Fort Myers, Fla. & Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 9, 2020 – American Oncology Network, LLC (AON) and Sarah Cannon Research Institute announced today the addition of AON partner practice Messino Cancer Centers (MCC), as a second strategic research site. Hematology/Oncology Clinic (HOC) in Baton Rouge, La., also a partner practice of AON, was the first strategic research site under this partnership.

Clinical trials will now be offered as a part of MCC’s oncology services at its Asheville, N.C. location. For over 30 years, the MCC physicians have been providing a full range of exceptional cancer care in the Western North Carolina region. MCC medical oncologists serving patients in Asheville are Dr. Michael Messino, Dr. Charles Bryan, Dr. Shantae Lucas, Dr. Christopher Chay, Dr. Wieslawa Pekal, Dr. Mridu Chand, Dr. Mohan Thakuri, Dr. Martin Palmeri, Dr. Trevor Austin, Dr. Rachel Raab, Dr. Sean Warsch, Dr. Hiromi Terawaki, Dr. Andrew Beardsley and Dr. Brent Skiver.

“Messino Cancer Centers partnership with Sarah Cannon Research Institute is truly a value add for cancer patients in Asheville and the surrounding communities, most of whom live in rural areas,” said AON CEO Brad Prechtl, MBA. “Having access to community-based clinical trials enables patients to be matched with potentially life-saving research, while staying within the comfort and familiarity of their local oncologist’s office.”

AON is currently comprised of an expanding network of partner practices across 15 states. AON practices offer in-house laboratory, pathology and oral pharmacy services all under one roof so that patients can receive the care they need in one location. Research has shown that having easy and convenient access to expert physician care and a comprehensive range of treatments and support services close to home is vital to a patient’s well-being. By collaborating with Sarah Cannon Research Institute, which is a global leader in offering community-based clinical trials, AON is expanding opportunities for patients to participate in cutting-edge cancer research, while reducing the need to drive long distances or travel out of state for care.

Sarah Cannon Research Institute pioneered the first community-based oncology drug development program in the United States and has grown to become a global leader in early phase research, conducting more than 450 first-in-human studies to date.  Through its efforts to advance therapies for patients, Sarah Cannon Research Institute has been a clinical trial leader in the majority of approved cancer therapies over the last decade and enrolls thousands of patients on clinical trials annually throughout its network of strategic research sites.  

“By expanding our collaboration with AON, we will further advance our mission to bring the latest therapies through clinical trials into the western North Carolina community,” said Howard A. “Skip” Burris, III, MD, President of Clinical Operations and Chief Medical Officer at Sarah Cannon. “We look forward to working together with the experts at Messino Cancer Centers to provide even greater access to cutting-edge therapies that patients vitally need, close to home.”

About American Oncology Network, LLC: 
American Oncology Network, LLC (AON) is an alliance of physicians and seasoned healthcare leaders partnering to ensure the long-term success of community oncology. Launched in 2018, the rapidly expanding AON network currently represents 88 physicians and 57 nurse practitioners and physician assistants practicing across 15 states. The executive management team of AON encompasses more than three decades of oncology practice management experience, enabling physicians to focus on what matters most – providing the highest quality care for patients.

The organization provides unique and comprehensive protocols for managing administrative procedures and enhancing ancillary services for its affiliates. AON is able to aggregate volume and attain economies of scale, as it guides its member physicians and practices through the transition to value-based reimbursement models that improve the patient experience and help to reduce the per capita cost of cancer care.

AON also provides a unique model of physician led, community-based oncology management. With services such as a centralized specialty pharmacy, diagnostics, pathology, fully integrated electronic medical records, a care management team and a variety of financial assistance programs, an alliance with AON ensures that patients’ experiences will be at the very pinnacle of cancer care today.

