Board Certified in Medical Oncology, Hematology and Internal Medicine, Dr. Kennedy provides compassionate care for patients at Mission Hope Cancer Center, and works collaboratively with all departments to provide patients with all aspects of cancer care. Dr. Kennedy is able to offer patients the most advanced treatment with enrollment in cutting edge clinical research studies. She has years of experience in the treatment and diagnosis of all cancers and provides her patients with individualized care for the best possible outcomes.An educator at heart, Dr. Kennedy has a passion for teaching her patients about their disease and how their treatments work. Understanding a disease is empowering for the patient and can remove some of the fear associated with a cancer diagnosis.Dr. Kennedy received her medical degree from the University of Oklahoma. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at the University of California Davis, and Hematology-Oncology fellowship program at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center-Stephenson Cancer Center.As an experienced principal investigator on numerous clinical trials for cancer therapies, Dr. Kennedy has published her findings in national medical journals, and puts her research knowledge into practice when treating patients. Dr. Kennedy is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Her top areas of expertise are Large-Cell Immunoblastic Lymphoma, Anal Cancer, Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, and Lung Cancer.

Tracy Tilley is a Nurse Practitioner in Santa Maria, California. Ms. Tilley is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Her top areas of expertise are Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Smoldering Multiple Myeloma, Febrile Neutropenia, and Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (SLL). Ms. Tilley is currently accepting new patients.

Ginger’s goal is to be an integral component in the care of her patients and their families. While some of her focus shifted over the years with regard to the area of medical expertise, the desire to provide care and dedication to the best of her ability has never changed. This is a focus that has led her through a number of helpful professions and specialties. She has worked in family medicine, emergency medicine, and critical care medicine until she landed in oncology. Once there she knew that she had found her niche. She has spent over 30 years working in medicine and over half of those working in oncology as an oncology certified nurse.Ginger’s education began at an early age tagging around after her family doctor and peppering him with questions to increase her understanding of the work that would eventually lead her to become a Nurse Practitioner. She has completed her undergraduate and postgraduate education at the University of Colorado and has continued to learn and grow since then in her chosen profession. Her goal to work in a community oncology practice that focuses on care and compassion has led her to Mission Hope Cancer Center. Here, she looks forward to playing a pivotal role in the care of patients and their families.In her spare time, she plays competitive billiards, golfs, exercises and spends time with her family of her husband and two furry pillows that eat—otherwise known as cats. Ms. Carmichael is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Her top areas of expertise are Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Smoldering Multiple Myeloma, Febrile Neutropenia, and Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer.

My approach to patient care is based on an individualized care plan which provides distinctive advanced medical and procedural therapy yet also meeting the unique emotional needs of each patient. I pride myself on utilizing both the cognitive and procedural aspects of my Advanced Therapeutic and Gastroenterologic training in providing cutting edge and evidence based care to my patients. Dr. Melitas earned his Medical degree from Spartan Health Sciences University and is Board Certified in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine.He completed an Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopy Fellowship at University of Illinois at Chicago and a Gastroenterology Fellowship at Michigan State University.As an advanced therapeutic endoscopist, Dr. Melitas has been trained to manage many complex gastrointestinal, pancreatic, biliary, and liver diseases endoscopically.Dr. Melitas is active in several Medical Associations including the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the American College of Gastroenterology and the American Gastroenterological Association. Dr. Melitas is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. His top areas of expertise are Jaundice, Bile Duct Obstruction, Cholangitis, Acute Pancreatitis, and Endoscopy.

Mark Ziemba is a Radiologist in Santa Maria, California. Dr. Ziemba is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. His top areas of expertise are Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Osteopenia, Melorheostosis, and Melorheostosis with Osteopoikilosis.

Dr. Keith Ayrons grew up on Long Island, New York, and completed his bachelor’s degree in Biology at the University of Albany while volunteering at the local hospital in the Pathology department. His passion for science and early learnings in the experimental and clinical based approach inspired him to complete first, a Master’s in Microbiology from Adelphi University and then his medical degree from Wayne State University. He then completed his Internal Medicine residency, and combined fellowship in Oncology and Hematology at Stoney Brook University. In 1995, Dr. Ayrons joined a growing oncology and hematology practice in Gastonia, North Carolina, where he was a partner for 23 years. He is Board Certified in Medical Oncology, Hematology and Internal Medicine and served as past president of the Internal Medicine department. For 25 years he developed excellent patient and family relationship skills that created a loyal patient following. In 2018, Dr. Ayrons relocated to the Central Coast and is excited to be a part of the Mission Hope Cancer Center where he can continue to fulfill his passion of serving the community through providing quality care. Dr. Ayrons is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. His top areas of expertise are Familial Colorectal Cancer, Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, Lung Cancer, and Paget Disease of the Breast.