The James Cancer Diagnostic Center has quickly become a valuable resource for the Central Ohio community and beyond. “Since we opened [in June 2020] we’ve had about 7,000 total visits … and about 40 percent have been diagnosed with some type of cancer,” said Tina Sowers, the Center’s administrator.

In this episode we are joined by Raquel Reinbolt, MD, medical director of the Center, Sowers, and Rupa Ghosh-Berkebile and Victoria Krogg, the Center’s two advanced practice providers. The Center opened in the midst of the COVID epidemic. “The goal was to reach more patients and open a new front door to the James,” said Reinbolt, MD. She added people without a primary care physician can “self-refer to us and we can accommodate telemedicine visits. This leads to earlier diagnoses and better outcomes and quality of life. That’s why we’re such strong advocates for screenings and for not ignoring symptoms.”

The Center is located on the 5th floor of the James Cancer Hospital on The Ohio State University campus. Suspecting you might have cancer, and then an actual diagnosis, can lead to heightened levels of anxiety. Ghosh-Berkebile and Krogg excel at helping patients understand their cancer diagnosis and to reduce some of their fears. “We help the patients understand what’s happening to them and that we care about them,” Ghosh-Berkebile said.Krogg uses a whiteboard to describe complicated cancer and medical procedures. “It really helps, especially for patients who aren’t familiar with medical terms, which is most patients. This job is rewarding because we help patients during a vulnerable time in their lives.” “And we let them know there is hope and we will get you to the right people at the James,” Ghosh-Berkebile added. The James Cancer Diagnostic Center is one of the first in the country, and other major cancer centers have taken notice. “Several of these cancer centers have reached out to us,” Sowers said. “They want to know how we’re doing it and they want to learn from us.”