Erin Burke, MD, one of the newest surgical oncologists to join the Division of Surgical Oncology, has quickly become an integral part of the team at The James Outpatient Care in the Carmenton district.
Performing the majority of her surgeries there, Dr. Burke has found the ambulatory site to be a huge benefit to joining Ohio State.
“The OR space has allowed for some fantastic advantages,” Dr. Burke says. “First, it allows for the natural development of a cohesive team in the OR, which is key for success. It also has unrivaled efficiencies – shorter times between cases, not waiting on equipment, etc. All this leads to better patient care.”
Dr. Burke says the site in the Carmenton district on the western edge of The Ohio State University’s campus is not only a benefit to her and her clinical team, but also to her patients.
“Having outpatient facilities like this helps keep patients at home during their treatments, which many patients prefer. It also provides a space that is easier to access and navigate. It allows for collaboration between providers, as we are all located in close proximity,” she says.
The strengths don’t stop there. The technology and equipment found at The James Outpatient Care are crucial to Dr. Burke’s practice.
“I wouldn’t be able to provide any of the care needed without the equipment they have for us there,” she says. “Everything from the tools that help us localize a breast mass, to the radiology services needed to do the injections for sentinel node biopsies to the pathology to process the specimens – this is all critical to a surgical oncology practice.”
Dr. Burke – who knew from a young age that science and helping people was her calling – is thankful she made the decision to bring her surgical experience to the Division of Surgical Oncology within The Ohio State University College of Medicine's Department of Surgery in May 2024.
“The resources at Ohio State immediately caught my attention,” she says. “I saw firsthand what these resources – from the facilities to the programs to the funding – could do for patients, and it was a major motivator for me. On top of that, the research resources were also important. I knew that I would be able to achieve my goals in clinical research, particularly as it relates to clinical trials.”
She also emphasizes the importance of the people at Ohio State.
“I’ve already had the opportunity to work with some amazing people who will be mentors and friends for the rest of my career,” Dr. Burke says.
Ohio State and the Division of Surgical Oncology are lucky that Dr. Burke has brought her clinical expertise and dedication to her patients to this team. Her work at not only The James Outpatient Care but across The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center will greatly enhance patient care and advance the field of surgical oncology.