Dr. Carl Barsigian

Philosophy of care | Having been on the receiving end of multiple cancer diagnoses within my own family as I grew up, I strongly believe my patients and their families have the right to an honest discussion about their disease process. I personally make every effort to explain things in a simple yet detailed way, so patients understand their disease, goals of care and treatment plan. I want to be a trusted partner in helping them deal with their diagnosis, and make every effort to treat each patient as I would a family member. | Why I entered medicine | My family suffers from a genetic syndrome that predisposes them to developing cancer. Having grown up watching and helping most of the people I love deal with cancer, I decided to study medicine and do what I could to improve treatment and help others live their best possible lives with this disease. After medical school, I did basic science research at Johns Hopkins University, followed by residency and fellowship training at the Cleveland Clinic and the University of Pittsburgh, all to become the best oncologist I could be. | Community involvement | I am involved in organizations and charities that improve the lives and treatment of cancer patients. I also help provide free specialized remote care and expert opinion to international patients in collaboration with their local health care providers. I enjoy community events to educate people on targeted therapies and their success in making cancer a chronic disease. I also enjoy giving talks on how oncology is evolving and how cancer today often means patients living full lives while being treated for their disease. | Personal interests | Outside of work, I love to spend time with my family and our two dogs. Together we enjoy cooking, traveling, trying new cuisines and being outdoors. I also enjoy hunting and fishing. Dr. Ali is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pancreatic Cancer. His top areas of expertise are Familial Colorectal Cancer, Anal Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, and Lynch Syndrome.

Dr. Adjei is a board-eligible and fellowship-trained cancer physician specializing in hematology. He subspecializes in the lung. Dr. Adjei earned his medical degree from Istanbul Üniversitesi, Istanbul Tip Fakültesi in Turkey. He then moved to the United States, where he completed his residency at Harbor Hospital Center. He completed his fellowship in hematology and oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center. Dr. Adjei is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology. Dr. Adjei is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pancreatic Cancer. His top areas of expertise are Lung Adenocarcinoma, Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC), Squamous Cell Lung Carcinoma, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), and Bone Marrow Aspiration.

"Philosophy of care | As a medical oncologist, I try to empower my patients as much as possible – I will give you information, make recommendations, and encourage you to make informed decisions. Many of my patients initially (with newly-diagnosed cancer) have significant internal chaos. Providing information and orientation is often very calming – it is like shining a flashlight in a dark cave, so that one can see what is there, and understand everything better. When I meet you for the first time, sometimes the most important thing that I can do is to restore order to that internal chaos. | Why I entered medicine | I grew up with significant allergies, asthma and eczema during a time when there were no bronchodilators, and allergies were poorly understood. Due to sparse knowledge, I was constantly exposed to allergens from dogs, cats, feather pillows, etc. Due to sparse medical remedies (only prednisone available at that time), I was seemingly always ill. This engendered a desire to become a doctor and somehow exert some control. I was also interested in working in a field that would enable me to serve people in need. Medical oncology interested me in particular, because its research questions closely aligned with my research interests in graduate school. | Community involvement | In the past, I was a volunteer for WOAR (Women Organized Against Rape) in Philadelphia, and acted as a rape crisis counselor at one of the designated intake ERs in the city. I also participated in developing a Safe Touch program in the Philadelphia school system. As a WOAR volunteer, I conducted workshops with parents and teachers about teaching Safe Touch to children, in order to help children recognize sexual abuse and feel empowered to report it. | Personal interests | My favorite thing in the whole world now is to spend time with my (grown) children and other family members. In a ""previous life"", I used to enjoy tent camping, ballroom dancing, playing the piano, crocheting, and reading (Sci Fi books).". Dr. Austin is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pancreatic Cancer. Her top areas of expertise are Follicular Lymphoma, Breast Cancer, Paget Disease of the Breast, and Pleuropulmonary Blastoma.