Summit Healthcare
Medical and Radiation
Oncology Services
2500 E Hunt Dr.
Suite H
(Radiation); Suite I (Medical)
Show Low AZ 85901
Ph 928-537-6964 (Radiation)
Ph 928-537-6937 (Medical)
Fax 928-532-8798
(Radiation)
Fax 928-537-3977 (Medical)
The Oncology building house the Radiation Oncology physician practice, radiation
services, the Medical Oncology physician practice, chemotherapy services, and a
dedicated chemotherapy pharmacy.
Medical Oncology
Summit provides state-of-the-art treatment for patients with cancer,
incorporating the latest treatment options to deliver individualized care to
patients. Medical oncology treats cancers with drugs and related therapies such
as chemotherapy. We diagnose and treat cancer, working closely with radiation
oncologists to create the best treatment plan for each patient. We carefully
monitor each patient during ongoing treatments, and meet with a
multidisciplinary team of other doctors to review each case.
Our Medical Oncologist, Dr. Snehal G. Thakkar, previously
practiced at the Virginia Piper Cancer
Center in Scottsdale, Arizona, providing
a full spectrum of Oncology medicine. Dr. Thakkar received his medical degree at
Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, after completing his undergraduate work
at Wittenberg University and The Ohio State University. He then went on to
complete an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at the Cleveland
Clinic. A subsequent year was committed to completing an Experimental
Therapeutics Fellowship before going on to complete a second fellowship in
Hematology and Medical Oncology at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center.
Dr. Thakkar belongs to both the American Society of Hematology and the American 
Society of Clinical Oncology. He has numerous awards and honors, including the
2006 Kidney and Bladder Congress Fellow Scholarship Award Recipient and the 2006
selection for the Molecular Oncology Report Program sponsored by Genentech. Dr.
Thakkar has been involved in several research programs as Co-Investigator and
has been extensively published in both peer reviewed medical journals as well as
at numerous national oncologic meetings. Dr. Thakkar is currently accepting new
patients and looks forward to building a busy practice. Appointments can be
scheduled by calling 537-6937.
Our Radiation Oncology Department is led by Victor R. Henderson, M.D. Dr. Henderson joined the medical staff in 2003 as a Consulting Physician with Valley Radiation Oncology, LTD and became an Active Medical Staff member in 2007 as an employee of Summit Healthcare. Dr. Henderson received his medical degree from Medical College of Wisconsin Internship at St Luke's Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and completed his Residency in Radiation Oncology at University of Utah Medical Center. Dr. Henderson was then a Researcher in Radiation Oncology at University of California, Davis Medical Center and a Fellow/Instructor at Temple University. He is Board certified by the American Board of Radiology in Radiation Oncology.
Dr. Victor Henderson commented that "Radiation Oncology is a specialty that requires the patient to be at the clinic five days per week (in most cases). Patients are treated for as long as six to eight weeks. Currently we are treating 3500 patients per year with a 7 - 9% increase in patient volumes each year. Radiation is used for the treatment of malignant tumors (cancer), and may be used as the primary therapy. It is also common to combine radiotherapy with surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy or some mixture of the three. Most common cancer types can be treated with radiotherapy in some way. The precise treatment intent depends on the tumor type, location, and stage, as well as the general health of the patient. The position the patient is treated in must be precise within 0.5 centimeters. If we are not able to reproduce that position every day, we run the risk of missing some of the cancer cells. We have all of the basic positioning aids to treat patients."
Our newest piece of technology for our oncology patients is an all digital medical linear accelerator to provide Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT). IMRT is an advanced mode of high-precision radiotherapy that utilizes computer-controlled x-ray accelerators to deliver precise radiation doses to a malignant tumor or specific areas within the tumor. Because the ratio of normal tissue dose to tumor dose is reduced to a minimum with the IMRT approach, higher and more effective radiation doses can safely be delivered to tumors with fewer side effects compared with conventional radiotherapy techniques. The entire project cost is $1.2 million and will be beneficial to our patients for years to come.
Bill Lasonder, President of the Summit Healthcare Foundation said, "We are pleased that the money raised from the 2008 Denim and Diamonds Ball will be directed to assisting the Oncology Department with its needs, so that we can better provide for our patients".
ChemotherapyThe mission of the chemotherapy department is to provide pharmaceutical treatments to its clients in an outpatient setting, consistent with the hospital wide quality of care practice standards. The chemotherapy department supports the transfer from inpatient acute care services to outpatient care, working with discharge planners and physicians to allow a smooth transition for the patient. The chemo department also works with physician offices and other hospitals to provide outpatient services for their patients. The department sees approximately 4800 patients per year. The "new and improved" chemotherapy unit boasts seven recliners, an aquarium, surround sound and plants.
Patients have stated how much they love the "family environment" in Summit's chemotherapy department and that they enjoy coming in for their treatments because they are treated like family. They are provided meals, beverages, a chair that fully reclines, music, books and friendly distractions to help them get through their day.
Our Oncology certified nurses have met or exceeded requirements for practice in cancer care, have completed education in oncology nursing, and have a tested knowledge of the specialty. Certification in oncology nursing is based on current professional practice, so it validates a nurse's knowledge is up-to-date. As cancer treatments become more complex, patients will require increasingly specialized care. Oncology certified nurses have both the knowledge and experience to deliver that care effectively. In order to be eligible to test for an OCN, an RN must have a minimum of 1,000 hours of oncology nursing practice and have completed 10 contact hours of accredited continuing education in oncology nursing. If accepted, the RN must then pass a rigorous exam in order to become Oncology Nursing Certified. Our Chemotherapy Pharmacist, Kim Marbello, is onsite in the new chemo unit. She and Pharm Tech Lenore MacLeod mix and take care of m
edication while treatments are going on. Kim is able to sit with patients and provide education on all of their medications, including medication interactions with other drugs. Kim also interacts very closely with the Oncologists throughout the course of treatment. Summit Healthcare's Chemotherapy Department includes Marla Thompson as support staff, Kim Marbello, Chemotherapy Pharmacist, Lenore MacLeod, Pharmacy Technician, and six RN's; Debra Jones, Anne Jewell, Roberta Osborne, Debbie Williams, Debi Barrera and Katherine Nicolet. Debi Barrera and Katherine Nicolet recently received their Oncology Nursing Certification, or "OCN." Certification is a voluntary process. It signifies that a nurse has developed specialty knowledge beyond the entry level.
Julie A Forney ARRT(R)(T)CCI(I) is the Director of Radiation Oncology. She has been with Summit Healthcare for just over eleven years. Julie began the Radiation Oncology program at Summit Healthcare in April of 2003. She is Board Certified in Radiology as well as Radiation Therapy. Prior to coming to Show Low, Julie managed the cardiac catheterization lab at Toledo Hospital (a 485 bed hospital) and started the pediatric cardiac cath program there.