About Sarah Cannon Research Institute
Sarah Cannon Research Institute is the research arm of HCA Healthcare’s global cancer institute, Sarah Cannon. Focused on advancing therapies for patients, it is one of the world’s leading clinical research organizations conducting community-based clinical trials throughout the United States and United Kingdom. Sarah Cannon’s network of strategic sites includes hundreds of physicians who engage in research. The organization has led more than 450 first-in-man clinical trials since its inception in 1993, and has been a clinical trial leader in the majority of approved cancer therapies over the last 10 years. Additionally, Sarah Cannon offers management, regulatory, and other research support services for drug development and industry sponsors as well as strategic investigator sites through its contract research organization (CRO), Sarah Cannon Development Innovations. For more information about Sarah Cannon and the latest news from across the network, visit https://sarahcannon.com/about/newsroom/.

For More Information, Contact:
American Oncology Network, LLC
Caroline Hewitt
Director of Marketing
Caroline.Hewitt@AONcology.com
239.789.2341

Sarah Cannon Research Institute
Samantha Maxwell
Samantha.maxwell@sarahcannon.com

Fort Myers, Fla. and Cary, N.C., Nov. 3, 2020 – Waverly Oncology Hematology (Waverly), an American Oncology Network, LLC (AON) partner, recently announced that the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO) has published the full results of the landmark MonarchE trial of abemaciclib (Verzenio®) combined with endocrine therapy for the adjuvant treatment of HR+, HER2-, node-positive, high risk, early breast cancer. Waverly was the only site within the Research Triangle to participate in the worldwide trial. The MonarchE trial is the first significant improvement in outcome for these patients in 20 years. Trial results were presented at the Presidential Symposium at the ESMO Virtual Congress 2020, Europe’s most prestigious platform for oncology stakeholders.

Many patients with HR+, HER2− early breast cancer (EBC) will not experience recurrence or have distant recurrence with currently available standard therapies. However, up to 30% of patients with high-risk clinical and/or pathologic features may experience distant recurrence, many in the first few years. The trial sought to identify treatment options to prevent early recurrence and development of metastases for this group of patients.

The phase III clinical study included patients with HR+, HER2−, high-risk EBC, who had surgery and, as indicated, radiotherapy and/or adjuvant/neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Patients with four or more positive nodes, or one to three nodes and either tumor size ≥ 5 cm, histologic grade 3, or central Ki-67 ≥ 20%, were eligible and randomly assigned (1:1) to standard-of-care adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET) with or without abemaciclib (150 mg twice daily for 2 years).

The trial found abemaciclib when combined with ET to be the first CDK4/6 inhibitor to demonstrate a significant improvement in invasive disease-free survival in patients with HR+, HER2− node-positive EBC at high risk of early recurrence.

“The tremendous advancements made in cancer treatment in recent years have been achieved through clinical trials,” said Dr. Mark Graham of Waverly Hematology Oncology. “We are extremely proud to have participated in this research contributing significantly to these advances.”

For over 30 years Dr. Graham has been an active clinical investigator through the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP), a cancer clinical trials network in the U.S., leading in patient accrual and data. Waverly is also the only Research Triangle site of the Southeast Clinical Oncology Research (SCOR), representing over 20 communities in six states.

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About Waverly Hematology Oncology: (WaverlyHematologyOncology.com)
Waverly Hematology Oncology (Waverly) offers centralized easy access cancer care for Cary, North Carolina patients and is conveniently located at the intersection of two major highways, Route 1 and Highway 64 (Tryon Road). In private practice since 2004, Waverly represents two medical oncologists, three physician assistants and a team of over 40 employees, 17 of which have over 10 years of employment. A community-based practice, Waverly offers medical oncology, chemotherapy, infusion therapy, laboratory services, an on-site pharmacy and has the oldest cancer genetics clinic in Wake County. At its site at 300 Ashville Avenue, services such as diagnostic radiology, breast imaging, radiation oncology and surgery, are also offered by other practices located within the same building.

