TGH Cancer Institute at TGH Outpatient Center

Pselane Coney is a board-certified advanced practice registered nurse with Tampa General who has provided exceptional care to Tampa Bay area patients for more than two decades. She returns to Tampa General, where she previously served as a registered nurse for nearly a decade and received TGH's Nurse of the Year award twice for her world-class contributions in the Medical Intensive Care Unit (2009) and 9A, Neurosciences (2004).

Coney began her career as a registered nurse in 2002 and has worked in several clinical areas. Prior to her current role, Coney worked as an APRN and APP supervisor for about 10 years in the department of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Immunotherapy at Moffitt Cancer Center, where she was a four-time APP of the Year award nominee.

In addition to training students, fellows and new team members throughout her career, Coney has provided instruction as an adjunct faculty member with the University of South Florida, where she received her Master of Science in Nursing, with a concentration in acute care. Coney also received her bachelor's degree in nursing from USF as a scholarship student.

Dr. Sean P. Collins is a highly accomplished radiation oncologist, most recently serving as the director of the CyberKnife Prostate Program at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. With board certification from the American Board of Radiology in Radiation Oncology, Dr. Collins has dedicated over two decades to advancing the treatment of prostate cancer. Specifically, he has treated over 2500 men with prostate cancer utilizing the CyberKnife. He has been at the forefront of innovative radiation therapies, earning him recognition as a Washingtonian Top Doctor since 2015.

In addition to his clinical expertise, Dr. Collins is a prolific researcher and educator, contributing to national and international efforts to improve cancer treatment outcomes. He has published over 300 peer reviewed articles and abstracts many of with evaluated patient reported outcomes (PRO) following prostate cancer treatment. He has obtained grant funding from the National Cancer Institute focusing on determinants of racial disparity in prostate cancer. Has served as an active member of the Alliance in Oncology Radiation Oncology and GU Committees since 2010. He currently serves on the steering committee for two trials assessing the potential benefits of rectal spacers with prostate radiotherapy. Most recently he was selected as incoming Chair of the Programmatic Panel for the Department of Defense (DOD) Prostate Cancer Research Program. Recognized for his leadership in prostate cancer care, Dr. Collins continues to push the boundaries of cancer treatment, while mentoring the next generation of radiation oncologists.

Dr. Kayla M. Forrester is an internal medicine physician specializing in hospice and palliative care within the Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute. Dr. Forrester completed Internal Medicine residency in 2022 and then Hospice and Palliative Medicine fellowship in 2023 through USF Health Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa, Florida.

Dr. Forrester practices palliative medicine along with an interdisciplinary team which also includes nurse practitioner, psychologist, chaplain, nurse, and medical assistant with the goals of maximizing quality of life. The palliative care team will thoroughly assess the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of both the patient and family throughout the course of the disease process. Palliative care may also serve as transition to hospice care depending on patient's goals.

Dr. Forrester is the recipient of honors and awards including the Gold Humanism Honor Society award; Honors in Internal Medicine, Surgery and Psychiatry clerkship; and the Academic Achievement scholarship - all from the University of Louisville School of Medicine.

Dr. Forrester's interests include medical education and physician wellness. While completing Internal Medicine residency, she excelled in extracurricular and leadership activities including serving as a coach and mentor to fellow residents. She participated in training sessions that allowed resident physicians to practice advanced care planning, having difficult conversations, and breaking bad news. In addition, she acted as co-chair of the Social and Wellness Committee and participated in the USF Internal Medicine Residency Recruitment Committee.

Dr. Forrester's current professional affiliations include the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, the American College of Physicians, and the Gold Humanism Honor Society.

Dr. Naraev is a board-certified medical oncologist specializing in caring for people living with gastrointestinal, neuroendocrine and endocrine tumors. Prior to joining the TGH Cancer Institute, he was the Lead of Neuroendocrine Cancer Program at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in Phoenix, Arizona and Adjunct Assistant Professor with the Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. While in Phoenix, he helped create, develop, and lead one of the largest neuroendocrine cancer programs in the Southwestern United States, and was personally taking care of a large population of people living with neuroendocrine tumors.

