CONNECTIONSNEWS AND HEALTH INFORMATION FROM SUMMIT MEDICAL GROUP summitmedicalgroup.com

healthyWINTER 2017

The First Breast Cancer Blood Test Is

NOW AVAILABLE

Cancer Care Discoveries Through Clinical Trials

Page 3

MarginProbe: Improving

Breast Cancer Surgery

2 healthy connections ◆ winter 2017

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Welcome to 2017! One of the exciting benefits to our patients of our relationship with MD

Anderson Cancer Center is the access we can provide to world-renowned treatment protocols, extensive clinical trials, and cutting-edge research. With 24 trials offered by the Summit Medical Group MD Anderson Cancer Center, and many more conducted through our Summit Medical Group Department of Medical Research, we can offer patients breakthrough tests and innovative treatments for many health conditions.

Find out more about a new blood test to detect breast cancer on page 3, and our cancer clinical trials on pages 4 and 5. In addition, we offer a new device trial for women who have undergone a lumpectomy and a new

non-surgical treatment for obesity. See page 7 for the details.

Please save the date, Saturday, May 6, 2017, for the Summit Medical Group Foundation Annual Gala. This year, our event will be hosted by Seth Meyers, of NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers. It’s sure to be a wonderful evening and I hope you join us! For more information, see the ad on page 8 or contact info@ smg-foundation.org.

Yours in good health,

A Message to Our Co mmunity

Jeffrey Le Benger, MD Chairman of the Board and CEO Summit Medical Group

Now Offering the First Blood Test

for Breast CancerF inding out your mammogram

looks suspicious can be distressing and confusing news. Nearly one in

every five women who come in for a mammogram have questionable results and are sent for follow-up studies. For some, this includes a minimally invasive breast biopsy — a procedure that uses a thin needle to remove and examine pieces of the breast tissue.

Reducing the Need for Biopsies Physicians at Summit Medical Group hope to reduce the number of women who have to undergo breast biopsies. The Breast Care Center is now offering a new cutting-edge blood test called Videssa® Breast that can detect the presence or absence of breast cancer in women with difficult-to-interpret imaging results. Summit Medical Group was the first breast center in the tristate area to offer the test to select patients that meet the criteria. “As imaging technology has

become more sophisticated, radiolo-gists are finding lesions (abnormalities in the breast tissue) at smaller sizes. As a result, we are finding more breast cancers, but we are also finding more benign lesions too,” says Winnie Polen, DO, an attending breast surgeon at Summit Medical Group, and the prin-cipal investigator on the clinical trial. “Videssa is exciting because it enables us to obtain information about lesions in the breast tissue without having an invasive procedure.”

Effectiveness of VidessaBefore the blood test was available, the standard of care was to put up to nine out of 10 women through a biopsy that ended up showing benign results.

A clinical trial found that Videssa had a sensitivity and specificity of more than 80 percent when determining if cancer was present. Furthermore, the blood test reduced the number of recom-

mended biopsies by 63 percent. “The beauty of Videssa is that it can signifi-cantly decrease the number of women who undergo biopsies while identifying the same number of cancers,” says John Cunningham, MD, surgical service line director at Summit Medical Group. “Bi-opsies are an important diagnostic tool that save lives, but it is essential that we find a better way to determine when to use them.”

Is It Right for You? Dr. Polen says physicians at the Summit Medical Group Breast Care Center will work with patients to determine if Videssa is right for them. Women who are eligible for the test have blood drawn and sent to the laboratory. By combining the Videssa results with imaging tests, medical history, family history, and a physical exam, physicians can better determine if a biopsy is needed.

Even though it is widely known mam-mograms can produce false-positive results, Dr. Polen says they remain the gold standard for breast cancer screen-ing. She urges all women to have an annual breast exam starting at the age of 20 and to begin discussing initiating annual breast imaging at the age of 40. Women with a strong family history of cancer should talk to their physician even earlier.

CANCER DETECTION

Ask yo ur physician if Videssa is right for you. The blood test is most helpful for women who have mammogram results that fall into questionable categories: BI-RADS 3 (probably benign) and BI-RADS 4 (suspicious).

908-273-4300 ◆ summitmedicalgroup.com 3

A Message to Our Co mmunity

CANCER RESEARCH

4 healthy connections ◆ winter 2017

H ow do physicians find new treatments for cancer? The answer is usually clinical

trials—a form of medical research that allows doctors to safely and effectively study specific health issues or test new medications, devices, therapies, drugs combinations, and dosages with the help of study volunteers.

