OSF Cancer Center in Bloomington Expands with New Services
For immediate release
Contact: Curt Squires | Public Relations and Communications Coordinator | (309) 665-5748
(BLOOMINGTON, Ill. | June 26, 2023) –OSF Cancer Center in Bloomington is adding three new physicians to expand the range of surgery and treatment options available in the local community. Springfield Clinic colorectal surgeons Steven Tsoraides, MD, FACS, FASCRS, Justin Fischer, MD, FACS, FASCRS, and fellowship-trained breast surgeon, Vaishali Patel, DO, will be joining OSF HealthCare in July. Patients will be able to access physicians through referrals or directly by calling 309-684-9100.
“A cancer diagnosis impacts every part of daily life for the person going through it,” said Lynn Fulton, president, OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center. “By expanding services, we are improving access to high quality cancer surgery close to home, and hopefully lessening some of the burden of travel for those families.”
Drs. Tsoraides, Fischer and Patel will be providing care at OSF Cancer Center at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center through a new professional services agreement.
Dr. Fischer knew he wanted to be a doctor after witnessing his younger sister's battle with leukemia when he was a child. He attended Southern Illinois University School of Medicine for medical school and completed his general surgery residency at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, California He completed a colorectal cancer fellowship at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. At OSF St. Joseph, Dr. Fisher will focus on disorders of the anus and rectum, which includes hemorrhoids, anal fissures and cancers, as well as surgery for inflammatory bowel disease.
Born in New York City, Dr. Patel did not grow up wanting to be a doctor. She began her career working for a nonprofit organization, Malaria No More, where she worked with high school- and college-aged students to raise awareness of issues in Africa and Southeast Asia. It was during that time she realized she could make a difference in people's lives through medicine. She completed medical school at New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine and then completed a fellowship in breast surgical oncology at Cleveland Clinic. At OSF St. Joseph, Dr. Patel will focus on diagnostic breast care as well as breast oncologic surgery.
Dr. Tsoraides earned his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria (UICOMP) where he also completed a graduate degree and general surgery residency. He then completed a colon and rectal surgery fellowship at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. He now serves as an associate professor of clinical surgery for the general surgery residency at UICOMP. At OSF St. Joseph, Dr. Tsoraides will focus on treatment for hemorrhoids, diverticulitis, colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease, as well as offering robotic surgery.
“We are excited to welcome Drs. Fischer, Patel and Tsoraides to our OSF Cancer Center team,” Lynn said. “Their talents will be a great addition to our cancer services in the community.”
Dr. Tsoraides, who is also on the Springfield Clinic Board of Directors, said it’s an exciting time to be able to bring high-quality specialty surgical care to Bloomington-Normal.
“Cancer surgery, robotics, advanced abdominal surgery for reflux, hernia, obesity and complex colorectal disease will all be offered in addition to urgent surgical care. Patients shouldn’t have to leave their hometown for the majority of the care they need,” said Dr. Tsoraides. “Especially with cancer, it’s hard enough to get through surgery. Having access to loved ones and home comforts are essential. The future of care here looks very bright. You’re in good hands with our new surgical collaboration.”
More information about the services offered at the OSF Cancer Center can be found here.
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