COA Fellows Initiative

The COA Fellows Initiative seeks to engage and educate oncology/hematology fellows on the value of practicing in the community setting. As fellows begin to make decisions about where to practice, the initiative is designed to explore, in detail, the opportunities community oncology presents.

Community oncology practices enable cancer patients to receive quality, affordable care in their own community. This is why the majority of Americans battling cancer choose to be treated in the community setting. However, recent estimates have shown that the country is facing a shortage of as many as 3,800 oncologists. At the same time, with the aging population and growing number of survivors due to the increased efficacy of cancer treatment, there will be a significant increase in the need for oncology services.

As physicians complete their three-year oncology and/or hematology fellowship, they have a choice of how and where they will practice. Unfortunately, the community setting is frequently overlooked as a career option by oncology/hematology fellows. The COA Fellows Initiative seeks to change this by educating fellows on present practice options and discuss the many factors to consider when making those decisions.

How Do I Get Involved?

Becoming a member of the COA Fellows Initiative is free and exclusively available to fellows interested in pursuing community oncology practices.

Find a Fellows Resource

Advisory Board

The COA Fellows Initiative is honored to be under the leadership of these inspiring individuals.

Miriam Atkins, MD, FACP

Co-Chair

AO Multispecialty Clinic

Augusta, GA

Miriam Atkins, MD, FACP

About the Member

Co-Chair

AO Multispecialty Clinic

Augusta, GA

Katherine Baker, MD

Co-Chair

Tennessee Oncology

Lebanon, TN

Katherine Baker, MD

Roopa Gupta, MD

About the Member

Lotus Oncology Hematology

Oxford, MD

Roopa Gupta, M.D., is a board-certified medical professional specializing in oncology and hematology. She has completed her education at some of the most prestigious institutions in the US, including Harvard Medical School, National Cancer Institute/NIH and Boston University School of Medicine.

With over 15 years of experience, Dr. Gupta has held leadership positions in various healthcare organizations and is currently the President of Talbot County Medical Society.

Dr. Gupta is passionate about providing patient-centric care and improving healthcare outcomes by increasing access to exceptional care. She has a particular interest in breast cancer, lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, and bone marrow disorders. Her approach to care is data-driven, and she implements integrative oncology modalities that improve quality of life.

Dr. Gupta is also committed to educating the community on cancer screening tests, early detection, and current treatment options.

Richard Ingram, MD

Shenandoah Oncology

Winchester, VA

Richard Ingram, MD

About the Member

Shenandoah Oncology

Winchester, VA

Edward Licitra, MD,PhD

Astera Cancer Care

East Brunswick, NJ

Edward Licitra, MD,PhD

About the Member

Astera Cancer Care

East Brunswick, NJ

Joseph Lynch, MD

Geisinger Clinic

Danville, PA

Joseph Lynch, MD

About the Member

Geisinger Clinic

Danville, PA

Rick McDonough, MD

Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute

Wesley Chapel, FL

Rick McDonough, MD

About the Member

Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute

Wesley Chapel, FL

Martin Palmeri, MD, MBA, FASCO

Messino Cancer Centers

Asheville, NC

Martin Palmeri, MD, MBA, FASCO

About the Member

Messino Cancer Centers

Asheville, NC

Debra Patt, MD, PhD, MBA

Texas Oncology

Austin, TX

Debra Patt, MD, PhD, MBA

About the Member

Texas Oncology

Austin, TX

Frederick Schnell, MD

National Cancer Treatment Alliance

Virginia Beach, VA

Frederick Schnell, MD

About the Member

National Cancer Treatment Alliance

Virginia Beach, VA

Mark Thompson, MD

Community Oncology Alliance

Washington, DC

Mark Thompson, MD

About the Member

Community Oncology Alliance

Washington, DC

Emily Touloukian, DO, FASCO

Coastal Cancer Center

Myrtle Beach, SC

Emily Touloukian, DO, FASCO

About the Member

Coastal Cancer Center

Myrtle Beach, SC

Harsha Vyas, MD FACP

Cancer Center of Middle Georgia

Dublin, GA

Harsha Vyas, MD FACP

About the Member

Cancer Center of Middle Georgia

Dublin, GA

Advisory Board

COA Fellows is honored to be under the leadership of these inspiring individuals.