Patient Benefits Summit Medical Group MD Anderson Cancer Center currently offers 24 state-of-the-art clinical trials for patients with breast, lung, and gastric cancers, leukemia, and lymphoma, among others. From discovering therapies that slow down cancer cell growth,

drugs that reduce the debilitating side effects of chemotherapy, and advanced surgical tools that more precisely carve out tumors, many patients benefit from exploring these new treatments which are not yet available through standard treatment.

“We are bringing the latest science directly to our community. As a result of our new partnership with MD Anderson, our clinical trials platform is expanding dramatically and we are able to offer even more promising therapies to our patients in a convenient setting that is close to home,” says William T. DeRosa, DO, chief of oncology at Summit Medical Group MD Anderson. “In the new

era of cancer care, we are constantly learning directly from research trials located here and at MD Anderson in Houston, bringing that information back to our practice and changing how we treat cancer to reflect the latest thinking and medical breakthroughs.”

The Immune System’s Role Many of these clinical trials involve an exciting area of cancer treatment known as immune-oncology. This field involves taking advantage of an individual’s immune system, which is designed to identify and attack foreign cells, to fight their particular tumor.

“We have learned that even the same type of cancer varies greatly

Clinical Trials: The Engine of Discovery in Cancer Care

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Ho w to Enroll in a Clinical TrialSummit Medical Group MD Anderson Cancer Center has open clinical trials in cancer. Summit Medical Group also has clinical trials in diabetes, allergy/asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and hypertension. For a list of current trial opportunities, please speak to your physician, visit www.summitmedicalgroup.com/service/Clinical-Trials, or contact our Clinical Trials Coordinator at 908-277-8747.

Why Research Participants Make a Difference

Study volunteers are the cornerstone of cancer research, says Gary Pien, MD, PhD, Director for Medical Research at Summit Medical Group. Without them, the drugs we rely on today to treat cancer would not be available. Furthermore, new medications would never come onto the market to help future patients because we would never know if a drug is safe or a device works.

Many participants join clinical trials because the current standard of treatment is not effective or tolerated well for their type of cancer. Others simply want to advance medical science. While every clinical trial is designed with the hope of being beneficial for patients, there is no guarantee that the treatment being tested will work. New drugs or technology can also have unknown side effects or risks.

“Patients who generously donate their time to research are the clinical heroes who advance medical knowledge and improve everyone’s lives,” says Kelly Ritter, LPN, lead research coordinator in oncology. “We have to test these medications in a real-world patient setting in several populations and different scenarios to determine if a new agent really works. Volunteers allow us to develop best practices that improve the quality and length of life for everyone dealing with a diagnosis of cancer.”

Participation is entirely voluntary and patients can withdraw from a study at any time. Clinical trials typically ask patients to keep daily diaries of symptoms, take study medications as instructed, have additional blood work or imaging studies, and come in for frequent study visits to report on the effects of a treatment. There is no cost to the patient for any additional tests.

depending on the biological profile of the individual,” explains Dr. DeRosa. “As we understand more about the immune system—including how it interacts with the body and what signals it uses to communicate—we are learning how to manipulate the patient’s system and put it to work in fighting these tumors.”

Clinical Trial Eligibility Our oncologists work with patients to determine if they are eligible for any open clinical trials. Each trial has specific criteria, such as the volunteer’s age, type and stage of cancer, along with whether or not they have been treated with certain drugs in the past. Patients are always encouraged to ask about any research studies that interest them.

There are many safeguards in place to protect research participants. Before a clinical trial can begin, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and an institutional research board (IRB) must approve the study. The IRB ensures that the trial is being conducted according to all regulations in order to protect patient safety.

Tracking Results During a study, the researchers track any changes the participants may experience as a result of the new intervention. Many trials assign patients to receive placebos—pills

or injections that do not contain medicine—as a way to test if a new therapy really works. However, cancer clinical trials at Summit Medical Group MD Anderson only use placebos in addition to the standard medication that a patient would receive.

“Without medical research and clinical trials we would never get any closer to the next cure for cancer or diabetes,” says Gary Pien, MD, PhD, Director for Medical Research at Summit Medical Group MD Anderson. “The information gathered during a study is used to help the FDA and the sponsor—for example, a government organization like the National Institutes of Health or a pharmaceutical company—determine whether the intervention was safe and effective, and decide whether the treatment should move forward and be developed for widespread use.”

Not all studies test for the same information. Screening trials look for ways to find cancer while prevention research tests methods to lower the risk of developing disease. Most cancer studies are interventional trials because they examine whether or not a new therapy is beneficial. In addition, quality-of-life trials explore ways to make patients living with cancer more comfortable.

