Heading the program is Dr. Alexis Demopoulos, director of neuro-oncology at North Shore and the only hospital-based neuro-oncologist on Long Island.Neuro-oncologists are neurologists who also have specialized training in cancer care. They focus on treating patients with brain tumors and the neurological problems after cancer treatment. Patients under the care of a neuro-oncologist may receive chemotherapy, radiation, surgery or a combination of these modalities.Demopoulos comes to the health system from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, where he was a staff neurologist. He has broad experience treating primary brain tumors and the diagnosis and treatment of the neurologic complications of cancer, including cancer metastasis to the brain and other dysfunction of the brain spine and peripheral nerves. His special interests include clinical trials for gliomas, a type of brain tumor; translational research, which brings science from the laboratory directly to the bedside; and the development of new drug regimens for leptomeningeal metastases - cancer that spreads widely into the nervous system from another part of the body.In his new position at North Shore, Demopoulos will serve as a resource for patients and physicians. He will be a point person for patients, coordinating care among multiple disciplines at the hospital such as oncology, surgery, neuroradiology, radiation oncology, and neuropathology. Dr. Ronald Kanner, chief of neurology of North Shore and LIJ, said, "Dr. Demopoulos is a dedicated neuro-oncologist and his forte is patient care. With the rapid changes in the field of neuro-oncology, it was crucial for the health system to have the right specialist to lead our neuro-oncology program. Patients will benefit enormously from Dr. Demopoulos' expertise." Demopoulos said, "It's tough on patients to travel to Manhattan or another distant location to get treatment. Having highly trained cancer care specialists in the community is a huge advantage for patients. If someone is neurologically impaired and depends on a caregiver, reducing travel time to and from the hospital improves the quality of life for all involved."According to the American Cancer Society, 18,400 people are diagnosed with nervous system tumors each year in the United States. Ten times as many people are found to have cancer from outside the brain that spreads into the nervous system. Demopoulos is certified in neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He received his MD from Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago and completed his neurology training at New York Hospital. He completed a research fellowship at Sloan-Kettering in 1998 and later completed a clinical fellowship there. In 2002, Demopoulos was awarded the Charles H. Revson Fellowship for Biomedical Research for the study of therapeutic glioma vaccines.A member of the American Academy of Neurology, the Society for Neuro-Oncology and the American Society for Clinical Oncology, Demopoulos has published multiple book chapters and articles in the neurology and oncology literature in his areas of expertise.Demopoulos is available for consultations at (516) 562-3065.
Long Island's heart walk
The American Heart Association's Long Island Heart Walk will be held on Sunday, Oct. 2. This year the walk will take place at Nassau Community College.The official Heart Walk ribbon-cutting ceremony to start the walk is scheduled for 10 a.m., and registration begins at 8:30 a.m.This year, the event is being sponsored by Subway, Oxford Health Plans, LLC, and United Healthcare Company. Additional sponsors include: Pegalis & Erickson, LLC, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, Astoria Federal Savings Bank and media sponsor WBAB-FM 102.3.The theme of this year's event is "Walk. Change Tomorrow. Today," which promotes the importance of taking part in the Heart Walk and the hope of curing heart disease and stroke.Heart disease is the country's No. 1 cause of death and stroke is No. 3. Together these cardiovascular diseases kill more than 930,000 Americans each year. All survivors of heart disease, heart surgery, cardiac arrest and stroke receive a free "Red Cap," which symbolizes being a survivor. Join survivors, families, friends, company teams and the 7,000 participants on Sunday, Oct. 2, to help fight heart disease and stroke.Since 1924 the American Heart Association has helped protect people of all ages and ethnicities from the ravages of heart disease and stroke. For the 2003-04 fiscal year, the association has invested more than $439 million for research, professional and public education and advocacy so people in the United States can reduce their risk and live longer lives.For more information or to register for the walk, call the American Heart Association at (516) 777-8447 or visit them on the web at www.heartwalk.kintera.org/longisland.