Later, he served as the Leader of Gastrointestinal, Neuroendocrine, and Rare Cancers Program at the Anderson Family Cancer Institute at Jupiter Medical Center in Jupiter, Florida. In this capacity, he helped build the National Pancreas Foundation Pancreatic Cancer Center of Excellence at Jupiter Medical Center.

Professional Memberships and Associations: American College of Physicians, Florida Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Clinical Oncology, North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society

Conditions Treated: Adrenal Carcinoma, Adrenal Gland Cancer, Anal Cancer, Benign and Malignant Thyroid Tumors, Bile Duct Cancer, Colon Cancer, Endocrine Tumors, Liver Cancer, Neuroendocrine Tumors, Pancreas Cancer, Paraganglioma, Pheochromocytoma, Rectal Cancer, Small Bowel Cancers, Thyroid Cancer

Dr. Richard Jacobson is a surgical oncologist specializing in soft tissue and gastrointestinal cancers. He earned his medical degree from Rush Medical College and completed residency at the Rush University - John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County Integrated General Surgery program, where he served as administrative chief resident. He went on to complete a fellowship in Complex General Surgical Oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center, where he served as administrative chief fellow.

Throughout his training, Dr. Jacobson has been recognized for his research and patient care. He has numerous publications in academic surgical and oncology journals and has active grant funding for his research. He is building a basic/translational research program investigating the gut microbiome and its impact on cancer surgery, and microbiome-targeted prehabilitation for surgery. Dr. Jacobson remains committed to advancing the field of surgical oncology through innovation and leadership.

Dr. Mohamed Khattab is a radiation oncologist at Tampa General Hospital and a faculty member at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. Dr. Khattab specializes in treating patients with brain and spine tumors and has a unique expertise in the treatment of benign neuropsychiatric diseases and complex pain syndromes using stereotactic radiosurgery. After earning his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, he began his training in neurosurgery at New York University before transitioning to radiation oncology at Vanderbilt University, where he served as chief resident.

Dr. Khattab is a pioneer in applying radiosurgery for benign neurologic and psychiatric conditions including treatment-resistant depression, OCD, trigeminal neuralgia, and essential tremor, offering noninvasive treatments that have gained global attention. He also has an academic interest in advanced imaging modalities to better characterize the underlying neural circuitry implicated in these diseases and how circuitry changes as patients respond to treatment.

Dr. Khattab's unique combination of neurosurgical and oncologic expertise has placed him at the forefront of innovative treatment approaches for both malignant and benign conditions applying advancements in radiotherapy treatment delivery.

Dr. Noman Ashraf is a hematologist-oncologist with Tampa General Hospital who specializes in solid tumor oncology. He has been an associate professor of medicine in the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine since 2019. Additionally, he has been actively involved with the Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellowship Program at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, where he continues to serve as the chair of the Program Evaluation Committee.

Prior to joining Tampa General Hospital, Dr. Ashraf served as the assistant chief of the Division of Hematology and Oncology at James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital in Tampa after completing his hematology and medical oncology fellowship with USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in 2012. He completed his internal medicine residency at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and received his medical degree with honors from The Aga Khan University in Pakistan.

Dr. Ashraf has been an invited speaker and presenter at several regional, national and international conferences, including many throughout Tampa. He has formally trained more than 80 postgraduate fellows, including several current Tampa General Hospital medical staff members. Dr. Ashraf has also served as a principal investigator for clinical trials and is credited with several peer-reviewed publications, book chapters and presentations in his areas of expertise.

Dr. Andreas Karachristos is the Medical Director for Surgical Oncology with the TGH Cancer Institute and is a professor and chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. He prides himself on always being accessible to his patients. His goal is to help patients better understand their condition and help them navigate through different available treatment options. He is the former director of Hepatic Surgery at Fox Chase Cancer Center, a designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the former chief of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery at Temple University Hospital.

