Roman Skoracki, MD, became medical director of the Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center (SSCBC) at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute in 2022.
Dr. Skoracki works with patients from diagnosis through reconstruction and recovery. His research focuses on the long-term impacts of cancer treatments and reconstruction. He also leads the Division of Oncologic Plastic Surgery in the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Ohio State’s College of Medicine, where he has been on the faculty since 2014.
We recently asked Dr. Skoracki for his thoughts on the history of the SSCBC and its goals for the future.
We are celebrating the Spielman Fund’s 25th anniversary. The SSCBC is marking its 12th year; what are its strengths?
One of our greatest strengths is the proximity of our clinical and research specialists, who focus solely on the treatment of breast cancer under one roof. This allows us to have a very organic flow of information and creates an environment where critical questioning is facilitated and strongly encouraged.
The SSCBC has always been a center of excellence in treating patients with breast cancer. We’ve been able to take it well beyond treatment now. The generosity of our donors has given us access to the latest technology for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer and has also supported initiatives that improve the quality of life associated with breast cancer treatment at every level, including long-term survivorship. Philanthropy allows us to invest in leading-edge technology that enhances the standard of care. As a result, we can conduct our own investigatorinitiated trials.
We’ve also become a leader in education thanks to the wealth of multidisciplinary knowledge we’ve acquired and the willingness of all providers to engage in interdisciplinary work. This is true for our trainees, from medical students to subspecialty fellows, as well as education efforts through outreach into the community.
Breast cancer treatment has changed radically in 25 years, becoming more precise and directed. In the next 25, what evolutions do you anticipate?
I think the trend we’ve seen with the many new chemotherapeutics and immunotherapies, protocols that either suppress or activate the body’s immune system to treat cancer, coming online will continue. The combinations of how those are used will continue to grow and probably let us continue to de-escalate the surgical intervention, finding the perfect balance between eradicating cancer cells and minimizing the side effects of our therapy, thereby optimizing quality of life.
I think future therapies for breast cancer will provide better control of the disease and higher cure rates than we already have. But most importantly, there will be less disruption to the quality of life of the individual patient. It’s my hope that surgery, obviously a drastic experience for anybody, will become increasingly rare and more targeted when necessary. That way, we can have smaller interventions and forgo surgery for many of our patients completely. I am working on my own obsolescence as a surgeon!
How are the research and investigations on breast cancer prevention, detection and treatment happening at the SSCBC leading to the changes we'll see in the next 25 years?
The vision of the OSUCCC – James at the inception of the SSCBC, together with the vision of many community leaders and donors and, of course, the Spielman family, has meant we can build a unique model where everyone is together, thus facilitating greater communication and collaboration.
It also means there’s a sense of family, which includes those caring for our patients, and invariably patients become part of that family as well. This not only flavors the very personal approach to patient care but is something that patients sense and embrace. This focus on family permeates everything that we do. Our solidarity as a team throughout the building means we can connect research, patient care and future innovation. Because they’re linked so closely, there’s an incredible urgency within us to drive things forward.
As Dr. Skoracki and the SSCBC team collaborate and innovate, care for patients and research developments in cancer prevention, detection and treatment, they are grateful for the support of Spielman Fund donors such as you, who make their work possible.