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Pheo Para Alliance Recognizes University of Michigan Health as Center of Excellence

12/15/21

Pheo Para Alliance, a patient advocacy organization dedicated to supporting those with pheochromocytoma (pheo) and paraganglioma (para), a rare neuroendocrine tumor, has designated the University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center, a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, as a Pheo Para Center of Excellence. The Center of Excellence Program recognizes institutions worldwide for providing cutting-edge, quality, multi-disciplinary care and participating in pheo and para and related research.  The announcement of this center, brings the total list of Clinical Centers and Centers of Excellence to ten, with more announcements coming soon.

The University of Michigan Health Pheo Para Center of Excellence, has its home in two core clinics, the Cancer Genetics Clinic and the Endocrine Oncology Clinic. The Centers Co-Directors, Tobias Else, M.D., and Jenae Osborne, C.G.C., have been working with families with hereditary endocrine neoplasia syndromes and hereditary paraganglioma syndromes for more than a decade. Because a multi-disciplinary approach is critical to high-quality pheo para care, the Center includes specialties such as otolaryngology and skull base surgery led by Greg Basura, M.D., Ph.D., endocrine surgery led by David Hughes, M.D., medical oncology led by Frank Worden, M.D., and nuclear medicine led by Ka Kit Wong, M.B.B.S., in addition to colleagues in radiology, pathology, radiation oncology and pediatric surgery.

Jenae Osborne, Co-Director, states, “our team has longstanding experience in caring for patients with pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma by providing the most up-to-date diagnosis and treatment. Patients are discussed at our regular Cancer Genetics and Endocrine Tumor Board meetings.  In addition, we have a dedicated SDHx-hereditary paraganglioma Tumor Board, led by Greg Basura, M.D. We regard all families affected with a genetic mutation as our patients.”

In addition to patient care, the Center strives for excellence in clinical and basic science research. Dr. Tobias Else, “thanks to our patients’ enthusiasm, we have been able to participate in several multi-center research projects defining the molecular and clinical landscape of these tumors. Partnering with Pheo Para Alliance as a Center of Excellence is not only a recognition of our clinical excellence but also further solidifies the relationship of patients, clinicians and researchers to find new avenues of diagnosis, screening and therapy.”

About the Endocrine Oncology Clinic 

The Endocrine Oncology Clinic at the University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center cares for patients with benign and cancerous endocrine tumors. It’s one of the first clinics in the country specifically focused on patients with endocrine neoplasia, who often need multidisciplinary care. Patients are seen by endocrinologists, endocrine surgeons, medical oncologists, genetic counselors and radiation oncology. The clinic is located in Ann Arbor at the Rogel Cancer Center, part of Michigan Medicine.

About the Cancer Genetics Clinic           

The Cancer Genetic Clinic at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center provides diagnostic and long-term care and surveillance for patients with any hereditary cancer predisposition syndrome. The multidisciplinary team of physicians (genetics, endocrinology, gastroenterology) work closely with our team of excellent genetic counselors with long-term experience in care for families with familial cancer syndromes.