CoagulationDisorders near Concord, NC

Biography: Dr. Kuykendal has spent many years in North Carolina but has called Charlotte home since 2013. He believes in bringing the latest evidence-based medicine to his patients and working with them to make the best treatment decisions. During his career he has worked in basic science, clinical trials and patient outcomes research to advance the oncology field for current and future patients. He treats patients with a variety of cancers and blood diseases but has a special focus on cancers of the GI tract including colon, rectum, pancreas and liver cancer as well as prostate, kidney and testicular cancer. He has three children who keep him quite busy, and during his free time enjoys sporting events, theater and trying new restaurants.

Biography: I entered medicine to help people and found a calling in oncology, a field that allows me to combine the most current medical knowledge with compassionate humanistic care on a daily basis. \n I am a general hematologist-oncologist who treats a wide range of blood and cancer conditions. My clinical interest is in treating GI cancer and breast cancer. \n I believe that, regardless of how common or rare the diagnosis, each patient deserves personalized care. To me, the key to good patient care is to listen and pay attention to the small details. I pride myself on striving to provide the most thorough and attentive care to each person under my care, at each visit and at every juncture. \n My husband, daughter and I are originally from the Philadelphia area. Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, traveling, nature photography and spending time with my loved ones.

Biography: I see adult patients with blood disorders and cancers of all types. My approach to healthcare is to treat each person as I would members of my own family. I strongly believe involving patients in decisions about treatment and coordinating care with other physicians yields the best results. \n I have always loved to help people, and oncology gives me a unique opportunity to do that in a way that is rewarding to me. I get to know patients and care for them during a challenging time in their lives. \n Helping cancer patients requires a team effort, and I am grateful to be working alongside such a wonderful team of doctors and nurses. \n In 2012, I moved to Charlotte. I enjoy spending my spare time with my husband Kam and son Cyrus. We travel together, explore new restaurants, play board games, swim and spend time with extended family. I also love to read and play badminton with Cyrus.

Biography: During residency, I worked alongside an oncologist who inspired me to pursue the specialty. I saw the tremendous impact new treatments could have for patients and wanted to offer the same life-prolonging and lifesaving treatments to my own patients. \n I also admired the close relationships my oncologist mentor had with his patients and their families. I liked the idea of using science, which I'd always loved, to help people fight this disease. \n It is a humbling privilege to care for patients facing cancer. I take the time to listen to their concerns and fears and provide them extensive education on their disease and possible treatment options. I also leverage all the expertise within our multidisciplinary cancer institute so patients get the best of our collective experience. \n Cancer can be isolating. It's easy for patients to feel vulnerable. So, throughout their treatment and follow-up, I stay in frequent communication with patients and their families. \n I am board-certified in oncology, hematology and internal medicine. I have a special interest in clinical research and appreciate that, at Novant Health, we can offer novel therapies through clinical trials. I've served as principal investigator and co-investigator on several phase I, II and III clinical trials. \n My wife, Nada, and I live in Concord with our daughter (Sophia), son (Sami) and our Goldendoodle, (Chippey). I treasure family time and enjoy coaching tennis, travel, skiing and road biking.

Biography: One of the hardest things anyone can do is face a cancer diagnosis. \n While I was in medical school, a close friend learned he had cancer. With most current treatment modalities unavailable in our country - Nepal - at the time, the disease took its toll. I witnessed the physical suffering and emotional turmoil he endured. I saw the far-reaching consequences cancer can have on people's lives, their work, their relationships. \n But at the same time, I was learning about new and promising treatment options that were giving hope to millions. This, I realized, was an area of medicine that would allow me to have an impact on patients' quality of life and their very survival. \n The following year, I began my residency with a mission statement: "To practice medicine with vigor and enthusiasm, serve the ideals of goodness and beauty through medicine and to love what I do, for it shall enrich patients' lives as well as my own." \n There were such exciting advancements being made in hematology and oncology. I wanted to be part of that work, so I embarked on a challenging, yet rewarding, career as a hematologist and oncologist. \n Delivering compassionate care and developing long-term relationships with patients are as rewarding as I thought they'd be when I was a medical student. I love to take the complexity of cancer and try to simplify it so my patients understand their disease and treatment plan. \n I appreciate being part of Novant Health, because we believe in taking care of the whole patient, not just an organ. And not just their disease. And we practice the art, as well as the science, of medicine. \n My wife, who's also originally from Nepal, and I and have two daughters, and we love spending time together as a family. I enjoy all manner of outdoor activities, especially playing tennis.

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: I chose medicine, and oncology as an area of specialty, as a way to pursue two passions: studying science and connecting with people. I saw the positive impact this combination can have as a child watching my mother. She spent most of her life taking care of cancer patients as an oncology nurse. \n While I treat patients with a variety of cancers and blood disorders, I have a special interest in cancers affecting organs in the upper section of the gastrointestinal tract, or digestive system, and genitourinary system. As a physician who is board-certified in hematology and medical oncology, I am committed to providing my patients with up-to-date, comprehensive and individualized care. At Novant Health, this means participating in tumor boards, where surgical, medical and radiation oncologists collaboratively review each cancer patient's condition to determine the best treatment plan. \n I was born in the Philippines and then moved to New Jersey, where I spent most of my childhood near the beach. My husband and I moved to Charlotte in 2019 with our newborn daughter. We enjoy the outdoors, particularly hiking and going to the beach, as well as experiencing other cultures through travel. Closer to home, we enjoy discovering new restaurants. Music is also a passion of mine and a large part of our family activities.

Biography: I am a hematology/oncology specialist and the physician lead for the transplant and cellular therapy department for Novant Health Cancer Institute. \n No two cancers are the same because no two patients are the same. Each patient comes with a different set of life experiences and ideas, which makes treating cancer unique to each individual patient. And this is why I was drawn to the field of oncology; it allows me an opportunity to improve a person's life during what might be the most difficult time of their life. \n To properly treat the whole person and not just the disease, you need to engage in active conversation with the patient throughout the treatment process. This is why I approach medicine and oncology from the position of a partnership between me and the patient. Very rarely in oncology do we find ourselves with decisions where the right answer is in black and white. \n I am a member of the American Society of Hematology, as well as the American Society for Transplant and Cellular therapy. My membership in these organizations keep me up to date on the latest research and treatment options in the field. I'm also actively engaged in clinical research focused on acute leukemia, with the goal of finding new, targeted therapies that improve disease control and survival while limiting side effects and maintaining a good quality of life through treatment. \n When I am not seeing patients, I enjoy time with my wife and three daughters. I am an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys skiing, SCUBA diving, kite surfing and long-distance running. I am passionate about the shared human experience and love meeting new people and exploring new ideas and places.