S I D N E Y K I M M E L C A N C E R C E N T E R A T J E F F E R S O N

Cancer Risk Assessment and Clinical Cancer Genetics Program

The mission of the Cancer Risk Assessment and Clinical Cancer Genetics Program, which launched in late 2014, is to

offer comprehensive expert genetic counseling, advanced genetic testing, and novel research opportunities to all patients

concerned about cancer risk for themselves and their families. We evaluate patients with all types of cancer concerns, with

thorough assessment of risk factors, family cancer history, and personal medical history for patients to make an informed

decision about genetic testing. Every patient case is reviewed at our weekly Genetics Case Conference which includes

genetic counselors, advanced practice nurse in genetics, medical oncologists, and licensed social worker. Since late 2014,

we have discussed over 1,000 patients in our Genetics Case Conference for genetic testing, cancer screening, and

management. Our recommendations span tailored cancer screening and cancer risk reduction, lifestyle modification,

implications for family members, and psychosocial support for patients and their families.

The “Innovation Arm” of our program centers around going “Beyond Standard of Care” by developing novel research

studies to address needs in cancer risk, genetic counseling, genetic testing, and accelerate the knowledge of cancer

predisposition and patient fulfillment with genetic testing. Of absolute importance toward achieving this goal is to embrace

and promote translational research involving participants of our program to gain critical insights into genes involved with

cancer predisposition, cancer risk factors, and behavioral factors that motivate decision-making for testing. An example of

going “Beyond Standard of Care” is our novel Genitourinary (GU) Genetics Clinic – the first in the country to offer genetic

counseling and genetic testing for prostate cancer patients linked with multidisciplinary evaluation of prostate cancer.

Through the GU genetics clinic, we have developed the first prospective multigene testing study for prostate cancer and

thus are addressing a need for comprehensive genetic evaluation for men with this potentially heritable cancer and their

families. The Innovation Arm also includes unique patient-centered initiatives, such as a developing peer-support program

(“Genetics Buddy”) for patients to talk to other individuals who have undergone cancer risk assessment or genetic testing

when making their own decisions. We also address community and underserved population needs regarding cancer

awareness and education through research and community-based programs. Indeed, our impact spans to the Sidney

Kimmel Cancer Network hospitals in Philadelphia and surrounding suburbs, southern NJ, northeastern PA, and the

Pocono region where we provide genetic counseling and cancer risk assessment in-person or via telegenetics.

I invite you to review this Newsletter to learn more about our stellar staff and providers, our current research

activities, and ways to support our mission.

Sincerely,

Veda N. Giri, MD

Director Cancer Risk Assessment and Clinical Cancer Genetics Program

Unti l eve r y c ance r i s cure d

• Genetic Evaluation of Men (GEM) Registry – A registry

of men with and at risk for prostate cancer. We collect

medical, family history, behavioral data as well as DNA

for cancer risk research. We are exploring the role of

genes, diet, environment, and lifestyle factors in cancer

development in patients and their families to develop the

field of genetic testing for prostate cancer. GEM Clinical

Multigene Testing Study– Offers a clinically available

multigene test to men with and at risk for prostate

cancer. The goal is to uncover genetic mutations for

inherited prostate cancer to support genetic testing

guidelines for men and their families for this highly

heritable cancer. The results inform cancer risk and

management for patients and their families.

• Cancer Genetics Risk Registry – A registry of patients

with any cancer or at-risk individuals evaluated for

genetic risk.  We will collect medical, family history,

behavioral data as well as DNA for cancer risk research.

We are exploring the role of genes, diet, environment,

and lifestyle factors in cancer development in patients

and their families.

• Genetics Buddy Program – This initiative is building upon

an existing peer-support program for patients to focus

in the genetics arena. We are pulling together a cadre of

patients with and without cancer who have undergone

genetic testing or cancer risk assessment to provide peer

support to patients and their families.

• ICARE Study (Inherited Cancer Risk Evaluation) – This

study is exploring genetic counseling and testing in

the new era of tumor sequencing potentially informing

inherited cancer risk. The goal is to characterize the

inherited mutation spectrum, correlation to personal and

family history, and assess genetic providers and patients

regarding their knowledge, comfort level, and satisfaction

with the genetic counseling and testing process based

around tumor sequencing results.

• Telegenetics – In an effort to expand access to our

cutting-edge cancer genetics program, we have launched

our Telegenetics initiative. This tele-health approach

provides patients the option to have genetic counseling

remotely via a secure, web-based application in order

to maximize access to our program. Patients will also

have opportunities to engage in research through

the telehealth initiative.

• Cancer Disparities – Cancer risk assessment knowledge,

attitudes, and uptake projects are being developed and

instituted for minority populations who experience high

rates of cancer, such as African American, Latino, and

Asian Indians (where the incidence of cancer is rising).

Novel approaches are being studied including developing

educational materials, employing technology, and

enrolling individuals onto research studies to get much

needed insights regarding the genetic contribution to

cancer risk in diverse populations.

