BiliaryTractCancer near Clemmons, 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: I have helped thousands of cancer patients since 1998, when I completed a fellowship in medical oncology. My training enables me to diagnose multiple types of cancer and devise non-surgical treatment plans, including chemotherapy, to help patients. \n I was inspired to do this work at a young age by the loss of my mother to lymphoma. That experience helps me relate to patients dealing with more aggressive forms of cancer and provide the kind of compassionate and expert care all of us should expect. \n In 2020, we brought an unprecedented level of cancer care to Rowan County with the opening of Novant Health Wallace Cancer Institute in Salisbury. The institute offers advanced radiotherapy technology, genetic counseling, private chemotherapy suites and access to an oncology dietitian, nurse navigators, and social services all under one roof. And, it provides local access to clinical trials of advanced cancer treatments. \n I am honored to have helped bring such a comprehensive level of care to my community and value every day I have with my patients. \n My wife Trish and I are raising two daughters, Brianna and Marissa. We enjoy travelling, good food, thoroughbred horse racing and watching University of North Carolina sports. I also have a personal passion for medical mission trips.