In a multidisciplinary team, many clinical team members work together to coordinate care. For more information, please click the links to read the biographies.
Some of the team members who may assist in your care include:
Some of the team members who may assist in your care include:
- Thoracic Surgeon: Key role is to evaluate the patient for a biopsy of a tumor and/or surgery to remove the tumor.
- Medical Oncologist: Key role is to manage patients with advanced stages of lung cancer using chemotherapy.
- Radiation Oncologist: Key role is to evaluate and provide radiation to the patient's tumor site or to areas where the tumor may have spread.
- Pulmonologist: Evaluates patient preoperatively to determine if the patient could undergo surgery given their current lung function. Performs lung cancer screening. Performs "interventional" procedures on the airways of the lung, including photodynamic therapy (PDT), bronchial stents and laser surgery.
- Radiologist: Evaluates films taken of a patient's body part such as the CT scan or MRI. Also performs biopsies under ultrasound or CT guidance.
- Pathologist: Evaluates the tissue obtained in a biopsy.
- Fellow: A physician who is training in a specialty area such as medical oncology or surgical oncology.
- Nurse Practitioner: A nurse with a master's degree who works in collaboration with the physicians to manage the overall care of each patient.
- Physician's Assistant: Works in collaboration with the physicians to manage the overall care of the patient.
- Resident: In collaboration with the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine, a resident is a "doctor-in-training" who is getting experience in the field of oncology.
- Nurse: Works collaboratively with the entire team to manage the patient's overall care.
- Social Worker: Key role is to provide the patient and family with emotional support and counseling, assist with transportation and lodging issues, assist with arranging hospice care.
- Case Manager: An RN who works closely with the social worker to provide a safe discharge plan. Also arranges home care, medications given through an IV.
- Pastoral Care: Provides nondenominational spiritual guidance to patients and their families. Helps with end of life issues.
- Patient Advocate: Available to patients and their families for any issues of concern.