Dr. Karachristos has extensive experience in hepatobiliary and pancreatic malignancies and provides comprehensive care of tumors of the liver, pancreas and bile ducts, as well as upper GI malignancies. He utilizes both open surgical and minimally invasive approaches, such as laparoscopic and robotic surgery. He specializes in complex vascular reconstructions after major resections. His research is focused on enhancing liver recovery after major resections and neoadjuvant therapy in pancreatic cancer. He served on the hepatobiliary panel of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network from 2016 - 2019 and is currently serving on the Hepatobiliary Subcommittee of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract.

Dr. Bloom is originally from St. Petersburg, Florida. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Florida and earned his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. He then returned to the University of Florida, Shands Hospital, and the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center for his internship and residency in internal medicine. He completed his fellowship training in hematology and medical oncology at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University, where he served as chief fellow.

Dr. Bloom brings with him a strong academic and clinical background dedicated to advancing care for patients with gastrointestinal malignancies. He has been actively involved in clinical research, particularly focusing on colorectal, pancreatic, and liver cancers. He has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and delivered numerous presentations in the field of GI oncology.

Throughout his medical training, Dr. Bloom has earned several honors and awards and is an active member of the American Society of Hematology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the European Society for Medical Oncology.

 

Mayer Fishman, MD, PhD, has more than 20 years of experience in medical oncology, specializing in urologic oncology. With a focus on creating longitudinal plans for patient care, Dr. Fishman utilizes emerging therapies and medication options to coordinate chemotherapy, medical therapy, radiation and surgical services. Dr. Fishman's expertise in innovative care is matched by his teaching and administrative experience. In addition to spending more than 18 years on the medical staff and in different committees at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, he also served as a professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at USF Health Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa. Over 80 fellows have rotated through his clinic. Dr. Fishman has more than 100 publications to his credit and has been invited to speak on a variety of oncology topics at lectures and seminars. He is a current member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and American Association for Cancer Research (AACR).

Dr. Brian T. Collins is a board-certified radiation oncologist with significant clinical experience in treating breast and lung cancers. Regarded as a world-renowned expert in CyberKnife® radiotherapy technology, Dr. Collins specializes in cutting-edge radiation oncology techniques and tools.

Prior to joining Tampa General, Dr. Collins served as the medical director of the Department of Radiation Medicine and clinical director of the Proton Therapy Center at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. He has a particular interest in treating central nervous system (CNS) tumors and previously led the Department of Radiation Medicine’s CNS program for more than 20 years. He also was an associate professor at Georgetown University School of Medicine.

Timothy M. Nywening, MD, MS, MPHS, is on the medical staff at Tampa General Hospital. He has received advanced training and specializes in hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery and complex general surgical oncology.

Dr. Nywening offers expertise in a broad range of surgical oncology services, including minimally invasive surgical techniques. His areas of clinical expertise include treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies as well as melanoma, sarcoma and soft tissue cancers. In addition, he has a strong clinical and research interest in both malignant and benign diseases of the liver, pancreas and biliary systems. Dr. Nywening also offers treatment for advanced disease, including hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for peritoneal surface malignancies and multidisciplinary management of metastatic liver tumors.

Dr. Nywening has received numerous clinical, research and teaching awards. He has been published in several prestigious research journals, including The Lancet Oncology and Nature Medicine, and has over 50 publications, presentations and book chapters to his credit. He is also a member and participates in several professional organizations, including the American College of Surgeons, the Society of Surgical Oncology and the Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Society.