For over 30 years Dr. Graham has been an active clinical investigator through the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP), a cancer clinical trials network in the U.S., leading in patient accrual and data. Waverly is also the only Triangle site of the Southeast Clinical Oncology Research (SCOR), representing over 20 communities in six states.

Waverly expanded the practice in 2015 and opened the first formal Cancer Survivorship Clinic in the county that now includes over 2,000 breast cancer survivors and those at high risk for breast cancer.

About American Oncology Network, LLC: (AONcology.com)
American Oncology Network, LLC (AON) is an alliance of physicians and seasoned healthcare leaders partnering to ensure the long-term success of community oncology. Launched in 2018, the rapidly growing AON network represents 88 physicians and 57 nurse practitioners and physician assistants practicing across 15 states. The executive management team of AON brings more than three decades of oncology practice management experience, enabling physicians to focus on what matters most – providing the highest quality care for patients.

The organization provides unique and comprehensive protocols for managing administrative procedures and enhancing ancillary services for its affiliates. AON is able to aggregate volume and attain economies of scale, as it guides its member physicians and practices through the transition to value-based reimbursement models that improve the patient experience and help to reduce the per-capita cost of cancer care.

AON also provides a unique model of physician led, community-based oncology management. With services such as a centralized specialty pharmacy, diagnostics, pathology, fully integrated electronic medical records, a care management team and a variety of financial assistance programs, an alliance with AON ensures that patients’ experiences will be at the very pinnacle of cancer care today.

For More Information, Contact:
American Oncology Network, LLC
Caroline Hewitt, Director of  Marketing
Caroline.Hewitt@AONcology.com
(239) 789.2341

Fort Myers, Fla., Oct. 1, 2020 – American Oncology Network, LLC (AON), a high-growth medical oncology provider with a focus on supporting the long-term viability of cancer treatment in community-based settings, recently announced the appointment of Kristin Matisziw as the organization’s corporate compliance officer.

“We are pleased to announce Kristin Matisziw as AON’s new corporate compliance officer,” said Brad Prechtl, MBA, AON CEO. “She has more than 15 years of experience and brings a vast knowledge of healthcare law and compliance expertise to AON. We look forward to her contributions to the organization as she advances our culture of compliance.”

Matisziw brings extensive experience in health law having provided years of guidance to hospitals, health systems and large physician groups on complex compliance and regulatory issues. Most recently, she was the Executive Director-Regulatory and Compliance Counsel at Mercy in St. Louis, Missouri, which was named one of the top five large U.S. health systems for four consecutive years (2016 to 2019) by IBM Watson Health. During her tenure at Mercy, she served as the primary legal advisor for all compliance and regulatory issues throughout the system, including implementation of and compliance with the requirements of the first three years of a Corporate Integrity Agreement.

Prior to joining Mercy, Matisziw served as in-house legal counsel for BJC HealthCare in St. Louis, primarily representing its medical group of over 800 employed physicians, and represented large physician groups and hospital systems within the healthcare practice groups of Squire Patton Boggs and Porter and Wright, Morris and Arthur in Columbus, Ohio.

Matisziw holds dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and History from University of Missouri Columbia and a law degree from Capital University Law School.

AON President & COO Todd Schonherz stated, “We welcome Kristin to the team and we look forward to her leadership in driving quality, efficiency and exceptional patient care while also advancing compliance in our operations and physician practice.”

AON Board Member and Chairman Dr. Stephen Orman added: “Kristin is a seasoned compliance executive, and we are excited to have her on board to guide the network and help its physicians keep up with fast-changing industry standards.”

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About American Oncology Network, LLC: (AONcology.com)
American Oncology Network, LLC (AON) is an alliance of physicians and seasoned healthcare leaders partnering to ensure the long-term success of community oncology. Launched in 2018, the rapidly growing AON network represents 88 physicians and 57 nurse practitioners and physician assistants practicing across 15 states. The executive management team of AON brings more than three decades of oncology practice management experience, enabling physicians to focus on what matters most – providing the highest quality care for patients.

