University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

UPMC has one of the nation’s most extensive cancer care networks, with access to the collective expertise of 4,900 doctors, over 30 surgical oncologists, 700 doctors’ and outpatient offices, and over 70 locations.

About the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

UPMC is a large-scale integrated network of cancer physicians and healthcare specialists. It is a major non-governmental employer in Pennsylvania, with 92,000 employees. UPMC manages a range of academic, community, and specialty hospitals and more than 700 doctors’ offices and outpatient sites. It receives over $569 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to advance medical research.

At UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, patients receive the most effective and up-to-date clinical care in cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment. As one of the nation’s top cancer treatment centers, it provides patients with a multidisciplinary treatment approach and individualized care plans for common forms of cancer as well as rare cancers, such as mesothelioma.

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center’s flagship facility is located in the Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh. However, as one of the largest cancer care networks in the country, UPMC has locations throughout northwest and central Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, and western Maryland. It offers inpatient cancer care at most of its hospitals, including UPMC Presbyterian and UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital.

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center is located at:

5115 Centre Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
(412) 647-2811

Here’s why mesothelioma patients choose UPMC Hillman Cancer Center:

One of the most extensive cancer care networks in the country
The only facility in western Pennsylvania with the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) elite designation of Comprehensive Cancer Center
National rankings in U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals Honor Roll
Ranked #1 hospital in Pittsburgh by U.S. News & World Report
Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as having one of the nation’s best cancer programs
Develops individualized treatment plans for each patient
Offers access to clinical trials through its research center

In October 2023, UPMC was named one of the country’s “Digital Health Most Wired” health systems by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives for the 25th year in a row. The designation signifies that UPMC uses advanced technologies to improve patients’ health.

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Patient Experience

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s health system is known for its excellent patient experience. This includes providing patients with convenience, comfort, support, and a caring and welcoming environment.

UPMC is a patient-centered medical home that builds collaborative partnerships between the patient, the family, and the medical team, including care managers who help coordinate the care plan. Its corporate quality department, called the Wolff Center at UPMC, has programs focused on medical care to enhance patient and family member experiences.

“A passion for innovation lies at the heart of UPMC’s success. UPMC’s unique strategy of combining clinical and research excellence with business-like discipline translates into high-quality patient care for both western Pennsylvanians and the global community.”

– University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

At UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, the team takes pride in its integrated capabilities, such as world-class clinical and technological innovation, research, and education. This keeps patients at the forefront of everything they do and creates a model that ensures proper care for everyone.

Each healthcare provider at the Center is committed to patient safety and providing reliable and consistent care. This is because UPMC fosters a “culture of safety,” with communication and transparency being essential. This helps create a partnership for the patients and the medical team to feel comfortable. The goal of using the latest safety practices and technologies is to continuously improve patient outcomes.

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, with its patient-centered focus, recognizes that early detection and prompt treatment are essential for managing all forms of cancer to the most favorable outcome possible. For mesothelioma patients, this means developing personalized treatment plans because each type, stage, and location requires a unique treatment strategy.

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Mesothelioma Specialty Care Center

The Mesothelioma Specialty Care Center at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center was introduced in 2011 and focuses on providing the best possible therapies for mesothelioma patients. The Center is equipped with specialists who are experts in treating pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma.

The treatment approach at UPMC includes diagnostic measures, imaging scans, and biopsy tests, which help identify the patient’s cancer stage and cell type. Extensive planning is the key to UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. The aim is for patients to visit the facility just one week after the initial consultation to start treatment as soon as possible. A coordinator will guide you through the entire process, schedule appointments, and serve as a liaison between the patient and the treatment team.

A team of doctors works together to devise a customized treatment and healthcare plan for each patient. This includes working with primary care physicians and the mesothelioma patient’s local oncologist.

The team at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center specializes in:

Medical and radiation oncology
Pain management
Pathology
Pulmonology
Radiology
Thoracic surgical oncology

Mesothelioma Doctors at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center’s mesothelioma doctors include:

Dr. Neil Christie, MD
Dr. James Luketich, MD
Dr. James Pingpank Jr., MD
Dr. Matthew Schuchert, MD

Mesothelioma Treatment Options at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Several mesothelioma treatment options are available at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. As one of the most experienced and extensive treatment facilities, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center creates a comprehensive treatment plan for each case.

Depending on the patient, mesothelioma treatment options could include:

Mesothelioma Surgical Options at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center surgeons are developing groundbreaking surgical options using chemoperfusion, a highly specialized treatment offered at only a few facilities in the country.

Pleural mesothelioma surgeries include:

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), which involves sending high doses of heated chemotherapy directly into the tumor
Pleurectomy surgery to remove part of the pleura
Pneumonectomy is surgery that removes all of a lung or parts of it

Peritoneal mesothelioma surgeries include:

Cytoreduction with HIPEC
Peritonectomy surgery to remove the cancerous part of the abdominal lining
Resection, which is surgery that removes as much of the cancer as possible

Chemotherapy for Mesothelioma

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center offers a full range of chemotherapy and biological therapies and treatment plans. These traditional cancer treatments can be highly effective for treating mesothelioma, especially when combined with other therapies.

Radiation Therapy for Mesothelioma

The Department of Radiation Oncology at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center has extensive experience using leading-edge approaches to treat mesothelioma. These therapies include intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT).

Mesothelioma Clinical Trials at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

As an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, UPMC participates in many government-funded clinical trials. UPMC has changed lives for more than 30 years through its commitment to excellence in cancer care research. Clinical trials at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center occur in the core and shared facilities in the Biomedical Science Tower, UPMC Montefiore, Scaife Hall, and the Biotechnology and Bioengineering Center.

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center researchers work with clinicians to advance promising studies into clinical trials.

Clinical trials are important in cancer care because they help:

Find better ways to treat cancer
Identify new technology to invest in
Pioneer new cancer treatments
Reduce the hardships cancer causes

Since research studies at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center are continuously being performed, one of the best ways to find out what mesothelioma clinical trials are currently being offered at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is to visit the website.

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Financial Assistance

UPMC may be able to offer financial assistance to mesothelioma patients.

Mesothelioma patients may be eligible for financial assistance if they:

Can prove they have a financial need
Do not have adequate health insurance
Do not qualify for Medicare, Medicaid, or other government assistance

Patients interested in working with the world-renowned mesothelioma team at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center can connect with our Patient Advocates 24/7 for assistance.