SquamousCellCarcinomaofSkin near Shelby, NC

Biography: I knew I wanted to go into healthcare as a young child. I got involved in medicine in high school. In college, I worked as a nursing assistant to gain more experience in the healthcare field. It was in medical school that I developed a passion for obstetrics and gynecology (ob-gyn) and, beyond that, chose to specialize in gynecological cancer. \n Every day that I care for patients, I continue to learn. I am a member of various gynecologic associations and serve on the community board for Lydia's Legacy, an organization that supports education, awareness and research funding for gynecologic cancers. \n I look at and treat each patient as if she were a member of my family. That is the reason I strive to introduce a level of humanism and warmth to each visit and help put my patients' minds at ease. But above all else, I put honesty first. In my field, I do not always have good news to discuss with my patients. Honesty and compassion can help a patient and her family formulate realistic expectations, which is extremely important during the course of care. \n My husband and I live in Charlotte with our two girls and dogs, Paco and Maui. We absolutely love being outdoors, enjoy spending time by the pool, spending time in the mountains, and taking trips to the beautiful Carolina beaches with our family.

Biography: Dr. Poras Patel, MD is a Hematology Specialist who practices in Huntersville, NC. He is 40 years old. Dr. Poras Patel, MD is affiliated with Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center.

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.

Care Philosophy: Dr. Bertsch is a board-certified surgery who values a personalized, integrative approach to surgery as well as collaboration with the patient's full health care team.

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: Dr. Nasfat Shehadeh, MD is a Hematology Specialist who practices in Charlotte, NC. He is 57 years old and has been practicing for 28 years. Dr. Nasfat Shehadeh, MD is affiliated with Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center.