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At AHN, the patients we serve at the Brain Tumor Multidisciplinary Clinic can expect tailored treatment plans that are delivered by compassionate and highly skilled health care professionals who work together to treat you and deliver brain cancer treatment options.
We recognize that individuals who are recently diagnosed with a brain tumor need an expedited and comprehensive treatment plan. As a result, we have created an innovative Brain Tumor Multidisciplinary Clinic where patients can meet all members of their treatment team (such as neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, neuro-oncologists, supportive care) during a single office visit. This approach improves our ability to deliver high quality and innovative brain tumor treatment plans while minimizing the logistic burden to patients and their families. Being diagnosed with a brain tumor is hard enough — the last thing a patient or their family member needs to worry about is coordinating care amongst numerous subspecialists. Your focus can be on healing, and our focus can be on coordinating your care for your brain tumor treatment options.
This clinic helps enable patients with aggressive brain tumors to live better and live longer by improving:
With a multidisciplinary care, your care will be streamlined between the different brain treatment areas. This helps you to focus on your care and recovery. Our clinic works to help treat primary brain tumors including:
We also provide treatment for brain metastasis and radiation necrosis.
The brain tumor specialists and surgeons at AHN not only provide you with excellent and skilled care, they also understand the emotions and fears that can come with a diagnosis. Our focus is on delivering compassionate and expert care, so you can feel confident in your treatment plan and focus on recovery.
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
To schedule an appointment with the Brain Tumor Multidisciplinary Clinic, please call our Nurse Navigator Lead, April DeWeese, at 412-359-6363.
Your nurse navigator and support professionals will guide you through the process, and doctors will explain everything and answer any questions you or your loved ones have.
After your referral, our team will determine the best treatment team for you. For patients who need multiple specialists involved, on the day of your appointment you may meet with a neurosurgeon, radiation oncologist, neuro-oncologist, and our nurse navigator. Prior to your appointment your treatment team has a conference to discuss the best treatment plan for you. During your visit, this plan is reviewed with you and your family. Other tests and/or procedures may be recommended.
We prescreen new patients for clinical trial eligibility when they are referred to clinic to ensure we are offering them the best care possible. Our clinical research coordinator is dedicated to neuro-oncology provides guidance for those in the multidisciplinary clinic.
The plan for the trial, called a protocol, explains what the trial will do and how the study will be done. Based on the questions the research is trying to answer, each clinical trial protocol outlines specific criteria necessary to be eligible to join the trial.
Common criteria for entering a trial are:
Federal rules help ensure that clinical trials are run in an ethical manner, with your rights and safety protected. It’s to ensure that you’re not put at increased risk by participating in the trial, and that the results of the study are accurate and meaningful.
If you would like to participate in a clinical trial and help our innovative team discover groundbreaking cancer solutions, ask your doctor if you’re eligible to participate in one. You can also find currently active brain cancer clinical trials that are open for participation.
There are two ways for medical professionals, who are not a part of Allegheny Health Network, to refer their patients to an AHN specialist and request their first appointment. You can:
For more information about referring your patient to an AHN specialist, read the Independent Physician Referral FAQs.
Once your patient is receiving care from an AHN specialist, you can view their test results, see their treatment plan, follow their treatment progress, and collaborate with our team using the EpicCare® Link™ platform.
If you are new to EpicCare Link, or need to request your own EpicCare Link account, read: EpicCare Link for Patient Follow-up, for user instructions and new account request forms.
If you can’t access your patient's AHN test results through the EpicCare Link platform, your patient will need to complete and submit the correct AHN Medical Records Release form, based on their state of residency. Support your patient’s request by downloading the correct medical records release form for them:
EpicCare® is a registered trademark of Epic Systems Corporation and used with permission.
EpicCare® Link™ is a trademark of Epic Systems Corporation and used with permission.
Learn more about making appointments and resources that are at your disposal.