Summit Medical Group Welcomes 10 New Doctors

Robert Altman, MD, FACCCardiac ElectrophysiologyLivingston973-436-1330Berkeley Heights973-436-1330

Giant Lin, MDOtologyFlorham Park973-404-9970

Jeffrey Okun, MDGastroenterologyClifton973-777-7911

Jaclyn Brancato, DOInternal MedicineClifton973-777-7911

Darlene G. Gibbon, MD, FACOG Gynecological OncologyLivingston973-679-4546Berkeley Heights908-273-4300

Marianna Shimmelfarb, MDFamily MedicineMontclair973-744-8511

Molly Gabel, MDRadiation OncologyBerkeley Heights908-673-7158

Leonid Topper, MD, MRCPCHPediatric NeurologyLivingston908-769-2574Warren908-769-2574

Silpa Gadiraju, MDEndocrinologyMorristown973-775-5115

Estelle Williams, MDEmergency MedicineBerkeley Heights908-277-8880

6 healthy connections ◆ winter 2017

Looking fo r a Physician?Check out our Physician Finder online at www.summitmedicalgroup.com and scroll to “Find a Practitioner.”

On Tuesday, October 25, 2016, Summit Medical Group broke ground on its 130,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Summit Medical Group MD Anderson Cancer Center in Florham Park. Left to Right: Rockefeller Group SVP and Regional Development Officer, Clark Machemer; Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Health, Cathleen Bennett; Florham Park Mayor Mark Taylor, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Summit Medical Group Chairman and CEO, Jeffrey Le Benger, MD; Vice President Operations of the MD Anderson Cancer Network, Margaret Row, MD, MB; and Cooper University Health Care Chairman George E. Norcross III.

OUR NEWS

SAVE & POSTCalendar of Events

Winter 2017

All lectures are held at Summit Medical Group, 1 Diamond Hill Road, Lawrence Pavilion, Conference Center (near Café), Berkeley Heights, N.J. 07922, unless otherwise noted. For your convenience, please park in lot 1 or 2 and enter through the Lawrence Pavilion. Reservations required: 908-277-8889 or summitmedicalgroup.com/events.

Free LecturesJanuary Glaucoma AwarenessThursday, January 5, 7 p.m.Hamed Lari, MDLearn about glaucoma screenings and who is at risk. Diagnosis and treatment options will be discussed. Educational materials will be provided to facilitate understanding and living with glaucoma.

All You Need to Know About Atrial FibrillationWednesday, January 25, 7 p.m.Jonathan Steinberg, MDAtrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia, particularly as people age. It can cause stroke, heart failure, and many symptoms. There are very effective therapies today, including anticoagulants and catheter ablation.

FebruarySleeping Better, NaturallyWednesday, February 1, 7 p.m.Marianna Shimelfarb, MDHaving trouble falling or staying asleep at night? Join us to learn about natural ways to promote healthy, sound, restorative sleep.

Sleep Apnea—2017 Update on Evaluation and ManagementWednesday, February 22, 7 p.m.Marc L. Benton, MD, FCCP, FAASMJoin us for a comprehensive review of the current state-of-the-art evaluation and treatment options for sleep apnea. This will include the physiology and importance of managing sleep apnea, including demographics, methods of evaluation, treatment options, and improving the patient experience.

MarchUnderstanding Medicare Advantage and Your Medicare OptionsThursday, March 9, 7 p.m.Presented by Horizon BCBSAre you recently retired or approaching retirement and reviewing changes to your health benefits? Learn more about your Medicare coverage options, such as Medicare Advantage, as well as how to enroll, when to act, and strategies for maximizing your benefits. Representatives from Horizon BCBSNJ, United Healthcare, Aetna, and SMG Billing Office staff will also be present.

Anxiety: It’s All in Your HeadWednesday, March 22, 7 p.m.Nicole Swain, MA, LPC, NCC, ACTEveryone gets nervous or anxious from time to time. For some people, however, anxiety becomes so frequent and forceful that it begins to interrupt their lives. This lecture will focus on differentiating between common worries and clinical anxiety, and provide information about how to address it.

Down with Cholesterol!Wednesday, March 29, 7 p.m.Andrew Beamer, MD, FACCHigh cholesterol numbers can seem to come out of nowhere. If you think about it, though, you’ve probably picked up some bad habits when it comes to diet, weight, and exercise. Take charge by getting the latest on what medicines might be needed and how some changes in lifestyle can help make a difference.

