BiliaryTractCancer near Live Oak, TX

Biography: Dr. Drew W. Rasco is the Associate Director of Clinical Research at START. He is board-certified in both Hematology and Oncology. He completed medical school in 2003 at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in San Antonio, TX. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA. He followed this with fellowships in Hematology and Oncology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX.Dr. Rasco's major interest is in the development of new anticancer agents, with a special interest in malignancies of the gastrointestinal tract and lungs.Dr. Rasco is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). He was a recipient of the Resident Achievement Award from Emory University. He and his partners at START have led an extensive number of phase 1 clinical trials, including those that eventually led to the FDA approvals of pembrolizumab, cemiplimab, abemaciclib, copanlisib, and others. Most recently, he served as the principal investigator for the combination of lenvatinib and pembrolizumab, which received FDA approval for endometrial (uterine) cancer in 2019.

Care Philosophy: Dr. Stupka's philosophy is to treat every patient like they are a family member. He prides himself on spending adequate time with patients, not over-booking his clinic, and not making patients wait for prolonged periods. He cares deeply about his patients, and strives daily to do the best job possible for those who trust him with their medical care. To Dr. Stupka, this is more of a calling than a job, and he feels blessed to be able to help people through the practice of medicine.

Care Philosophy: Providing the best possible care to the patient from start to finish which includes: 1) providing careful and thoughtful preoperative assessment and counseling; 2) striving to perform a technically perfect surgery; and 3) providing postoperative care through to fruition. "Service after the Sale" is a hallmark of our philosophy.

Biography: Dr. Lewis completed medical school at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX,on a scholarship from the United States Air Force. Following General Surgerytraining at Wilford Hall Medical Center, he traveled to Connecticut for specialtytraining in Colon and Rectal Surgery. Dr. Lewis then served as residency programdirector at Wilford Hall Medical Center and assistant program director for surgeryat UT Health Science Center San Antonio.After serving honorably for 18 years, Lieutenant Colonel Lewis returned to SanAntonio to enter private practice in 2012. His military experience taught him anappreciation for professionalism, leadership, and a collaborative approach toproblem-solving. These core values have served Dr. Lewis well throughout hisbusy surgical practice. While skilled in all aspects of Colorectal Surgery, hisprimary clinical interests are Colorectal Cancer and Inflammatory Bowel Disease,where a team approach to patient-centered care is paramount. He achieved andmaintains Board Certification from both the American Board of Surgery and theAmerican Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery.When not taking care of patients, Dr. Lewis enjoys traveling, golfing, hiking, andspending time with his extended family. He and his wife, Jennifer, are the proudparents of four very accomplished children.

Biography: Dr. Murali Beeram is a board-certified medical oncologist and investigator practicing with the START Center in San Antonio, Texas. He was named in the list of America's Top Oncologists in 2005, 2007 and 2008. Dr. Beeram graduated in medicine from Osmania Medical College, India in 1993. He performed a year of advanced training in radiation oncology in India prior to beginning his internship and residency training in internal medicine at the Long Island College Hospital, New York in 1997.Dr. Beeram completed his hematology-medical oncology fellowship training at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in 2003, where he was the recipient of the Best Graduating Fellow award. Additionally, Dr. Beeram has completed a 2-year advanced research fellowship in anticancer drug development at the Institute for Drug Development at the Cancer Therapy and Research Center. He spent 4 years as a faculty member in the Division of Medical Oncology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, where he was the associate director of the HematologyMedical Oncology Fellowship Program.Dr. Beeram treats all solid tumors but has a special interest in the treatment of breast cancer, malignant melanoma, and in clinical trials of new anticancer agents. Dr. Beeram is the recipient of several peer-reviewed grant awards, including the prestigious American Society of Clinical Oncology Young Investigator award and the American Federation for Aging Research Junior Investigator award for his research.Dr. Beeram has authored several publications, including both peer-reviewed publications and invited reviews/book chapters. He has been an invited speaker at many scientific symposia, including the annual meetings of the Southern Medical Association, the American College of Physicians and the European Society for Medical Oncology / National Cancer Institute symposium on targeted anticancer therapies in Amsterdam. He has also served as an expert on breast cancer for the KENS5 news and other radio talk shows.

Biography: John H. Winston, III, MD, FACS, FASCRS is a Diplomate of the American Board of Colorectal Surgery and the American Board of Surgery. His main surgical interest includes pelvic floor physiology, minimally invasive colon and rectal surgery, local excision of rectal cancer and dynamic magnetic resonance defecography. He received his medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine, and completed a residency program in colon and rectal surgery at The Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. Dr. Winston served as a Clinical Assistant Professor for the Department of Surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio from 2008 to 2015. Dr. Winston has completed many special training courses in the field of colorectal surgery. He is a member of many medical professional organizations and societies.

Care Philosophy: General Surgeon Edward Eric Horvath, DO, FACS likes to use humor and stories to get to know his patients. He wants them to feel that when they come to see him he's not just a doctor. That way, on the day of their surgery, they're not fearful. He also likes to draw pictures and make sure his patients are confident that they know exactly what he's going to do, why he's going to do it, and that they're going to do great.

Biography: Dr. Lisa Fichtel is a medical oncologist that has been in private practice with the START Center for Cancer Care for over a decade. She received her medical degree from UT Southwestern and went on to complete her internship, residency, and fellowship at the Baylor University Medical Center. She is board certified in medical oncology, and her clinical interests include malignant brain tumors and breast cancer. Dr. Fichtel has three children and is involved in various causes, including Women in Medicine & Law for the Cure®, an organization which raises funds for breast cancer research; S.L.E.W. (Support Lending for Emotional Well-Being), which provides supportive care for breast cancer patients; and the Oral Cancer Walk, benefiting patients with oral cancer.

Care Philosophy: We are highly trained clinicians dedicated to providing high quality care through a patient centered approach using advanced technology.

Biography: Dr. Amy Lang is a medical oncologist in practice with the START Center, treating adult patients with cancer. Dr. Lang received her B.A. in English from Duke University. She completed medical school at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and then attended Baylor University Medical Center for her internal medicine residency and oncology fellowship. Dr. Lang is board certified in oncology and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians. She served as Chief of Staff of San Antonio's Cancer Therapy and Research Center in 2002.Dr. Lang is a founding board member of ThriveWell Cancer Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation that provides funding for cancer research and financial assistance for cancer patients undergoing treatment. She also developed DIVA (Deriving Inspiration and Vitality through Activity), a wellness program dedicated to the improvement of breast cancer patients and survivors through exercise and nutrition. She currently serves on national and local breast cancer leadership committees for Methodist Healthcare Systems and Sarah Cannon Cancer Center.Dr. Lang was inducted into the San Antonio Women's Hall of Fame in 2009 and has appeared in numerous television news reports, radio shows, and newspaper interviews about oncologic and breast cancer issues. Dr. Lang has been chosen as one of the Texas Monthly Super Doctors and Top Doctor by Scene in SA magazine for many years. In addition, she's been featured in San Antonio Woman Magazine and Women and Cancer magazine. She was honored by The Patient Institute for excellence in patient care in 2016.

Care Philosophy: We provide safe, ethical and quality burn, reconstructive and aesthetic surgical treatment for the patients in our community. Our team members are compassionate and provide individualized care for each person who comes through our doors.