(Auburn) – There are very few specially and highly trained Orthopedic Surgeons who have the professional skillset to operate on cancer patients to remove tumors from bones and soft tissues. It is estimated that there are only a few hundred, as few as 150 Orthopedic Oncologists, in all of America.
One has just been hired at Auburn Community Hospital (ACH).
Dr. Emily Carmody, an Orthopedic Oncologist, is now on staff at ACH. Her arrival strengthens the level of patient care, especially at the new Upstate Cancer Center at Auburn Community Hospital.
“Orthopedic oncology is a very specialized area of orthopedics. The types of primary cancers that we treat in sarcoma are incredibly rare. Families can experience great stress traveling long distances for this specialized type of cancer care. No more, here in Auburn. Patients can receive phenomenal cancer treatment closer to home, especially concerning the removal of tumors in sensitive parts of the body,” said Dr. Carmody.
Orthopedic oncology surgeries can be complex and incredibly challenging for surgeons, which is why there are so few across the country.
Benign or cancerous tumors can be placed in challenging areas of the body, including soft tissues of the extremities, and deep into bone.
“No two tumors are the same. Surgeries are long and complex. My goal is to save as much bone and tissue as possible while completely removing tumors. The mission is to protect the patient as much as possible, to save limbs rather than engaging in amputation,” added Dr. Carmody.
In addition to performing surgeries as an Orthopedic Oncologist, Dr. Carmody can perform total joint revisions. This will help patients, especially the elderly, fix or replace previous joint prosthetics that either suffer from normal wear and tear or become loose in the joint.
After graduating Magna Cum Laude with a Biology degree from Seton Hall University in 1998. Dr. Carmody earned graduate and medical degrees from the University of Rochester, George Washington University, and the University of Florida, Shands Hospital.
Dr. Carmody received her Diplomate in the Specialty of Orthopaedic Surgery from American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) in 2012. Since then, Dr. Carmody has earned numerous, distinguished, and national awards within the orthopedic surgery community, including:
- American Medical Schools (AMS) Outstanding Distinction in Research
- American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) Plenary Poster Award:
- Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons (ABJS) Marshall Urist Resident Clinician Scientist Award
- Duthie-Evarts Resident Teaching Award Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
- International Society of Limb Salvage (ISOLS) 3rd Place Best Paper Award: PROMIS as a Measure of Functional Outcome In Musculoskeletal Oncology Patients
- Decorated Affiliate American Health Council
- America’s Top Doctors
“We are thrilled to have such a distinguished and specialized surgeon on board at Auburn Community Hospital. Patients do not have to travel far and wide for comprehensive care,” said Auburn Community Hospital President and CEO Scott Berlucchi.
A certified Reiki Master, Dr. Carmody complements cancer care for patients at Upstate Cancer Center at Auburn Community Hospital.
“There are only a handful of Orthopedic Oncologists across the United States, and one of the best is now caring for patients right here at ACH. Dr. Carmody is a phenomenal addition to our entire team that provides comprehensive care to patients we serve in and around Cayuga County,” concluded ACH Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jamie Syrett.