Thomas Alberico, MD
Virginia Oncology Associates
At the Sentara Brock Cancer Center in Norfolk, providers consider themselves “cancer caregivers” – not “cancer treaters.”
The difference is a holistic, integrative care model that goes beyond access to advanced medical therapies and diagnostics, skilled physicians and specialists, and promising clinical trials. The $94 million regional hub aims to combine all facets of cancer care under a single roof, tackling both physical and emotional health from multiple angles.
The long list of existing or planned resources includes Patient Navigators and genetic counselors; psychological and spiritual guidance; nutrition and therapeutic exercise classes; rehabilitation services; palliative care; peer mentorship and support groups; pet, art and music therapy; acupuncture and massage; and an image recovery program to boost self-esteem.
Fundraising is critical to support such value-added services, says Dr. Thomas Alberico, a medical oncologist with Virginia Oncology Associates (VOA) based at Sentara Brock Cancer Center. The goal is to promote true healing at each stage of the cancer journey.
“This is a unique, vertically-integrated center that we hope will evolve to cover everything a patient needs, outside of hospitalization,” Dr. Alberico says. “We want to transform how we prevent, diagnose and care for individuals and families throughout Hampton Roads, and we’re looking to our community for help to accomplish that.”
The Sentara Foundation’s fundraising campaign offers several donation options, from commemorative bricks for an outdoor Healing Garden to naming opportunities within the facility. Gifts can be targeted or unrestricted and go solely to patient care.
Most contributions to date have been from grateful patients and families, local physicians, and Sentara administrators. Many have opted for an engraved brick – prices start at $145 – to celebrate a survivor, remember a loved one, or recognize a particular caregiver or doctor.
“So many people are touched by cancer, and this is a way for them to have a permanent imprint on our region’s future,” Dr. Alberico notes. “The bricks also reflect our philosophy that all patients deserve a personalized experience, so they don’t feel alone or overwhelmed.”
The 253,000-square-foot center, a multidisciplinary home for the Sentara Cancer Network, opened in June 2020. The project is a collaboration between Sentara Medical Group, VOA, Eastern Virginia Medical School, and other community providers.
Medical, gynecologic, surgical and radiation oncologists all work at the center, which offers ample research facilities and cutting-edge technologies such as 3D mammography and stereotactic breast biopsy, 3T MRI and 64 Slice CT, CAR T cell therapy, and the TrueBeam™ radiotherapy system.
Patient education programs emphasize recommended screenings, disease prevention, advice on sharing a diagnosis with loved ones, and recognizing early symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Center staff can direct patients with financial concerns and/or communication or transportation needs to individuals or agencies that can help. Sentara chose its East Virginia Beach Boulevard location to make it accessible to residents of multiple cities in the area, Dr. Alberico adds.
Physicians meet regularly for multidisciplinary care conferences to fine-tune tailored treatment plans. If those therapies prove successful, services then transition to moving a patient into healthy long-term survivorship.
For example, the center recently added a speech pathologist specializing in the care and use of tracheoesophageal prosthesis after laryngectomy. Other providers focus on lymphedema management, physical therapy and neurological rehabilitation.
“We’re really excited about the potential to change the lives of people with all types of cancer in Hampton Roads,” Dr. Alberico says. “We are inviting our entire community to be part of creating a place full of hope.”
For more information, visit sentarabrockcancercenter.com or call (888) 220-2214