Virginia Cancer Specialists Adds Two New Medical Oncologists, Enhancing Access to Quality Care for Patients in Arlington and Loudoun

New medical oncologists bring additional experience in clinical and academic oncology, complementing the practice’s world-class care team

Virginia Cancer Specialists Adds Two New Medical Oncologists, Enhancing Access to Quality Care for Patients in Arlington and Loudoun

<0> Virginia Cancer SpecialistsStephanie D. Foster, 571-499-1914orThe US Oncology NetworkClaire Crye, 281-863-6783 </0>

Virginia Cancer Specialists (), Virginia’s premier cancer care center providing 40 years of service to patients battling cancer and blood diseases and affiliated with , has announced the addition of two new medical oncologists to its practice. , M.D., joined the VCS Arlington office, while , M.D., joined the VCS Loudoun facility. The new medical oncologists bring a unique combination of experience in clinical and academic medical oncology to the practice, in addition to training from some of the leading oncology centers in the country, adding new expertise and fresh perspectives to the VCS care team and expanding its services in Northern Virginia.

“We are excited to have such highly qualified medical oncologists join our VCS family,” said Linda Anderson, executive director, Virginia Cancer Specialists. “The demand for our services has increased dramatically, and the addition of Drs. Sampat and Sarma allow us to continue to provide the highest level of patient-centered, integrated care to all of our patients in a timely fashion,” she continued. “These physicians bring new energy, ideas and expertise to our practice, which are invaluable as we continue to meet the growing need for our services in Northern Virginia.”

Dr. Keeran R. Sampat is a graduate of the University of Virginia Medical School and completed his Internal Medicine residency at the University of Texas–Houston. He then spent one year completing a Leukemia fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center, one of the nation’s leading cancer treatment facilities. Dr. Sampat went on to complete his Hematology and Medical Oncology fellowship at the University of North Carolina. His education and training have given him a special interest in advancing treatment options for patients with gastrointestinal malignancies, and he has contributed to several publications and presentations in this field.

“Joining a state-of-the-art comprehensive practice like Virginia Cancer Specialists gives me the opportunity to offer my patients the full range of cutting-edge treatment options and supportive care that provides the best possible outcomes and quality of life for patients,” said Dr. Sampat. “VCS has built a reputation as a cancer practice with a very strong commitment to delivering the highest level of quality care, and I am excited to be part of a team of like-minded individuals.”

Dr. Amit Sarma is rejoining the VCS team after serving as Assistant Professor of General Oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Regional Care Center in Sugar Land, TX, a leading teaching facility as well as treatment center. A graduate of the Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Sarma finished his Internal Medicine Internship and Residency at Mount Sinai Hospital and then completed a Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellowship at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology, and Medical Oncology.

Dr. Sarma is a general oncologist, but also has extensive experience with lymphoma and head and neck cancers. He has a long-standing interest in delivering high-quality, patient-centered care and currently serves on both the CancerLinQ Advisory Group and the Quality of Care Committee for the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

“I have always enjoyed community practice and the wonderful relationships it allows me to develop with my patients and their families,” said Dr. Sarma. “Virginia Cancer Specialists has grown tremendously since I left, but their commitment to providing superior cancer care one patient at a time has remained unchanged. We share a common vision of offering patients convenient community access to some of the world's most advanced cancer treatments, and I am excited to once again be a part of this dedicated team of cancer specialists.”

Drs. Sampat and Sarma joined 23 other physicians at VCS, which is the largest oncology group in Northern Virginia with multiple locationsthroughout the area to serve patients. The practice has specialized physician expertise in all types of cancers, notably breast, colon, GI,GU, hematologicmalignancies, lung, and sarcomas. The addition of Drs. Sampat and Sarma broadens this expertise and adds depth to VCS’s overall patient care approach.

The practice provides the full spectrum of state-of-the-art care including prevention programs, detection, diagnosis, cutting-edge treatment options, clinical trials, genetic testing and counseling as well as stem cell transplantation (the longest run program in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area and the only outpatient program offered in Northern Virginia).

Appointments are available now with Dr. Sampat at the Arlington office and Dr. Sarma at the VCS Loudoun facility. Patients may call 703-208-3155 to schedule an appointment.

For nearly 40 years, Virginia Cancer Specialists (VCS) has contributed to the campaign against cancer and diseases of the blood. With eight state-of-the-art locations throughout Northern Virginia, VCS is on the cutting edge of providing patients access to the latest technology, physician collaboration, clinical research, and the most advanced cancer treatments. VCS’s dedication to advancing cancer care empowers them to provide top-notch hematology and oncology care and has led to an expansion into service areas such as radiation, genetics, and bone marrow transplant. The dedicated and highly skilled physicians and staff at Virginia Cancer Specialists work closely with patients and their families to create personalized treatment plans that provide for physical and emotional health, all in a familiar community setting.

Virginia Cancer Specialists is united in healing with The US Oncology Network, one of the nation’s largest networks of integrated community-based oncology practices dedicated to advancing high-quality, evidence-based cancer care. As an affiliate of The US Oncology Network, VCS is united with nearly 1,000 physicians nationwide. Virginia Cancer Specialists participates in clinical trials through , which has played a role in the development of 46 FDA approved cancer therapies. For more information, visit .