Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories

Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Catholic Health collaborate to bring state-of-the-art women's cancer care to Sisters of Charity Hospital

by jmaloni

Press release

Sat, Feb 9th 2013 09:00 am

Roswell Park Cancer Institute and Catholic Health are now providing gynecologic oncology services to women at The M. Steven Piver, MD Center for Women's Health & Wellness, a department of Sisters of Charity Hospital, with the appointment of Stacey Nicole Akers, MD.

A specialist in gynecologic oncology and a member of RPCI's department of gynecologic oncology, Akers will help expand the Piver Center's work in the diagnosis and treatment of ovarian and other gynecologic cancers. Through this affiliation, she will bring innovative therapies and technology to women receiving gynecologic cancer treatment at Sisters Hospital - therapies that are not yet offered outside of a comprehensive cancer center like Roswell Park.

"We are very fortunate to have a physician with Dr. Akers' training and expertise join Catholic Health's network of providers and Sisters of Charity Hospital," said Dr. Richard Ruh, senior vice president of service lines for Catholic Health. "This professional partnership is part of a collaborative effort with Roswell Park Cancer Institute to meet the health needs of women throughout our community."

Akers received her medical degree from the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Louisville. She completed subspecialty fellowship training in the department of gynecologic oncology at RPCI and immediately became a member of the Roswell Park practice plan.

Among her many accomplishments, Akers received the Excellence in Clinical Research award, which is presented to 60 obstetrics and gynecology fellows annually. Her work has also been published in several professional journals and presented at a number of medical meetings.

"We are very excited to be able to have this alliance with Catholic Health through the shared appointment of Dr. Akers, who will be splitting her time between Roswell Park and Sisters Hospital," said Dr. Kunle Odunsi, chair of gynecologic oncology at RPCI. "Through this affiliation, more women in Western New York will be able to avail themselves of newer therapies that offer a better chance for longer-term survivorship from gynecologic cancers."

"As a former member of the Roswell Park gynecologic oncology team, I have always made a commitment to the women in my care to provide the best and most innovative care available," said Piver, founder of The Piver Center for Women's Health & Wellness and chair emeritus of the department of gynecologic oncology RPCI. "Now with this affiliation with Dr. Odunsi and his excellent team, we will be able to provide women at Sisters Hospital with the most advanced therapies."

One of the largest providers of health care in Western New York, Catholic Health's healing ministry dates back more than 160 years. Catholic Health integrates advanced technology in a tradition of medical excellence and compassionate care in its mission to reveal the healing love of Jesus to those in need. The Piver Center offers a variety of women's health and wellness services, including OB/GYN primary and specialty care, menopause treatment, prenatal care and high-risk pregnancy management, minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, and behavioral health services. For more information on Catholic Health, including the Piver Center at Sisters Hospital, log on to www.chsbuffalo.org or call 716-447-6205.

The mission of Roswell Park Cancer Institute is to understand, prevent and cure cancer. RPCI, founded in 1898, was one of the first cancer centers in the country to be named a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and remains the only facility with this designation in upstate New York. The institute is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation's leading cancer centers; maintains affiliate sites; and is a partner in national and international collaborative programs. For more information, visit RPCI's website at http://www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or email[email protected].

Hometown News

View All News