Cancer is a devastating disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Cancer care from diagnosis to treatment and beyond requires a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals who work together to provide personalized care, support, and guidance throughout the cancer journey. Providing advanced cancer care with compassion is essential for not only treating the physical symptoms but also addressing the emotional and psychological aspects of cancer.
Maryland Oncology Hematology is known for being present and willing to support each person who experiences a variety of emotions associated with cancer, or blood disorder/disease. Its dedicated physicians, nurses, and staff guide the diagnosed through several treatment options, tailoring services to unique, individual needs. As the treatment begins, factors like—relationships with others, management of side effects from treatment, nutrition, and diet become an important part of treatment. And the physicians and staff center are dedicated to helping with just that so that the patients can navigate through this challenging time with ease.
Four major types of treatments for cancer could be expected at Maryland Oncology Hematology:
- Biologic/targeted therapies: A newer type of cancer treatment that can more precisely attack cancer cells using a combination of drugs and other substances. These therapies work differently than traditional chemotherapy drugs.
- Chemotherapy: This treatment uses anti-cancer drugs to treat cancer by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells.
- Radiation Therapy: Advanced radiotherapy delivery methods are used to target and treat a wide range of malignancies. This treatment is designed to target and destroy cancerous cells by preventing them from growing or dividing while minimizing adverse effects on nearby healthy organs and tissues.
- Surgery: For some cancers, surgery may be used to remove all or part of the cancer to prevent spread.
The clinic today is the largest independent Medical Oncology and Hematology group in Maryland with 40 physicians practicing in fifteen locations across central Maryland. It is united in healing with the US Oncology Network, one of the nation’s largest community-based cancer treatment and research networks focused on advancing cancer care in America. This network has over 1000 physicians and 10,000 cancer professionals nationwide.
When Dr. Mohit Narang, M.D, met other physicians there, he immediately knew that he has found his second family who were just as driven in providing excellent patient care, as he was.
Let’s dive in to know about Maryland Oncology Hematology’s operations in providing the most advanced care available anywhere in an atmosphere of caring and compassion.
Source of Inspiration
Maryland Oncology Hematology was started in the late 90s by Jon Minford, MD. It is a community-based practice taking care of patients locally. The center had five full-time oncologists at the time. Maryland Oncology Hematology’s one of the goals is to provide cutting-edge treatment and research to patients in its community, both for benign hematology and oncology.
Thus, in the past decade, the center has grown from five physicians to 52 physicians, with 12 offices in Maryland.
Journey So Far
After finishing a fellowship at Michigan State University, Dr. Mohit Narang moved to Arkansas and opened the first cancer center in Batesville,before starting a group purchasing organization for more than 100 oncologists. From there, he moved to Maryland, where he’s been practicing medicine ever since.
Before moving, Dr. Narang had a choice between coming to Maryland, and moving to Boston and joining a practice there. He and his family chose Maryland because they enjoyed the lifestyle here, and they were happy with the schools, but the practice was also a major factor. When he met the other physicians there, Dr. Narang knew they were driven by the patients. The goal of the practice was to provide excellent patient care first, and that was a priority to him.
“The practice does feel like a family to me. I like to say I have two marriages—my wife and this practice,” says Dr. Narang.
Dr. Narang has been a top Baltimore physician in colon cancer, prostate cancer, and hematology for the past four years in a row. He has published more than a hundred articles and has more than 70 active studies going on his sites Dr. Narang is also a member of the American Society of Hematology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the European Society of Medical Oncology, the International Extranodal study group, Advisor CONNECT Myeloma study group.
Core Values
Maryland Oncology Hematology’s guiding principle is the patient comes first. Patient care should be held to the highest standard.
“If there’s the care we cannot provide, we try to find that care for that patient in the best place possible. We consider ourselves the quarterback for the patient,” adds Dr. Narang.
Compassionate Care Services
For Maryland Oncology Hematology, patient comfort comes first.
“Our patients aren’t a number, they’re an individual. We provide care in a timely, punctual manner, for both cancer patients and our patients with benign hematological conditions,” says Dr. Narang.
“We can open many research studies in less than two weeks. If a patient comes to us with a rare form of cancer or has a rare mutation, we can start the research treatments in no time. Elsewhere, they may have to travel across the country, or even internationally. We can provide studies in the office, close to home, which is a huge advantage for our patients.”
He continues, “Although we are a cancer center, we also do infusions for benign conditions for gastroenterology, rheumatology, Neurology and Cardiology. So, we’re a composite of both an infusion center and a cancer center.”
Cutting-Edge Treatments
It’s important for the physicians at Maryland Oncology Hematology, to stay up to date on cutting edge treatments.
“We’re a part of the US Oncology network, which gives us access to additional resources,” said Dr. Narang. “We’re able to reach out to other physicians to get the best answers for our patients.” As a community-based practice focused on providing top-level care to patients locally, it’s important for the clinic to stay updated and grow with the research and advancements, so that the patients are offered the best care that they need.
Words of Wisdom
For the budding enthusiasts who aim to venture into the healthcare sector, Dr. Narang suggests, “If you are planning to venture into healthcare, you need to love this field. Please do not join for commercial reasons. I think the key thing to remember is healthcare is more than a vocation. You’re with your patients through a crucial part of their life. You’re with their families. That’s what’s important, and that needs to be a driving factor.”
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead to 2023, Maryland Oncology Hematology’s goal is to grow, especially geographically.
“We are also opening phase one study sites, which are not always available to patients who cannot travel to a university to receive those treatments. We are trying to open CAR-T sites. We want to make care more accessible and affordable where our patients already live.”