Innovation Arm Initiatives

Sidney Kimmel Cancer Network and Cancer Genetics

We are currently providing cancer genetic services for

the following Jefferson Health and Sidney Kimmel Cancer

Network Members:

• Aria – Jefferson Health

• Mercy Health System (Mercy Fitzgerald and Nazareth)

• Delta Medix, PC, Scranton, PA

• Kennedy University Hospital, Sewell, NJ

• Doylestown Hospital, Doylestown, PA

Philanthropy

Philanthropic funds are a vital way to keep the

innovative research and patient-centered initiatives

moving forward. If you are interested to learn more

about our program or to make a donation, please

contact Laura Gross at 215-503-5285.

Veda N. Giri, MDProgram Director

Veda N. Giri, MD is an Associate Professor in Medical Oncology and Cancer Biology at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center (SKCC) at Jefferson. She is a medical oncologist with a clinical and research interest in inherited cancer risk assessment. She is the Director of Cancer Risk Assessment and Clinical Cancer Genetics which provides patients with genetic counseling, genetic testing, and cancer screening recommendations along with the opportunity to take part in innovative research and patient-centered initiatives.

Dr. Giri received her medical degree from Sidney Kimmel Medical College (previously Jefferson Medical College), and proceeded to complete her residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Hematology-Oncology at the University of Michigan. She then completed advanced training in molecular cancer genetics and cancer risk assessment at Fox Chase Cancer Center (FCCC). From 2006-2014, she directed prostate cancer risk assessment at FCCC, developing studies focused on evaluating the role of genetic markers in prostate cancer risk assessment. In 2014, Dr. Giri assumed her role as Director of Cancer Risk Assessment and Clinical Cancer Genetics at SKCC with the overall goal to develop a comprehensive translational program for patient evaluation and research endeavors. Dr. Giri has served on national committees including the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Prostate Cancer Early Detection Panel and NIH PDQ® Cancer Genetics Editorial Board, contributing expertise in prostate cancer risk assessment and prostate cancer genetics at the national level.   She is continuing research efforts to identify and characterize the inherited basis of prostate cancer to develop the field of genetic testing for prostate cancer. A further goal of Dr. Giri’s research is to study cancer risk in diverse populations, and address community needs regarding engagement in cancer risk assessment.

SPRING 2017

Message from the Program Director

For more information about our Cancer Risk

Assessment and Clinical Cancer Genetics Program

or to refer a patient, please contact Karen Robison at

215-955-1011 or karen.robison@jefferson.edu

Providers and Staff

Susan Miller-Samuel, MSN, RN, AGN-BC

Susan Miller-Samuel is a board-certified Advanced

Genetics Nurse (AGN-BC). She received her bachelor’s

degree in nursing (BSN) from The Pennsylvania State

University and her master’s degree in nursing (MSN) from

LaSalle University. She completed an internship in cancer

genetics at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo NY.

Sue has provided cancer risk assessment and genetic

counseling for nearly 20 years at Jefferson. While she

spends most of her time providing counseling and

education about hereditary cancer syndromes to high-

er-risk individuals and their families, Sue is also an Adjunct

Instructor for the Jefferson School of Nursing at Thomas

Jefferson University and a Lecturer for “The Molecular and

Cellular Basis of Medicine” course at the Sidney Kimmel

Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University. She serves

as a Genetics Content Expert Panel Member for the

American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the

board-certifying organization for Advanced Genetics

Nursing. Sue has authored or co-authored multiple articles

and book chapters in the field of cancer genetics. Sue’s

clinical focus is in genetic counseling and genetic testing

for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.

Colette Hyatt, MS, LCGC

Colette Hyatt has been a practicing genetic counselor

specializing in hereditary cancer risk since 2013. She

received her Master’s Degree in Genetic Counseling is from

Arcadia University in Glenside, PA in 2013.  She also has a

background in bioethics and received a Master’s Degree in

Bioethics from Union Graduate College in 2011. Colette

has been a part of the Clinical Cancer Genetics team the

Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson since June

2015.  During her time working with the Clinical Cancer

Genetics team, she has been working closely with Dr. Veda

Giri with a weekly clinic that is focused in genitourinary

cancer predisposition syndromes and primarily focused

in the hereditary component of prostate cancer.

Stephanie Winheld, MS

Stephanie Winheld joined the Clinical Cancer Genetics

team at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson

in 2012.  She earned her Master’s Degree in Genetic

Counseling from Arcadia University in 2012, and her

certification from the American Board of Genetic

Counseling in 2013.  In 2014, Stephanie became licensed

to practice genetic counseling in Pennsylvania, as well as

in New Jersey and Delaware.  Stephanie focuses primarily

on hereditary gastrointestinal predisposition syndromes,

but also sees patients for a variety of other hereditary

cancer concerns.  In addition, she provides genetic

counseling services to several Sidney Kimmel Cancer

Network affiliates.

