Kalamazoo, MI – West Michigan Cancer Center, a collaboration of Borgess Health and Bronson Healthcare Group, is pleased to announce the addition of five new mid-level providers to its staff at the main campus in Kalamazoo.

Laura Mullins, RN, MSN, CPNP, CPON, is a Certified Genetic Educator through the Oncology Nursing Society and a Certified Nurse Practitioner. She provides genetic counseling as a practitioner in collaboration with other members of the patient’s health care team. Mullins works directly with patients to provide assessments, counseling, follow-ups and referrals to community resources, if necessary.

A graduate of the Grace Hospital School of Nursing inDetroit, Mullins continued her education and received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Michigan and a Master of Science in Nursing from Grand Valley State University.

Julie DiGiovanni, PA-C, is a Physician Assistant in our gynecologic oncology department, working directly with patients of Dr. Anna Hoekstra.

DiGiovanni received a Bachelor of Science degree from Western Michigan University and a Master of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies from A.T. Still University in Mesa, Arizona.

Steve Stone, PA-C, and Jill Noack, PA-C, are Physician Assistants in our medical oncology department who see patients at both Bronson Methodist Hospital and Borgess Medical Center.

Stone received his Bachelor of Science degree, Master of Science in medicine degree and a Certificate in Physician Assistant Studies from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. His responsibilities include seeing and evaluating hematology, medical and radiation oncology patients and conducting consultations.

Noack received a Bachelor of Science degree from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan and a Bachelor of Science, Medicine, Physician Assistant Program, from the University of Iowa in Iowa City. Her responsibilities include seeing and evaluating hematology, medical and radiation oncology patients and conducting consultations.

Tricia Miedema, PA-C, is a Physician Assistant in our radiation oncology department, working directly with patients of Drs. Salvador Espinoza, Linda Grossheim and Vera Nigrin.   

Miedema received a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Hope College.  She earned a Master of Science in Medicine degree and a Certificate in Physician Assistant Studies from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo.  Her responsibilities include working directly with each of the physicians in pre and post radiation management of patients.

Joseph Mirro, MD–WMCC President/CEO/CMO

At this time of the year, when the weather gets cooler, some people think of a beautiful fall, some look forward to football or the World Series (even if you are a Tigers’ fan) other start worrying about the snow but I am unusual in that I worry about the flu. I want to take an opportunity to remind everyone that it’s time to think about getting a flu shot. This is a critically important activity for all of us as it keeps us healthy and prevents the spread of flu. However, it is much more important in the cancer center because our patients are at a much higher risk for adverse events should they acquire the flu.

If you are a patient and you are not allergic, you should talk to your treating physician (either in the cancer center or your primary care doctor) about receiving a flu vaccination.  Even patients on chemotherapy will have an immunological response and be at least somewhat protected against the adverse effects of the flu. WMCC can provide vaccinations to patients at the center.  However, they should check with their insurance carrier first before having vaccines administered at WMCC—some plans do not provide coverage for preventative vaccines. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that everyone six months and older get a flu vaccine.  The 2011-12 flu vaccine will prevent against three different flu viruses:  an H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and the H1N1 virus. 

At WMCC, we work very hard to immunize 100% of our employees. This year, we will also be providing the flu vaccine to our volunteers.  I also encourage everyone to speak with their family members.  Since we all want to protect our loved ones, urging them to be immunized will help them stay healthy and reduce everyone’s risk of the flu. What a wonderful opportunity to help the ones we love.

Kalamazoo, MI – West Michigan Cancer Center, a collaboration of Borgess Health and Bronson Healthcare Group, is pleased to announce the addition of a new radiation oncologist to its staff at the main campus in Kalamazoo.

Vera Nigrin, MD,  joins WMCC after spending eight years as a radiation oncologist in Nebraska and Washington.    

Dr. Nigrin earned her undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Alberta, Edmonton in Canada.  She completed her residency at Kansas University Medical Center, Kansas City, and two radiation oncology fellowships—the first at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, and the second at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia.

Dr. Nigrin is board certified in radiation oncology and is a member of the American Board of Radiology and the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.  She has special interests in image-guided radiotherapy, prostate brachytherapy and stereotactic radiosurgery.

ER = Estrogen Receptor, PR = Progesterone Receptor

TNM Staging: T = Tumor, N = Nodal status, M = Metastasis

ER = Estrogen Receptor, PR = Progesterone Receptor

TNM Staging: T = Tumor, N = Nodal Status, M = Metastasis

PSA = Prostatic Specific Antigen

GS = Gleason Score

TNM Staging: T = Tumor, N = Nodal status, M = Metastasis