Posted on: 09/21/2005
North Shore-LIJ's (NY) Establishes Neuro-Oncology Program
September 21, 2005
Contact: Betty Olt
(516) 465-2645
Alexis Demopoulos, MD, Appointed to Head New Program
GREAT NECK, NY - Recognizing the need for patients to get the best treatment for brain tumors and cancer close to home, the North Shore-Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Health System has established a new, multi-disciplinary neuro-oncology program at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) in Manhasset. Heading the program is Alexis Demopoulos, MD, director of neuro-oncology at NSUH and the only hospital-based neuro-oncologist on Long Island.
Neuro-oncologists are neurologists who also have specialized training in cancer care. They focus on treating patients with brain tumors and the neurological problems after cancer treatment. Patients under the care of a neuro-oncologist may receive chemotherapy, radiation, surgery or a combination of these modalities.
Dr. Demopoulos comes to the health system from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York City, where he was a staff neurologist. He has broad experience treating primary brain tumors and the diagnosis and treatment of the neurologic complications of cancer, including cancer metastasis to the brain and other dysfunction of the brain spine and peripheral nerves. His special interests include clinical trials for gliomas, a type of brain tumor; translational research, which brings science from the laboratory directly to the bedside; and the development of new drug regimens for leptomeningeal metastases - cancer that spreads widely into the nervous system from another part of the body.
In his new position at NSUH, Dr. Demopoulos will serve as a resource for patients and physicians. He will be a "point person" for patients, coordinating care among multiple disciplines at the hospital such as oncology, surgery, neuroradiology, radiation oncology, and neuropathology.
"Dr. Demopoulos is a dedicated neuro-oncologist and his forte is patient care," said Ronald Kanner, MD, chief of neurology of NSUH and LIJ. "With the rapid changes in the field of neuro-oncology, it was crucial for the health system to have the right specialist to lead our neuro-oncology program. Patients will benefit enormously from Dr. Demopoulos' expertise."
"It's tough on patients to travel to Manhattan or another distant location to get treatment," said Dr. Demopoulos. "Having highly trained cancer care specialists in the community is a huge advantage for patients. If someone is neurologically impaired and depends on a caregiver, reducing travel time to and from the hospital improves the quality of life for all involved."
According to the American Cancer Society, 18,400 people are diagnosed with nervous system tumors each year in the United States. Ten times as many people are found to have cancer from outside the brain that spreads into the nervous system.
Dr. Demopoulos is certified in neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He received his MD from Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago and completed his neurology training at New York Hospital. He completed a research fellowship at MSKCC in 1998 and later completed a clinical fellowship there. In 2002, Dr. Demopoulos was awarded the Charles H. Revson Fellowship for Biomedical Research for the study of therapeutic glioma vaccines.
A member of the American Academy of Neurology, the Society for Neuro-Oncology and he American Society for Clinical Oncology, Dr. Demopoulos has published multiple book chapters and articles in the neurology and oncology literature in his areas of expertise.
Dr. Demopoulos is available for consultations at (516) 562-3065.
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