The organization provides unique and comprehensive protocols for managing administrative procedures and enhancing ancillary services for its affiliates. AON is able to aggregate volume and attain economies of scale, as it guides its member physicians and practices through the transition to value-based reimbursement models that improve the patient experience and help to reduce the per-capita cost of cancer care.

AON also provides a unique model of physician led, community-based oncology management. With services such as a centralized specialty pharmacy, diagnostics, pathology, fully integrated electronic medical records, a care management team and a variety of financial assistance programs, an alliance with AON ensures that patients’ experiences will be at the very pinnacle of cancer care today.

For More Information, Contact:
American Oncology Network, LLC
Caroline Hewitt, Director of  Marketing
Caroline.Hewitt@AONcology.com
(239) 789.2341

Fort Myers, Fla., Sept. 9, 2020 – American Oncology Network, LLC (AON) is pleased to announce that a research study led by AON physician Ruemu E. Birhiray, MD of Hematology Oncology of Indiana, was accepted for presentation at the annual meeting of the Society of Hematologic Oncology (SOHO), to be held as a virtual event, September 9 – 12, 2020. Additional input and support was provided by AON physician Ralph V. Boccia, MD, FACP of The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.

The study evaluates long-term proteasome inhibition in multiple myeloma following an in-class transition from Bortezomib-based induction to all-oral Ixazomib Lenalidomide-Dexamethasone in patients under and over 75 years of age in the community setting. The study is to be presented and published as an abstract at the prestigious SOHO annual meeting, a 3.5-day program attended by a broad international audience of academic and private researchers and physicians. SOHO is the only international society specific to the field of hematologic malignancies and is the premier meeting that focuses specifically on new advances and practical applications.

Dr. Ruemu E. Birhiray will also be speaking during the Industry Expert Session on Friday, September 11th, 2020, on “Redefining Approaches in Frontline Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CCL) Treatment Imbruvica® + Rituximab vs FDR: Head-to-Head-Data in Frontline CLL/SLL.”

AON CEO Brad Prechtl, MBA, said, “To have Dr. Birhiray present his research and speak at this prestigious program confirms that our physicians are at the forefront of new discoveries and findings that will expand and improve treatment options for all patients with cancer and blood disorders.”

“The speakers at the SOHO annual meeting are a multidisciplinary group of internationally recognized experts that represent the spectrum on these diseases. We are proud of Dr. Birhiray for this great achievement,” added Dr. Stephen Orman, AON Board Member & Chairman.

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About American Oncology Network, LLC: (AONcology.com)
American Oncology Network, LLC (AON) is an alliance of physicians and seasoned healthcare leaders partnering to ensure the long-term success of community oncology. Launched in 2018, the rapidly growing AON network represents 88 physicians and 56 nurse practitioners and physician assistants practicing across 15 states. The executive management team of AON brings more than three decades of oncology practice management experience, enabling physicians to focus on what matters most – providing the highest quality care for patients.

The organization provides unique and comprehensive protocols for managing administrative procedures and enhancing ancillary services for its affiliates. AON is able to aggregate volume and attain economies of scale, as it guides its member physicians and practices through the transition to value-based reimbursement models that improve the patient experience and help to reduce the per-capita cost of cancer care.

AON also provides a unique model of physician led, community-based oncology management. With services such as a centralized specialty pharmacy, diagnostics, pathology, fully integrated electronic medical records, a care management team and a variety of financial assistance programs, an alliance with AON ensures that patients’ experiences will be at the very pinnacle of cancer care today.

