Dr. Caroline Hastings doesn't exactly know why she became a pediatric oncologist. In medical school, she remembers it being the only specialty she didn't want to go into. But the kids inspired her back then and they still do today. That's why she's been coming to Reno, from her headquarters at Children's Hospital Oakland, since 1991. And now, she's taking her commitment to northern Nevada kids to a whole new level.
"We developed a nonprofit organization and to be able to offer childhood cancer services and we link with our Children's Hospital Oakland. So that we can provide comprehensive care. And our physicians come from that center too."
Infusions, that used to only be available over the hill, can now be administered right here. Treatments that are available at major children's hospitals in big cities are now available right here. And physicians from Children's Hospital Oakland, will be rotating here for full coverage Monday through Friday. This means parents won't have to take as much time off. And families can stay together. "I think our presence here has prevented a great majority of the patients here from having to travel. And in fact, before, we were hearing patients were completely relocating to another state because it was just too hard."
The nonprofit is called Sierra Pediatric Blood and Cancer Specialists. They've also partnered with Saint Mary's Center for Cancer so children can now get radiation therapy. This partnership means Saint Mary's is now a part of Children Oncology Group which is a National Cancer Institute organization devoted exclusively to childhood and adolescent cancer research and clinical trials. In other words, local children now have the best available treatment options right here in town.
