Investigators and Research Nurses
Spence McCachren, M.D.
Dr. Spence McCachren was born in Concord, North Carolina. He earned his medical degree from Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina. After medical school, Dr. McCachren completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Duke University Medical Center. He was also a fellow in Hematology and Medical Oncology at Duke University. Dr. McCachren served as an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at Duke University until 1994 and is an assistant consulting professor at Duke presently. Dr. McCachren is board certified in Hematology, Medical Oncology, and Internal Medicine. He began work at Thompson Cancer Survival Center in November 1994 and is currently the Director of the Clinical Trials program. He serves as Principal Investigator for several treatment trials.
Daniel Ibach, M.D.
Dr. Daniel Ibach was born in Abbington, Pennsylvania, but was reared in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He earned his medical degree from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Memphis. After medical school, Dr. Ibach completed his internship and residency at Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga. He also completed a fellowship at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, before joining Thompson Oncology Group in July 2000. Dr. Ibach is currently board certified in Internal Medicine.
Richard Grapski, M.D.
Dr. Richard Grapski was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He earned his medical degree from Loyola-Stritch School of Medicine in Maywood, Illinois. After medical school, Dr. Grapski completed an internship and residency at the Medical Center of Central Massachusetts, Worcester. He continued his education as a fellow in Hematology and Medical Oncology at Boston University Medical Center and the University of Massachusetts, Worcester. He was the Clinical Director for Hematology/Oncology at Memorial Health Care in Worcester, Massachusetts, before beginning work at Thompson Cancer Survival Center in August 1997. Dr. Grapski is board certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology, and Medical Oncology and is currently the Director of the Peripheral Stem Cell Transplant Program at TCSC.
Matthew McCarty, M.D.
Dr. Matt McCarty was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his medical degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. After medical school, Dr. McCarty completed an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Letterman Army Medical Center. He was a fellow in Hematology and Medical Oncology at Brooke Army Medical Center. Dr. McCarty was Chief for Hematology/Oncology Services at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, before coming to Thompson Cancer Survival Center in 1998. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology, and Hematology.
Coordinators
Josie Stanga, RN, OCN, CCRC
Josie Stanga, RN, was born in Napoleonville, Louisiana. She earned a Diploma in Nursing from Charity Hospital School of Nursing and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Mrs. Stanga has eighteen years oncology nursing experience and became an Oncology Certified Nurse in 1988. She has been manager of the clinical trials department since 1998. While her main responsibilities are clinical trials and institutional review board operations, she still participates as much as possible in patient screening, eligibility determination, and side effect management. Mrs. Stanga's primary interests are in education and protection of research participants.
Sue Bales, RN, OCN
Sue Bales, RN, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Ms. Bales has worked in oncology nursing since completing her degree eight years ago and has extensive experience in hospital based nursing, outpatient chemotherapy administration, hospice and home health care. She became an Oncology Certified Nurse in 1997. Ms. Bales came to TCSC in April 1999 and is a coordinator of cancer treatment trials.
Jamie Breeden, RN, OCN, CCRC
Jamie Breeden, RN, was born in Greeneville, Tennessee. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. After completing her degree, Mrs. Breeden practiced as a registered nurse in Intensive Care, Medical-Surgical, Gynecological, and Oncology nursing. She became an Oncology Certified Nurse in 1998. Mrs. Breeden began work at Thompson Cancer Survival Center in March 1997 and is currently the coordinator of the chemoprevention trials for breast and prostate cancer.
Sherry Cate, RN
Sherry Cate, RN, was born in Knoxville, Tennessee. She earned an Associate Degree in Nursing from Motlow State Community College, Tullahoma. Mrs. Cate practiced as a registered nurse in Intensive Care before entering hospice nursing in 1993. She came to TCSC in March 2001 and is a coordinator of cancer treatment trials.
Paula Hughes, RN
Paula Hughes, RN, was born in Knoxville, Tennessee. She earned a Nursing Degree from Walters State Community College in Morristown, Tennessee, in 1987. After completing her degree, she has practiced as a Registered Nurse in Ortho/Neuro Rehabilitation, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Outpatient Case Management, and Home Care/Hospice. Paula came to TCSC in March 2001 and is a Clinical Research Coordinator of cancer treatment trials.
Clinical Research Assistants
Pam Boden
Pam Boden was born in Santa Rosa, California, and earned a specialized associates degree in medical assisting. She began working for the Covenant Health system in 1998 as a departmental assistant at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center. In August 2000, Mrs. Boden came to the Clinical Trials Department at TCSC as a Clinical Research Assistant. Her responsibilities include management of data for patients in post-treatment follow-up, as well as assisting with the regulatory process.
April Holt
April Holt was born in Cleveland, Tennessee. She has experience as a medical assistant with both geriatric and cardiovascular populations. She also has completed training in Massage Therapy. Ms. Holt came to the Clinical Trials Department at TCSC as a Clinical Research Assistant in April 2001. Her responsibilities include data management, as well as assisting with the coordination of care, for the breast and prostate cancer prevention trial participants.
These oncology-certified nurses are a highly qualified team of patient-oriented professionals who are very dedicated to their jobs and to educating the community about clinical research. The unique feature of the clinical trials department at Thompson Cancer Survival Center is its service delivery, or the staff's ability to combine quality research and superior patient care.