For More Information, Contact:
American Oncology Network, LLC
Caroline Hewitt, Director of  Marketing
Caroline.Hewitt@AONcology.com
(239) 789.2341

Fort Myers, Fla., September 2, 2020 – The physicians of Hematology Oncology of Indiana (HOI), Dr. Raymond M. Harwood, Dr. Ruemu E. Birhiray, Dr. Jenelle S. Miller, Dr. Daniel T. Milton, Dr. Brian P. Mulherin and Dr. Deng Zhang, welcome Medical Oncologist M. Sarfraz Nawaz, MD to the practice. HOI, an American Oncology Network, LLC (AON) partner, has six locations, including two offices in metropolitan Indianapolis, and additional offices in Logansport, Lebanon, Noblesville, and Fishers, Indiana. Dr. Nawaz is seeing patients at the office in Indianapolis and at the Logansport and Lebanon locations.

Dr. Nawaz received his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree from Nishtar Medical College in Pakistan. He completed his internal medicine residency at Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska. He then completed a Certificate in Translational and Clinical Investigation at the University of Iowa followed by a fellowship in hematology and medical oncology at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. He is Board certified in internal medicine.

“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Nawaz to our practice. He is passionate about quality improvement and patient-provider communication and is a tremendous addition to the community of Indianapolis and surrounding areas,” said Hematology Oncology of Indiana Senior Physician Dr. Raymond Harwood.

AON CEO Brad Prechtl, MBA added, “It is a pleasure to welcome Dr. Nawaz to Hematology Oncology of Indiana and the American Oncology Network. As a community oncology practice, we remain committed to providing patients with state-of-the-art technology and personalized care conveniently located close to home.”

“Dr. Nawaz has an impressive background and brings to the practice and our network a special interest in patient safety,” said AON President & COO Todd Schonherz. “He is passionate about providing high-quality cancer care in a timely and safe manner to ensure the best possible outcomes for his patients.”

Dr. Stephen Orman, AON Board Chairman, stated “Dr. Nawaz is a highly dedicated medical oncologist and an excellent addition to our growing physician network in the central Indiana area.”

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About American Oncology Network, LLC: (AONcology.com)
American Oncology Network, LLC (AON) is an alliance of physicians and seasoned healthcare leaders partnering to ensure the long-term success of community oncology. Launched in 2018, the rapidly expanding AON network represents 88 physicians and 55 nurse practitioners and physician assistants practicing across 15 states. The executive management team of AON encompasses more than three decades of oncology practice management experience, enabling physicians to focus on what matters most – providing the highest quality care for patients.

The organization provides unique and comprehensive protocols for managing administrative procedures and enhancing ancillary services for its affiliates. AON is able to aggregate volume and attain economies of scale, as it guides its member physicians and practices through the transition to value-based reimbursement models that improve the patient experience and help to reduce the per-capita cost of cancer care.

AON also provides a unique model of physician led, community-based oncology management. With services such as a centralized specialty pharmacy, diagnostics, pathology, fully integrated electronic medical records, a care management team and a variety of financial assistance programs, an alliance with AON ensures that patients’ experiences will be at the very pinnacle of cancer care today.

About Hematology Oncology of Indiana: (www.HematologyOncologyIN.com)
Specialists in the diagnosis and treatment of blood disorders and cancer, Hematology Oncology of Indiana (HOI) has six offices in the Central Indiana area. Hematology Oncology of Indiana is the Hematology/Oncology practice of Ruemu Birhiray, MD, Jenelle Miller, MD, Daniel Milton, MD, Raymond Harwood, MD, Brian Mulherin, MD, Deng Zhang, MD, PhD, and M. Sarfraz Nawaz, MD. The practice’s highly trained and experienced clinical staff includes Nurse Practitioners, Oncology-Certified Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses and Medical Assistants. In addition, HOI’s Financial Counselors assist patients in navigating through insurance benefits coverage and identifying financial assistance options and opportunities.

For More Information, Contact:
American Oncology Network, LLC
Caroline Hewitt, Director of  Marketing
Caroline.Hewitt@AONcology.com
(239) 789.2341