Meredith Kohn RN, MS

Meredith Kohn is the clinical nurse specialist and

coordinator for the Cancer Genetics Risk Assessment

Program at the Rosenfeld Cancer Center at Abington –

Jefferson Health. Meredith has been responsible for the

development and ongoing growth of the Risk Assessment

Program since its inception 15 years ago. She received her

Master of Science Degree from the School of Nursing and

a Certificate in Administration from the School of Business

at the University of Maryland. She has received extensive

educational preparation for her role through the National

Institute of Health/Fox Chase Cancer Center Advanced

Cancer Risk Counseling Training for Nurses and the

University of Pennsylvania. She also has an extensive

background in oncology nursing. Meredith provides

genetic counseling primarily to patients and families

at risk for hereditary breast, gynecologic and

gastrointestinal malignancies.

Laura Gross, BA

Laura Gross became program manager for the Clinical

Cancer Genetics Program in 2014. After receiving a

biology degree from Rutgers University, she began her

career in cancer research as a research assistant in a tumor

immunology laboratory concentrating on melanoma. After

working in the lab for 10 years, Laura wanted to have more

patient interaction, and took on the role of project

manager for a research study providing prostate cancer

screening for men at high-risk for prostate cancer. During

this time, she developed an interest in the genetic

evaluation for inherited cancer risk for all types of cancers.

As program manager for the Clinical Cancer Genetics

Program, Laura works closely with the genetics providers

and coordinates all of Dr. Giri’s research studies, focusing

on cancer risk, genetic counseling, genetic testing,

screening, and prevention. She also coordinates summer

internships for high school and college students to

engage in cancer research at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer

Center at Jefferson.

Nicole Crumpler, MS, MBA

Nicole Crumpler is currently the laboratory manager for

the Clinical Cancer Genetics Program. Prior to joining the

team at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson in

2014, Nicole received her Master’s Degree in Biotechnology

and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from

Johns Hopkins University in 2007. Nicole’s primary roles

within the Clinical Genetics Program are managing and

processing patient samples for all of Dr. Giri’s research

studies along with assay development, data analysis, and

training students in cancer risk research.

Karen Robison, CMA

Karen Robison joined The Cancer Risk Assessment and

Clinical Cancer Genetics Program in January of 2016,

and serves as the Patient Intake Coordinator. Karen is a

Certified Medical Assistant with experience in oncology

care. She has been with Thomas Jefferson University Hos-

pital for 20 years. Karen’s primary role is communicating

with patients to obtain intake information, retrieving med-

ical records, and scheduling patient visits with the cancer

genetics team.

Lora Rhodes, MSW, LSW

Lora received her BS in psychology from The Pennsylvania

State University and MSW from Rutgers University. A social

worker for over 25 years, she returned to clinical work in

2014 at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson,

where she began her career in oncology social work in

1996.  Prior to her current position, she worked in

continuing medical education, developing education

programs for physicians, nurses, and social workers. In

her work with the Clinical Cancer Genetics Program, Lora

helps individuals and  families with the psychological,

social, emotional, and financial issues that can accompany

being at high genetic or hereditary risk for cancer. Lora

also helps individuals with practical needs, such as

finding community resources and understanding

insurance coverage.

Rebecca Jaslow, MD

Rebecca Jaslow, MD is an Assistant Professor in Medical

Oncology at Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson.

She received her medical degree from Icahn School of

Medicine at Mount Sinai. She completed her residency

at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and her fellowship at

New York Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Jaslow specializes

in treating patients with breast and ovarian cancers and

provides management expertise for patients at high-risk

for breast and ovarian cancers.

Daniel Silver, MD, PhD

Daniel Silver, MD, PhD is an Associate Professor in the

departments of Medical Oncology and Cancer Biology at

the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson. He is also

the director of Basic Science and Research in Medical

Oncology as well as the leader of the Breast Cancer

Program at SKCC. He received his medical degree from

the University of California, San Francisco. He completed

his residency at the University of California, San Francisco

and his fellowship in Medical Oncology at the Dana Farber

Cancer Institute.  Dr. Silver specializes in treating patients

with breast cancer and those at high risk of breast cancer;

he contributes his expertise in breast cancer treatment

and high-risk management to the Clinical Cancer

Genetics Program.

Mark Sundermeyer, MD

Mark Sundermeyer, MD is a board-certified physician in

Hematology and Oncology and the deputy chief of the

Hematology/Oncology Division at Abington – Jefferson

Health. Originally from Missouri, he completed

undergraduate and medical degrees at the University

of Missouri-Columbia. Obtaining his Internal Medicine

training at Temple University Hospital, he completed

fellowship training in Hematology and Oncology in a

combined Fox Chase Cancer Center/Temple University

program. He currently practices at Abington-Jefferson

Health, a tertiary teaching community hospital located

in Abington, Pennsylvania. He is the physician lead for the

Genetic Risk Evaluation Program at Abington – Jefferson

Health which collaborates with the Clinical Cancer

Genetics Program for joint patient management.

Additional areas of interest include chemotherapeutic,

molecular and immunotherapy for cancer with a focus

on breast and lung cancers, fertility preservation, and

lifestyle/nutrition modification during and after therapy

for prevention of recurrence and overall health.

Physician Contributors