CONDITIONS TREATED
- Adrenal tumors
- Benign and malignant biliary disease, including gallbladder
- Distal esophageal/GE junction and gastric tumors
- Melanoma and skin cancers
- Sarcoma and soft tissue cancers

PROCEDURES PERFORMED
Open and minimally invasive procedures of the:
- Adrenal glands
- Biliary tree and gallbladder
- Liver
- Lymph nodes
- Pancreas

Dr. David Swoboda is a hematologist-oncologist who specializes in malignant hematology and is the Clinical Director of the Leukemia Program at Tampa General Hospital. Prior to joining Tampa General, he was a chief hematology-oncology fellow at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa after serving as a chief resident at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. Dr. Swoboda received his medical degree from Florida State University College of Medicine in Tallahassee, where he was the president of the Internal Medicine Interest Group.

Dr. Swoboda enjoys developing a close relationship with his patients and their families, building trust and gaining a full understanding of each disease in order to provide personalized, comprehensive care. His research is directed toward acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome and myeloproliferative disorders. He has published several entries in peer-reviewed journals and has participated in numerous scientific abstract presentations. Dr. Swoboda has memberships with the Society for Hematology Oncology, American Society of Hematology and American Society of Clinical Oncology.

CONDITIONS TREATED
- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphomas
- Acute myeloid leukemia
- Myelodysplastic syndromes and myeloproliferative disorders

PROCEDURES
- Cellular therapies (CAR T-cells) (in the near future)

Tracie Patel is a certified physician assistant (PA-C) who specializes in breast surgery and prides herself on delivering world-class, compassionate care. She cares for benign breast disease and patients who have an increased risk for development of breast cancer due to family history, previous atypical biopsies, or genetics. She is happy to help patients better understand their breast imaging and to provide insight into ways to help prevent development of breast cancer. She has been working as a Physician Assistant in surgery for 20 years at Tampa General Hospital. She was also the chair of the TGH Advanced Practice Council from 2015 to 2017.

Tracie earned her Master of Physician Assistant Studies at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville. Prior to that, she received her Master of Arts in Anthropology from Brigham Young University.

She has also received several awards including Physician Assistant of the Year, Provider of Month and was selected as a Cancer Committee APP member in 2021. She is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).

Samantha L. Roberts is a family nurse practitioner with experience in pediatrics, women's health/ oncology, adult primary care, adult palliative care and geriatrics. She is a clinician/assistant manager in Tampa General Hospital's Complex Medicine Unit, a 65-bed medical/surgical unit for patients with multisystem dysfunction. Roberts earned her Master of Science in Nursing at the University of Tampa and Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Jacksonville University. Her clinical areas of focus include adult medical/surgical, infectious disease and palliative care. She is currently a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the Florida Nurse Practitioner Network and the Florida Nurses Association. Her professional achievements include Tampa General's Complex Medicine Nurse of the Year and Divisional Nurse of the Year, with both honors awarded in 2016

Dr. Megan Melody is a malignant hematologist specializing in lymphoma and cellular therapy at Tampa General Hospital. She earned her medical degree from the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, where she developed a deep interest in hematologic malignancies. Dr. Melody completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, before finishing her fellowship in Hematology and Medical Oncology at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. While at Northwestern, she gained specialized training in the treatment of complex blood cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma, with a particular focus in cellular therapy.

Throughout her career, Dr. Melody has been dedicated to advancing the care of patients with hematologic cancers. She is actively involved in clinical research, focusing on developing new therapeutic strategies and improving patient outcomes. Dr. Melody is known for her compassionate approach to patient care, working clos

Dr. Paula Rosenblatt is a board-certified medical oncologist with expertise in breast cancer and survivorship care. She joins Tampa General Hospital from the University of Maryland, where she served as associate professor and director of quality and safety at the Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Dr. Rosenblatt has led numerous clinical trials and quality improvement initiatives, and she is widely published in oncology research. Her leadership in multidisciplinary care and patient education has helped shape national standards in breast cancer treatment.

At TGH Cancer Institute, Dr. Rosenblatt continues her mission to improve outcomes through evidence-based care, innovation and a deep commitment to patient advocacy.