DeKalb Medical Cancer Center

DeKalb Medical Cancer Center is part of DeKalb Regional Health System, Inc., known as DeKalb Medical, which was founded in 1961.

The not-for-profit health care system’s cancer center has achieved the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons Accreditation since 1973 and has also been awarded the prestigious Outstanding Achievement Award by the Commission on Cancer three times. This award recognizes cancer programs that strive for excellence in demonstrating compliance with CoC standards and are committed to ensuring high-quality cancer care.

Along with a team of experts, continued investments in the latest technology and one of the largest genetic risk assessment programs in the state, DeKalb Medical Cancer Center has a strong focus on oncology research.

Principal Investigator

Jayanthi Srinivasiah, MD, Chair
Board Certified in medical oncology and hematology, Jayanthi Srinivasiah (Dr. Jay), M.D. serves as the Principal Investigator for the DeKalb Medical research program and has been a leader in the development of the cancer program.  In her many years with DeKalb Medical, she has successfully managed over 25 clinical trials.  She was awarded the Silver Award from the National Cancer Institute’s Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) for the number of patients enrolled in clinical trials.

Dr. Jay completed her medical degree at Bangalore Medical College in Bangalore, India, and residencies at Louis A. Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL and the University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA. She completed a fellowship at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Jay’s areas of special interest include: breast cancer, genetics, colon cancer, lung cancer, and benign hematology. Dr. Jay recently returned from India where she taught a three-day course in genetics and genomics at Kolar Medical College. The thirty participants at the medical school included both post-graduate students and professors.

Dr. Jay is a member of the Medical Association of Georgia, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the DeKalb County Medical Society. Dr. Jay chairs the Cancer Committee at DeKalb Medical, which includes the chairing of the Clinical Trials and Genetics Committees. She functions as an investigator with the Center for Oncology Research and Education (CORE). Dr. Jay currently serves on the GCS Board of Directors.

Research Nurses and Data Manager/Regulatory Specialist

DeKalb Medical Cancer Center’s research department is staffed by five oncology certified nurses: Cathy Comer (Manager), Lynn Dixon, Rachel Coleman, Dena Horton and Jodean LaPoint. Ruthie Sweat is the Data Manager and Regulatory Specialist for the department.

Our mission is to accelerate cancer research by continuously strengthening the cancer program at DeKalb Medical Center. By teaming with other cancer center personnel (diagnostic technicians, navigators, specialized physicians, surgeons, genetics, infusion center nurses, radiation oncologists, and chaplains) our goal is to participate in the multi-disciplinary assessment of each patient’s treatment planning. Patients that participate in clinical trials are monitored closely and may have better outcomes. In an effort to identify the best available treatment for each patient, research opportunities are included in a multi-disciplinary approach. We strive to maintain a broad menu of trials including prevention trials to offer our patients.