Martin Palmeri, MD, MBA, FASCO
Messino Cancer Centers
Asheville, NC
Miriam J. Atkins, MD, FACP
Co-Chair
AO Multispecialty Clinic
Augusta, GA
Katherine Baker, MD, MMHC
Co-Chair
Tennessee Oncology
Nashville, TN
Jim Chen, MD
Genesis Cancer Center
Hot Springs, AR
Davey Daniel, MD
Tennessee Oncology
Chattanooga, TN
David Eagle, MD
New York Cancer & Blood Specialists
Patchogue, NY
Bobby Green, MD
Thyme Care
Nashville, TN
Richard Ingram, MD
Shenandoah Oncology
Winchester, VA
Edward Licitra, MD, PhD
Astera Health Partners/Astera Cancer Care
East Brunswick, NJ
Joseph Lynch, MD
Geisinger Medical Center
Danville, PA
Rick McDonough, MD
Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute
Land O’ Lakes, FL
Michael Diaz, MD
Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute
St. Petersburg, FL
Debra Patt, MD, PhD, MBA, FASCO
Texas Oncology
Austin, TX
Fred Schnell, MD, FACP
Community Oncology Alliance; National Cancer Treatment Alliance; Cancer Center of Middle Georgia
Warner Robins, GA
Mark Thompson, MD
Community Oncology Alliance
Washington, DC
Emily Touloukian, DO, FASCO
Coastal Cancer Center
Myrtle Beach, SC
Harsha Vyas, MD, FACP
Cancer Center of Middle Georgia
Dublin, GA

The Community Oncology Alliance

COA is a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for community oncology practices and, most importantly, the patients they serve. For more than 20 years, COA has been the only organization dedicated solely to community oncology where the majority of Americans with cancer are treated.

The mission of COA is to ensure that patients with cancer receive quality, affordable, and accessible cancer care in their own communities. More than 1.5 million people in the United States are diagnosed with cancer each year, and deaths from the disease have been steadily declining due to earlier detection, diagnosis, and treatment.

Cancer treatment can be intense and span many years requiring regular physician visits for chemotherapy and checkups. Keeping patients close to their homes, families, and support networks lessens the burden of this devastating disease. With the majority of Americans battling cancer receiving treatment in the community setting, it is imperative that the vitality of the community cancer care delivery system be preserved.

VISIT THE COA WEBSITE

COA Fellows Initiative

How Do I Get Involved?

Advisory Board

Miriam Atkins, MD, FACP

Miriam Atkins, MD, FACP

About the Member

Katherine Baker, MD

Katherine Baker, MD

About the Member

Jim Chen, MD

Jim Chen, MD

About the Member

Davey Daniel, MS, PT, MD

Davey Daniel, MS, PT, MD

About the Member

David Eagle, MD

David Eagle, MD

About the Member

Bobby Green, MD

Bobby Green, MD

About the Member

Roopa Gupta, MD

Roopa Gupta, MD

About the Member

Richard Ingram, MD

Richard Ingram, MD

About the Member

Edward Licitra, MD,PhD

Edward Licitra, MD,PhD

About the Member

Joseph Lynch, MD

Joseph Lynch, MD

About the Member

Rick McDonough, MD

Rick McDonough, MD

About the Member

Martin Palmeri, MD, MBA, FASCO

Martin Palmeri, MD, MBA, FASCO

About the Member

Debra Patt, MD, PhD, MBA

Debra Patt, MD, PhD, MBA

About the Member

Frederick Schnell, MD

Frederick Schnell, MD

About the Member

Mark Thompson, MD

Mark Thompson, MD

About the Member

Emily Touloukian, DO, FASCO

Emily Touloukian, DO, FASCO

About the Member

Harsha Vyas, MD FACP

Harsha Vyas, MD FACP

About the Member

Advisory Board

Martin Palmeri, MD, MBA, FASCO

Messino Cancer Centers

Asheville, NC

Miriam J. Atkins, MD, FACP

Co-Chair

AO Multispecialty Clinic

Augusta, GA

Katherine Baker, MD, MMHC

Co-Chair

Tennessee Oncology

Nashville, TN

Jim Chen, MD

Genesis Cancer Center

Hot Springs, AR

Davey Daniel, MD

Tennessee Oncology

Chattanooga, TN

David Eagle, MD

New York Cancer & Blood Specialists

Patchogue, NY

Bobby Green, MD

Thyme Care

Nashville, TN

Richard Ingram, MD

Shenandoah Oncology