymphoma research at Levine Cancer Institute by establishing the Jan & Ed Brown Lymphoma Research Fund. With their support, LCI continues to participate on the national and international stage with successful phase I, II, and III clinical trials.

The Atrium Health family will always remember Ed Brown for his leadership and tremendous generosity. His legacy will live on in all who entrust their care to Atrium Health. To honor Ed’s legacy, gifts may be made to The Jan & Ed Brown Lymphoma Research Fund: AtriumHealthFoundation.org/Cancer

IN MEMORIAM