WINGS in Laredo Texas

Doctors Hospital of Laredo given award

Dr. Nancy Davidson, Immediate Past President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), presented the Clinical Trials Participation Awards this past Sunday, May 31, 2009 in Orlando, Florida at the ASCO Annual Meeting. Only eight hospitals were chosen in the United States. Doctors Hospital of Laredo was not only amongst the eight hospitals chosen, but also the only hospital from Texas.
  The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is the world’s leading professional organization representing physicians who treat people with cancer. ASCO members set the standard for patient care worldwide and lead the way in carrying out clinical research aimed at improving the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. ASCO's efforts are also directed toward advocating for policies that provide access to high-quality care for all patients with cancer and at supporting the increased funding for clinical and translational research. Over 30,000 physicians from 125 countries worldwide attended this year’s meeting.
  Without clinical trials, there would be significantly fewer advances in cancer treatment. Since 2003, the Clinical Trial Participation Awards have publicly honored community practices that have demonstrated outstanding work in the area of patient clinical trials. Doctors Hospital of Laredo received the award in recognition of its active, ongoing participation in clinical trials in the private practice community and the role it plays in the development and refinement of cancer therapies. Dr. Gary W. Unzeitig, Breast Surgeon and Principal Investigator of Clinical Trials at Doctors Hospital of Laredo, and Dr. Jessica Guajardo, Director of Cancer Center at Doctors Hospital of Laredo, were present to receive this prestigious award.
   Nominations for this award were received from many of the NCI Cooperative Groups, the ASCO Clinical Practice Committee, the Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP), and several community-based oncology research networks. All of the nominated practices were invited to apply for this award, and their applications were peer-reviewed by a subcommittee of the ASCO Cancer Research Committee in order to select the eight award recipients.
  The award criteria were based on a number of factors, including patient accrual to clinical trials over a three-year period. Special consideration was given to practices that increased clinical trial participation among under-represented populations and to practices that used innovative techniques to overcome barriers to the enrollment of cancer patients onto clinical trials.

Pictured from left to right are: Dr. Jessica Guajardo, Director of Cancer Center Doctors Hospital of Laredo; Dr. Jane Unzeitig; Dr. Gary W. Unzeitig, Principal Investigator; Dr. Nancy Davidson, Immediate Past President of ASCO.

On Thursday, Dec. 4, WINGS announced the establishment of the Laredo chapter of the WINGS organization.

   WINGS (Women Involved in Nurturing, Giving, Sharing) is a non-profit organization which provides comprehensive breast cancer treatment services to uninsured breast cancer patients. WINGS has served Central and South Texas for more than nine years, and now, WINGS Laredo is the newest chapter to bring these life-saving services directly to the women and men of Laredo.

   With the support of the local medical community, WINGS Laredo provides no-cost services to uninsured and underinsured breast cancer patients, including diagnostic mammograms, surgical biopsies, chemotherapy and radiation, surgery, laboratory testing, reconstructive surgery, medications, prosthesis and medical care. In short, WINGS Laredo will pay the cost of every medical need that a breast cancer patient may require, so that he or she can concentrate on their cure and not the financial burdens associated with the disease.

   WINGS Laredo is able to provide these services at no cost to breast cancer patients by negotiating reduced medical rates from various medical providers, not only in Laredo, but throughout Central and South Texas. WINGS Laredo will pay these reduced rates directly to the medical providers. Currently, there are over 240 physicians and medical facilities participating in the WINGS program. Local doctors and facilities participating in the WINGS Provider Network include Dr. Gary Unzeitig (breast surgery), Dr. Eduardo Miranda, Dr. Cesar Tula, and Dr. Andres Soriano (medical oncology), Dr. Manuel Jovel and Dr. Sylvia Gutierrez (radiation oncology), Dr. Gus Ramos (pathology) and Dr. Winder Vasquez (pulmonology). Facilities include both Doctors Hospital of Laredo and Laredo Medical Center. To date, four Laredo women have benefitted from WINGS' services, and with the community's help, dozens more will be given this essential assistance.

   Please contact Jessica Guajardo at 523-2658 or Jessica.guajardo@uhsinc.com for more information.