Duke Cancer Institute senior leaders would like to recognize three faculty and physician leaders who are utilizing their talents in new roles within DCI to ensure that our patients continue to have access to the safest and best-quality care possible.
“We would like to thank Dr. Uronis for her service to DCI, over the past 20 months, as Chief Safety Officer and Director of Medical Practice Operations,” said DCI Chief Medical Officer, Ted Alyea, MD, referring to GI medical oncologist and associate professor of Medicine, Hope Uronis, MD. “Given her skills as a high-volume provider, she has chosen to focus her administrative skills on one of our most valued assets, our infusion room operations.”
As Medical Director over Treatment Center Operations, Uronis will be focused on providers and staff to provide optimal care to those receiving treatment in infusion rooms across the entire DCI system.
She has also taken on a newly developed physician leadership role — Medical Director for DCI Patient Access — to help bring in new patients to DCI and to ensure that return patients have the efficient access they need as they maintain their treatment journey. In this role, she will partner with Jennifer Kennedy-Stovall, Director, Access Operations and Patient Experience.
Thomas LeBlanc, MD, an associate professor of Medicine, has been named Chief Patient Experience & Safety Officer, and Gretchen Kimmick, MD, a professor of Medicine, has been named Director of Medical Practice Operations. Their medical directorships took effect on April 15.
In his new role, LeBlanc will oversee the DUHS Safety Reporting System for the Oncology Service Line. He will provide physician leadership for the DCI Core Safety Committee together with Steve Power, MBA, Administrative Director, Quality Improvement & Safety, and will work with DCI administrative directors, faculty, and staff, on a consistent approach across DCI for Balance Score Card and Outcome Measures.
“Drawing from his vast experience as a hematologic oncologist, palliative care physician, and patient-experience researcher, Dr. LeBlanc will partner with Jennifer Kennedy-Stovall (Director, Access Operations and Patient Experience) and other administrative and physician leaders on enhancing our patients’ experience to exceed their needs,” said Robin Famiglietti, PhD, MBA, FACHE, Associate Vice President, Oncology Services, DUHS, and Chief Administrator, DCI. “While his medical directorship will be focused on the clinic, he will also have the opportunity to translate his important research toward these activities.”
In her new role, Kimmick will partner with physicians, APPs, and other valued members working in the outpatient clinic to design, develop and implement measures to improve outpatient clinical services. Kimmick will also work with members of DCI medical practice committees — administrative directors, faculty, and staff — to ensure a consistent approach across DCI for identified operational and safety metrics.
“A DCI breast medical oncologist since 2004, Dr. Kimmick specializes in the treatment of older patients — many of whom have co-morbidities like cardiovascular disease and diabetes,” said Alyea. “She has distinguished herself, in the clinic and in published studies, as an expert on supportive care during breast cancer and survivorship issues after breast cancer, including the management of disease and treatment-related side-effects and toxicities. This experience and expertise will be valuable in making our clinics work for our patients and families, optimally.”
“Please join us in supporting Dr. Uronis, Dr. LeBlanc, and Dr. Kimmick, in their new roles. We welcome their continued leadership at DCI.”