Series Considering Weight-Loss Surgery? Does being overweight or obese have a negative effect on your life? Learn how weight-loss surgery can help you improve your health, feel better, and get your life back! Join us for a review of surgical options, including discussion about lifestyle changes to keep you on track with a healthy weight after weight-loss surgery. To register, please call 908-277-8889 or visit summitmedicalgroup.com/events.

Robert Bell, MD, Bariatric SurgeonBerkeley Heights Campus, Lawrence Pavilion Conference CenterMondays, January 9, February 13, and March 13, 7 p.m.Florham Park Campus, 140 Park Ave., Conference RoomWednesdays, January 18, February 15, and March 15, 7 p.m.Patrick LeMasters, MD, Bariatric SurgeonLivingston Campus, 75 E. Northfield Road, CaféMondays, January 9, February 6, and March 6, 7 p.m.Clifton Campus, 6 Brighton Road, BoardroomTuesdays, January 10, February 21, and March 14, 7 p.m.

Classes and events take place at Summit Medical Group, 1 Diamond Hill Road, Berkeley Heights, N.J. 07922, unless otherwise noted.

SAVE & POSTCalendar of Events

Winter 2017

Breast Cancer Support ProgramsAll Summit Medical Group patients are welcome to participate. Registration is not required. Berkeley Heights programs meet in the Breast Care Center Waiting Area. For more information on either location, please call 908-277-8670.

Breast Cancer Support Group for Newly Diagnosed Patients (within one year of diagnosis)  Mondays, January 9, February 6, and March 6, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Carol Boyer, APN-C, Breast Nurse Specialist, Elizabeth Nikol, MSW, LCSW, ACTThis program is for those who have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. Patients are able to share concerns and advice about their experiences with breast cancer treatments and more.

Breast Cancer Survivorship Group for Patients Who Are a Year or More Post-diagnosisMondays, January 23, February 27, and March 20, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Carol Boyer, APN-C, Breast Nurse Specialist, Elizabeth Nikol, MSW, LCSW, ACTThis group is for breast cancer survivors who wish to receive support from others with similar experiences. It’s a forum for breast cancer survivors to share information and help each other manage common concerns. We alternate between traditional support groups and small group lectures of interest to survivors.

Breast Cancer Support Group at Florham Park Campus140 Park Ave., Room 1706 (near café), Florham Park, NJ 07932Tuesdays, January 10, February 7, and March 7, noonKaren Loewen, RN, Breast Nurse Navigator, Margaret Clarke, LPCThis group is for all Breast Cancer Patients—both newly diagnosed and survivors within 2 years.

Look Good, Feel Better (Sponsored by American Cancer Society)Monday, February 6, 10 a.m. to noonThis free program teaches beauty techniques to women who are undergoing cancer treatment to help them combat the appearance-related side effects of radiation and chemotherapy. Sign up opened in September 2016. Visit lookgoodfeelbetter.org to find out more. The group meets at the Summit Medical Group, Lawrence Pavilion, Room C1-100, 1 Diamond Hill Road, Berkeley Heights. Please park in lot 1 or 2.

Support GroupsBariatric Surgery Support GroupRobert Bell, MD, Bariatric SurgeonBerkeley Heights Campus, Lawrence Pavilion Conference CenterMondays, January 9, February 6, and March 6, 5:30 p.m.Patrick LeMasters, MD, Bariatric SurgeonLivingston Campus, 75 E. Northfield Road, CaféMondays, January 9, February 6, and March 6, 5 p.m.Join our bariatric surgeons to share concerns, setbacks, and triumphs with weight-loss surgery. Get answers about recovery and ways to manage lifestyle changes. Call 908-277-8950 to learn more.

Living with a Vestibular Disorder?Wednesday, February 1, 6 p.m. Berkeley Heights Campus, Lawrence Pavilion, Café Dina Leyden, PT, certified in vestibular rehabilitation Mike Likier, PhD, PsychologistShare experiences and concerns and learn strategies to manage and cope with your symptoms.Reservations are required. To register, call 908-277-8889 or visit summitmedicalgroup.com/events.

ClassesBasic YogaWednesdays, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Chair YogaMondays, 11 a.m. to noonDina Leyden, PT, teaches both Basic and Chair YogaLocated in the Berkeley Heights Campus, Lawrence Pavilion, Conference Center (near Café). A 10-class card ($100) is good at either class. To register for either class, call 908-277-8936.

Tai ChiThursdays, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.Risa Silverstein, MS, LAc, MSWLocated in the Berkeley Heights Campus, Lawrence Pavilion, Conference Center (near Café). The cost for 10 classes is $80. To register, call 908-277-8936.

