Noteworthy - May 2025

May 28, 2025 Providence inScope Content Team

Providence in the news:

Providence S.A.F.E. Center opens to provide care to victims of assault - KGW, Portland

Dr. Robin Henderson discusses eCPR or emotional CPR - KATU, Portland

Providence St. Vincent completes ER makeover - The Oregonian

Noteworthy updates:

R01 grant awarded to Dr. Kristina Young
Kristina Young, M.D., Ph.D., has been awarded a prestigious R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Young serves as medical director of Radiation Oncology at Providence Cancer Institute and leads the Tumor Microenvironment Lab in Earle A. Chiles Research Institute. The award will provide $2.6m in funding over five years. “This significant achievement reflects Dr. Young's dedication and innovative contributions to the field of immuno-oncology,” said R. Bryan Bell, M.D., D.D.S., FACS, FRCS(Ed), executive medical director of PCI and director of the Earle A. Chiles Research Institute.

The awarded project, titled “Enhancing the efficacy of radiation by spatially restricting anti-TGFβ treatment to the tumor”, aims to identify the T-cell populations responsible for tumor control following radiation and determine where those cells reside over time. The outcome of this research will inform how we combine radiation and immunotherapy and has the potential to be rapidly implemented in clinics.

Thoracic surgery clinic opens at Carol D. Suzuki Cancer Center, Willamette Falls
The Carol D. Suzuki Cancer Center at Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center is now home to a new thoracic surgery clinic, enhancing access to advanced thoracic care in Clackamas County and the surrounding area.

In January 2025, Providence Cancer Institute welcomed thoracic surgeon Areo Saffarzadeh, M.D., to its Thoracic Surgery Program to help support the new clinic at Willamette Falls. Dr. Saffarzadeh now leads as director of Thoracic Robotic Surgery for Providence Cancer Institute, bringing extensive expertise in minimally invasive and robotic-assisted procedures. His clinical focus includes surgical management of lung, and thymic cancers, as well as mediastinal and chest wall tumors.

In addition to treating malignancies, the new thoracic surgery clinic offers comprehensive care for benign thoracic conditions, such as diaphragm disorders, pulmonary nodules, chest wall trauma and more. With the addition of Dr. Saffarzadeh, referring providers have expanded options for patients in need of high-quality, specialized thoracic surgery close to home and supported by the full resources of Providence Cancer Institute.

Epic department and referral code: OWF PCI WF THORACIC SURGERY, Ref13C

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