Ongoing Research Studies to Improve
Patient Care
Health policy research, which examines how health care is delivered, how to manage costs and how to improve quality, has long been and remains an important focus of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation's (PAMF) Research Institute. In early 2009, the Research Institute initiated planning for two new research studies focused on improving care for women with breast cancer.
The first project, made possible by a gift from business leader Richard Levy, Ph.D., and his wife Susan—both longtime community philanthropists has enabled a unique partnership between the Research Institute and the Stanford University School of Medicine. The three-year study seeks to improve outcomes for women with breast cancer by following more than 300 patients on their journey through cancer treatment at PAMF or Stanford University Hospital.
The Thomas R. Mitchell Memorial Fund, an endowment fund named for an accomplished photographer who was treated for cancer at PAMF in the 1990s, is providing financial support for a health services delivery study within PAMF on the role of informed decision-making for women with breast cancer.
"From the moment a person is diagnosed with cancer, there are choices to be made," Research Institute Director Harold S. "Hal" Luft, Ph.D., said "We are interested in looking at how we can provide unbiased information in a form that is meaningful to patients, so they can make the best decisions."
To assist in this study, the Research Institute has engaged Jeffrey Belkora, Ph.D., as a consulting investigator. Dr. Belkora is currently director of decision services at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center's Breast Care Center and assistant professor in UCSF's Department of Surgery and Institute for Health Policy Studies.
"Breast cancer is an important area to invest in, because it affects so many people and there is such a willing spirit of collaboration among clinicians, researchers and patients," Dr. Belkora said. "Breast cancer specialists are ready to shift the old paradigm of doctors making the decisions to one of shared decision making that engages patients as full participants in their care." Dr. Belkora explained the overarching goal of both studies is to encourage partnership between patients and physicians, then apply findings to improve clinical outcomes.
"There is tremendous creativity and collaboration at work in both of these projects," Dr. Luft said. "There is so much more to discover, and with flexible funding from donors we can continue to pursue new knowledge to benefit patients and advance the entire field of cancer research."
The Vital Role of Clinical Research Trials
Susie Brain is a breast cancer survivor whose post-cancer journey led to a new sense of purpose as a patient advocate. Since 2005, Susie has volunteered with Breast Cancer Connections, a local nonprofit group that offers free services to patients and their families. In addition, she has attended more than 30 trainings and conferences on cancer education and advocacy, and has lobbied on Capitol Hill in support of the Cancer Screening, Treatment and Survivorship Act.
In 2007, Susie was invited to join the Palo Alto Medical Foundation's (PAMF) Patient-Focused Cancer Care Committee, helping to develop the survivorship program that supports cancer patients as they transition back to normal life. "patient's voice is being heard at PAMF," Susie said. "PAMF listens, and then acts."
As a committed advocate for cancer patients, Susie recognizes the vital role of clinical trials in cancer research. "You never know when cancer is going to hit home," she said. "Cancer touches the lives of one out of every three people, yet fewer than 5 percent of patients participate in clinical trials."
As a natural next step in her cancer advocacy work, Susie now hopes to help educate patients to dispel myths about clinical trials. In early 2009, PAMF oncologist Peter Yu invited Susie to meet with the Research Institute's Clinical Research staff.
"We asked Susie to form a patient panel of cancer survivors who were treated at PAMF, so they can tell us which clinical trials hold the most interest to them," Dr. Yu said. Eventually, Dr. Yu hopes to create a "Buddy Program" so that PAMF patients who are interested in participating in a clinical trial can talk directly with patients who have already enrolled in one.
In the meantime, PAMF patients who want to learn more about clinical trials are encouraged to talk with their physician. "Clinical trials are the only way we are ever going to develop new drugs and treatments for cancer," Susie said. "Cancer patients need to know they can make a real difference."
Back to top