Clinical trials are ways the newest advancements in drugs and medical devices can be tested. For more information about enrolling in the MarginProbe clinical trial, please call and schedule a consultation with a breast surgeon at 908-277-8770.

Are You a Candidate for MarginProbe?

I t is stressful enough to undergo a lumpectomy — a surgery that removes cancerous tissue from

the breast — but for about one-third of all patients, the process is doubly taxing. This large percentage of women requires follow-up surgery to remove the cancerous cells located at the outer edge or “margin” of the breast tumor.

“Surgeons can’t see these micro-scopic cancer cells at the margin of the tumor,” says Winnie Polen, DO, an attending breast surgeon at

New Treatment Helps Jump-Start Weight Loss

If your 2017 goals include losing weight, Summit Medical Group offers a new treatment to help get you started.

Obalon, the intragastric balloon system, assists with weight loss by helping you to feel full, so you eat less. Obalon is nonsurgical and reversible. It consists of 3 lightweight balloons that are placed in the stomach over a 6-month treatment period.

You are a candidate for Obalon if have a body mass index (BMI) from 30 to 40 kg/m2, are 22 years or older, and are willing to follow a 12-month program. The program begins with the placement of the Obalon Balloons in your stomach for up to six months. Your SMG physicians will help you with a healthy diet and exercise program during the time that you have the balloons and for six months after the balloons are removed.

For more information on Obalon, please call SMG Gastroenterology at 908-277-8940.

the Breast Care Center. “In the past, surgeons relied on their experience to know how much tissue to remove.”

Now, a breakthrough device — the MarginProbe system — helps to ac-curately target cancerous cells. The MarginProbe, which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administra-tion (FDA) in 2012, is being offered to patients as part of a clinical trial at Sum-mit Medical Group.

“With the MarginProbe system, surgeons get real-time feedback during a lumpectomy,” explains Dr. Polen.

Visions of HopeCancer journeys reflecting inspiration and hope, created by Susan Hope Schaffer

And a special sister show:Voices of the Journey Art by and for cancer survivors

Selections of artwork will also be on loan from Lilly Oncology on Canvas, a partnership between Lilly Oncology and The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship

Opening reception Friday, March 3, 2017, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with refreshments and entertainmentLawrence Pavilion 1st floor exhibit area and Café conference centerA portion of the proceeds will be donated to Pathways Women’s Cancer Support.

SPECIAL ART OPENING

908-273-4300 ◆ summitmedicalgroup.com 7

“The probe helps the surgeon determine if all the cancerous tissue has been removed and reduces the chance that a patient will need another surgery by over 50 percent.”

The MarginProbe includes both a console and a probe. The probe emits a radiofrequency signal that helps identify cancerous cells. The console analyzes these measurements and displays the readings to the surgeon. If one of the margins has tumor cells present, the sur-geon will remove more tissue while the patient is still asleep.

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HEALTHY CONNECTIONS Jeffrey Le Benger, MD, chairman and CEO of Summit Medical Group. Healthy Connections is published by Summit Medical Group. The information within this publication is intended to educate readers about subjects pertinent to their health and is not meant to be a substitute for consultation with a personal physician. To add or remove your name from our mailing list, please visit www.summitmedicalgroup.com/site/unsubscribe or call 908-977-9500.

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Take Your Meds—And Take Them Right!

Following a medication regimen—or medication adherence—can be a challenge. And it can have serious consequences.

Why don’t patients take their meds? According to medica-tion expert Gwen Egloff, PharmD, BCPS, a clinical ambulatory care pharmacist at Summit Medical Group, the reasons vary and include: • Forgetting to take medication• The high cost of brand-name medications• Having to take multiple medications multiple times per day• Frequent trips to the pharmacy• Not wanting to take medications• Fear of side effects

Tips for Managing MedicationsDr. Egloff offers the following tips for taking medication properly:• Fill and refill your prescriptions on time. • Ask your doctor for a 90-day prescription to refill less often. • Use a pillbox to organize medications.• Try an app, like mymeds, to help manage medications and coor-

dinate care. • Ask your doctor to explain medications in person and keep an

up-to-date medication list to share with all providers. • Ask your doctor about generic alternatives and combination

medications, which contain two or more medications in one convenient pill.

Dr. Egloff suggests participating in education programs, which can explain what medication is and why patients should take it.

Be sure to listen to two special SMGRadio podcast programs covering important topics in medication:• Taking Medications on Time, by Gwen Egloff, PharmD, BCPS• Generic Versus Brand Name Medications, by Laura Balsamini,

PharmD, BCPS Listen Well at summitmedicalgroup.com.