Geriatric Cancer Care

Cancer in Older Adults

At the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute, our goal is to have you live your best life while living longer.

Connect with our Team

Call 855.255.6181 or request a callback for support, advice, or a second opinion.

Our Approach

We’ve created the Comprehensive Oncology and Aging Care Team (COACH) specifically for older patients, with services tailored to your individual needs as you battle cancer.

COACH combines various services across our extensive care network. Our providers work together – along with primary oncologists, patients and families – to ensure that care is seamless and comprehensive.

Thanks to our COACH team that collaborates closely with the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center's Cancer & Aging Interdisciplinary team (CAIT) on research and educational projects to improve the care of older cancer patients.

Our commitment to this individualized system of care earned special recognition with the Age-Friendly Health System-Committed to Care Excellence Award from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. This distinction recognizes our alignment with evidence-based best practices and focus on what matters most to older adults and their family caregivers.

How We Do Assessments

Although most patients with cancer are older, guidelines followed by many oncologists are largely based on research done with younger people. This can easily lead to older patients not receiving proper care.

The COACH team begins with a comprehensive assessment of older patients to help their primary oncologist determine a treatment plan. We evaluate a patient's overall health, lifestyle and other key factors to estimate potential risks related to treatment and suggest interventions that will improve outcomes. We screen for problems that can derail effective cancer treatment, including issues with social support, mobility, balance, cognition and mood disorders.

Your COACH Team

At the Cancer Institute, you have access to our specialized team of healthcare professionals who guide you through all aspects of your treatment, providing the highest level of integrated care.

Team members include:

Physicians, physician assistants, nurses and nurse practitioners who collectively determine your needs.
Geriatricians, who help you maintain your quality of life as you go through cancer treatments.
Registered Dietitians, who help you maintain your strength throughout treatment.
Physical and occupational therapists, who can help preserve your independence, movement and function throughout treatments
Pharmacists, who safely manage your medications.
Social workers and counselors, who offer psychosocial counseling and support focused on improving your quality of life.
Palliative and integrative care therapists, who can provide relief from pain, nausea and emotional anxiety.
Community resources coordinators, who connect you to additional support in your area.

September 23, 2019

Living With a Cancer Diagnosis as an Older Adult

Support at the Cancer Institute

The Cancer Institute offers whatever you and your family need on your journey, whether it’s access to an oncology social worker, a nurse navigator to coordinate your care or the support of our Patient and Family Resource Center.

Support & Survivorship

Meet our Geriatric Cancer Care Specialists:

	Specialties	Location
April Marie Duckworth, MD 4.9 /5 303 surveys 860.246.2071	Breast Surgery	Manchester Avon Show Less
Daniel P. Jones, PhD 860.678.5700	Psychology	Farmington
Shahar Glomski, MD 203.694.8402	Diagnostic Radiology	Meriden
Whitney Young, MD, FACS 4.9 /5 100 surveys 203.694.5200	Breast Surgery	Meriden Hamden Show Less
John James Griffith, MD 4.9 /5 361 surveys 860.348.2500	Urology	Southington Plainville Show Less
Ahmed Aziz Chaudhary, MD 860.892.2777	Radiation Oncology	Norwich
Amy Gail Korwin, MD 860.827.2710	Pulmonary Medicine	New Britain Southington Show Less
Yelena Pristyazhnyuk, DO 4.7 /5 34 surveys 860.972.4183	Hematology / Oncology	Hartford Hartford Show Less
Brian S. Wong Won, MD 860.548.7338	Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery	Hartford Plainville Cheshire Farmington Show Less
Aashutosh Ramakar, MD 4.8 /5 68 surveys 860.496.9669	Pulmonary Medicine	Torrington
Rajvi Patel, MD 4.9 /5 156 surveys 860.972.4183	Hematology / Oncology	Hartford Hartford Show Less
Marcin R. Dada, MD 4.8 /5 34 surveys 860.224.5694	Cardiovascular Medicine	New Britain Plainville Prospect Show Less
Nicole Marie Saur, MD, FACS, FASCRS 203.254.2051	Colon & Rectal Surgery	Fairfield Fairfield Show Less
Cassidy Alexandre, MD 860.859.9061	Gastroenterology	Norwich
Lisa M. Finoia, APRN, FNP-C 203.576.6141	Surgical Oncology	Bridgeport
Kelly Elizabeth Smyth, PA-C 860.696.4923	Thoracic Surgery	Plainville
Christine Liaw, MD 4.7 /5 169 surveys 203.338.8760	Urology	Stamford Wilton Bridgeport Show Less
Jillian Reardon, PA-C 860.548.7338	Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery	Farmington Glastonbury Show Less
Dean David George, MD, FAAD 4.8 /5 556 surveys 860.696.3350	Dermatology	Hartford Fairfield Avon Bridgeport Manchester Norwich Plainville Show Less
Osama Siddique, MD 860.246.2571	Gastroenterology	Hartford
Akshay V. Patel, DO, FAOCO 860.493.1950	Otolaryngology	Wethersfield Hartford Show Less
Rachael Reed, PA-C 860.204.9126	Breast Surgery	Norwich
Scott Walter, MD 860.525.3900	Ophthalmology	Hartford Farmington Cromwell Show Less
Kristi Dubey, APRN 4.9 /5 79 surveys 203.238.7747	Medical Oncology	New Britain
Simone Kennedy, PA-C 4.8 /5 137 surveys 203.694.5200	Breast Surgery	Meriden