Inova Schar Cancer Institute Hires Nursing Leader, Hematology Oncology Experts
Adds to Multidisciplinary Team of Cancer Care Providers
July 18, 2019, Fairfax, Virginia – Inova Schar Cancer Institute, a state-of-the-art cancer care destination in the DC Metro area and a department of Inova Fairfax Hospital, has recruited four new expert cancer care providers to its growing team, including a Senior Director of Nursing, Nancy Bowles, MHA, RN, and three hematology oncology specialists, Danielle A. Shafer, DO; Angela Pennisi, MD, PhD; and Lubna Saqib, FNP-BC.
“Starting on their first day at Inova Schar, these new team members will make a difference in providing compassionate, collaborative, holistic cancer care all under one roof,” said John Deeken, MD, President of Inova Schar Cancer Institute. “Our successful efforts to recruit these accomplished doctors and nurses reflects our dedication to delivering the best of both worlds: a commitment to every single patient’s well-being, backed by the latest research and advancements in treatment.”
Nancy Bowles, MHA, RN, OCN®, CRNI®, NEA-BE, CPC-A joins Inova Schar as its Senior Director of Nursing, leading and supporting the Inova Schar nursing team in providing patient-centric care. Bowles brings nearly 40 years of nursing and health administration experience, having served as Vice President of Operations at the University of Louisville James Graham Brown Cancer Center and Assistant Vice President of Oncology at Norton Healthcare in Louisville, Ky. Bowles holds a Master’s in Health Administration from Webster University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from McKendree University. Her first day at Inova Schar was June 17.
Danielle A. Shafer, DO joins Inova Schar as the new Director of Research for Malignant Hematology, bringing over 20 years’ experience in hematology and oncology, including expertise in leukemia, lymphoma and clinical trials. She will be treating patients with malignant hematological conditions in the inpatient and outpatient setting. Previously she was at the Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center in Richmond, Va., where she served as Medical Director of its clinical trials office and as an Associate Professor of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care. Dr. Shafer did her fellowship training in hematology/oncology at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, Penn. and also earned a Master of Science degree in Clinical Research Methods from Loyola University in Chicago, Ill. She began to see patients at Inova Schar on July 8.
Angela Pennisi, MD, PhD joins Inova Schar as a specialist in breast medical oncology. Prior to Inova Schar, Dr. Pennisi worked at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in Little Rock, Ark. as a specialist in breast cancer. She also served as an Assistant Professor of Medical Oncology. Dr. Pennisi earned her medical degree and doctorate in biomedical and biotechnological sciences from the University of Catania in Italy. She completed her residency in internal medicine and fellowship in hematology/oncology at the University of Arkansas. She started clinical care with patients at Inova Schar on July 22.
Lubna Saqib, FNP-BC joins Inova Schar as a hematology oncology triage nurse. Saqib previously provided nursing care at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York, N.Y. While there, she completed her Master of Science degree in Nursing from the State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center; she is a licensed Family Nurse Practitioner. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from New York University. Her first day with patients at Inova Schar was June 10.
Media Contact: Kelly Schlageter, kelly.schlageter@inova.org, 571-241-6342
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About Inova
Inova is Northern Virginia’s leading nonprofit healthcare provider, employing more than 18,000 team members and serving more than 2 million individuals annually through an integrated network of hospitals, primary and specialty care practices, emergency and urgent care centers, outpatient services and destination institutes, such as the Inova Heart and Vascular Institute, Inova Schar Cancer Institute and Inova Neuroscience and Spine Institute. Our mission is to provide world-class healthcare – every time, every touch – to each person in every community we have the privilege to serve. Founded in 1956 as the Fairfax Hospital Association, Inova has grown with its surrounding community and the region to provide a full spectrum of health services, including Northern Virginia’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and Level 4 neonatal intensive care unit. Its hospitals have a total of 1,800 licensed beds.
Four of Inova’s five hospitals have received five-star rankings from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; they are the only hospitals in the Washington, DC region to have earned the highest rating from the federal agency. To achieve its mission of providing world-class healthcare to a diverse community, Inova is home to prominent clinicians and scientists, who drive innovation to improve patient care, prevent disease and promote wellness. More information and statistics about Inova can be found at www.inova.org.