Inova Cancer & Heart Programs Welcome New Leaders

Leading the way in cancer and heart innovation

Inova recently welcomed Donald L. Trump, MD, FACP, and Christopher O’Connor, MD, both prominent leaders in their fields, to direct our nationally recognized cancer and heart programs.

In keeping with its mission to enhance the health of the community through patient-centered care and leading-edge research, Inova welcomes two prominent leaders to direct its nationally recognized cancer and heart programs. The distinguished leaders, Donald L. Trump, MD, FACP, and Christopher O’Connor, MD, bring the highest level of expertise to Inova’s culture of excellence.

New Realm of Care

Having spent the last 13 years of his esteemed career as a leader at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, the country’s first cancer center and one of only 41 cancer centers designated as comprehensive by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Dr. Trump joins Inova as the first CEO and Executive Director of Inova Comprehensive Cancer Research Institute (ICCRI). His role will be to develop available opportunities to coordinate and enhance cancer services through partnerships with cancer care providers in the community, and recruit additional cancer specialists to enhance clinical and translational research available to patients in this region. This will involve working closely with leaders at all five Inova hospitals, as well as Northern Virginia and regional cancer specialists. The goal of ICCRI is to provide state-of-the-art care and prevention strategies, and develop personalized approaches to care and prevention with the aim of developing a “destination” cancer program, known throughout the country.

“There are tremendous opportunities at Inova,” says Dr. Trump.

“There is broad appreciation in the community for the excellence of care at Inova facilities, there is a strong commitment by Inova leadership to develop a world-class cancer center, and there have never been better opportunities in cancer research and science to make substantial contributions that will transform the way we care for cancer patients and develop new strategies to prevent cancer.”

Dr. Trump received his medical training at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and was on the faculty of the Johns Hopkins Oncology Center before taking leadership positions at NCI-designated cancer centers at the University of Wisconsin, Duke University and the University of Pittsburgh. He began working at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in 2002. Dr. Trump cites the outstanding program in genomics and clinical genetics that John Niederhuber, MD, Director of Inova Translational Medicine Institute (ITMI) and the former Director of the NCI, has developed. He notes that collaboration between ICCRI and ITMI programs has enormous potential to facilitate progress and develop individualized cancer care through genetic research. He and Dr. Niederhuber “will work together to discover new targets, and new understanding of cancer biology, progression and cancer risk, all aimed at defining better approaches to cancer treatment and prevention. The goal is to make each patient’s treatment better and tailored as much as possible for his or her specific situation.”

During his 30-year career, Dr. Trump has held peer-reviewed grants funded by NCI, the Department of Defense, American Cancer Society and multiple foundations. Dr. Trump’s clinical practice and investigative work has focused on new approaches for treating prostate and bladder cancer, and understanding the role of vitamin D in cancer prevention and treatment.

“I’m extraordinarily excited that Inova will be led by an internationally renowned leader from one of the top cancer centers in the country. Dr. Trump’s years of experience at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute will enable him to bring a world-class vision of cancer care to the ICCRI and Inova,” says John Deeken, MD, Associate Director for Clinical Research in Medical Oncology at ICCRI.

Vision for Growth

An internationally recognized clinician and researcher, Christopher O’Connor, MD, has been recruited as the new Chief Executive Officer of Inova Heart and Vascular Institute (IHVI). Formerly Chief of Cardiology at Duke University Medical Center and Director of the Duke Heart Center, Dr. O’Connor brings 25 years of leadership experience to Inova.

“My five-year plan is to really drive quality, drive strategic growth, drive an outstanding patient experience and bring innovation and clinical research in a greater capacity to the institute,” says Dr. O’Connor. “There are 150 cardiovascular specialists who practice at the institute, and my goal is to bring everyone under one vision with a unified set of goals to accomplish the objective of becoming a nationally and internationally recognized heart institute.”

Achieving the highest level of quality of care and patient satisfaction is one of Dr. O’Connor’s top priorities in his new role at IHVI.

“Dr. O’Connor’s arrival will move IHVI to a true institute model with coordinated and integrated care,” says Paul Massimiano, MD, cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon at Inova. “For years we’ve had many of the elements in place in IHVI, and now we will have the physician leadership to coordinate and to get the word out about the various programs that we have.”

An eminent researcher, Dr. O’Connor has published more than 400 manuscripts and has led more than 20 clinical trials. He is editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Heart Failure.

“Dr. O’Connor brings this great wealth of knowledge, name recognition and energy around cardiology research,” says Alan Speir, MD, Medical Director of Cardiac Surgical Services at Inova. Dr. Speir has practiced cardiac surgery at Inova for 32 years. “We couldn’t be more pleased and honored that he would want to spend this segment of his career within Inova.”

BEST IN CANCER CARE

Inova Comprehensive Cancer Research Institute and cancer specialists practicing at Inova provide one of the largest, most comprehensive cancer programs in the Northern Virginia and Washington, DC, metro area. The cancer specialists at ICCRI offer a full spectrum of diagnostic and treatment options for a wide range of common and rare cancers. Learn more at www.inova.org/cancer.

HEART HEALTHY

Inova Heart and Vascular Institute offers five beautifully designed, state-of-the-art locations throughout Northern Virginia. The award-winning team of skilled, experienced physicians, nurses and technicians provides comprehensive diagnostic and treatment options for a wide array of cardiovascular disorders. Learn more at www.inovaheart.org.