Biliary Tract Cancer near Winston Salem, NC

Biography: Dr. Shearer cares for hematology and oncology patients with all tumor types. She has a special interest in helping patients who have gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies including esophageal, colorectal and anal cancers, as well as hepatobiliary malignancies. She works closely with the GI multidisciplinary clinic at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center. She has served as the primary investigator on many clinical trials for GI malignancies and regularly attends scholarly meetings. Dr. Shearer enjoys reading, cooking, traveling in her spare time and has run several half marathons. She enjoys spending time with her two daughters, her husband, a physician assistant in cardiothoracic surgery, and her golden retrievers.

Biography: I am a medical oncologist at Novant Health, specializing in lung cancer and thoracic malignancies. My father was my role model growing up and worked as an oral surgeon, which drew me towards a career in medicine from an early age. Like many families, my family was no stranger to cancer. \n Very quickly in my medical training, I identified oncology as my area of interest. I made it my goal to always be accessible to my patients, and to communicate the details of their illness, treatment, and prognosis in clear and concise language. I believe it is the patient's right to know all of the details regarding their case and that I should prioritize their input in making treatment decisions. \n I am passionate about identifying the latest cutting-edge research opportunities for my patients. That is why I am participating in Novant Health's effort to identify and overcome barriers to treatment for lung cancer patients in order to reduce the time from diagnosis to treatment and improve lung cancer outcomes. This is also why I co-chair the Thoracic Tumor Council and help lead the cancer physician team at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center.

Biography: Dr. Jepsen cares for hematology and oncology patients with all tumor types with a special focus on the treatment of breast cancer, as well as breast cancer prevention, genetics and survivorship. She also focuses on treating gastrointestinal malignancies. She has done research in molecular genetics and published translational research through Merck Inc. Her work has focused on DNA gene sequences for drug targets and sequencing of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) for vaccine development. She worked on colon cancer tumor profile expression with microarray analysis at Princeton University. Dr. Jepsen enjoys spending free time with her husband, daughter and extended family. She also enjoys traveling, cooking and vacationing at the beach.

Biography: Dr. Hopkins' clinical interests include the treatment of breast cancer, breast cancer prevention, genetics, survivorship and the treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. She has served as chairwoman of the SCOR Cancer Care Delivery Research, as a member of the NCI Breast Oncology Local Disease (BOLD) task force and was a member of the NCI symptom management/quality of life steering committee. She serves on multiple committees dedicated to cancer research, symptom management and elderly populations. Dr. Hopkins has a passion for skiing and hiking and owns a 110-acre farm in Blacksburg, South Carolina with her husband, son and daughter-in-law. She is also an avid reader of historical fiction.

Biography: Dr. Collins' interest in oncology grew as he was involved in research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While studying the effects of various compounds on cancer cell growth, he recognized the opportunities for discovery and possibilities in the field of oncology. He has seen novel therapies save the lives of many cancer patients since his early years in research and schooling. Dr. Collins treats patients for genitourinary cancer, which includes malignancies in the prostate, bladder and kidneys. He grew up in Long Island, New York and moved to North Carolina more than 20 years ago. He lives in Winston-Salem with his wife and three daughters. In his free time, he runs, plays tennis and sharpens his skills in photography.

Biography: For me, there is no field more exciting than oncology. The medical challenges are vast, but it is the unique relationship with the patients and their families which really drew me in. \n I also enjoy being part of a team, which is why I serve on the Novant Health Breast Cancer Tumor Council. This group brings together physicians from multiple specialties every week, to combine their expertise in the fight against breast cancer. My membership in the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Board of Internal Medicine also help me keep up with the ever-changing landscape of cancer care. \n I'm passionate about patient education and conversation. I try every day to do my best at explaining the complexities of cancer medicine in a way that makes sense to my patients. Every patient deserves to be presented with all the information available, in a way that is understandable, so that they can make the best decisions for their own care. \n For me, caring for patients at one of the more difficult times in their lives is personally fulfilling. The opportunity to see our cancer survivors in follow-up, living their best lives, often many years after their cancer diagnosis, is uniquely rewarding. \n A native of New England, I moved to the Winston-Salem area with my daughter in 2020, from Massachusetts. I previously served 14 years on active duty in the U.S. Navy. I am proud of my military service and training and feel that this experience helped to shape me into the provider I have become. My experiences in other parts of the world, including volunteer work as a physician in Honduras, have made me very grateful for the excellent cancer care available in the U.S., and have made me determined to contribute to this excellence as best I am able.