Cancer Center Names New Administrator, Clinical Research Director, Chief of Physics

New leaders in innovation

  Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at St. Tammany Hospital has named Jack Khashou M.Ed. MS cancer center administrator, Cyndi Knox MBA BSN RN OCN CCRC director of clinical research and Jonas Fontenot Ph.D. chief of physics. Khashou will be responsible for the ongoing development and operations of the comprehensive cancer center while continuing his role as executive director of the St. Tammany Quality Network. With close to 20 years in the healthcare industry, he has experience in both oncology services and business development. “There are many synergies between the two roles Jack will be handling going forward, including business development, physician alignment and clinical integration,” said Sharon Toups, a member of the Cancer Center’s Leadership Team and senior vice president/chief operating officer at STPH. “He has already been working with the Cancer Center’s operational leaders to develop and document our cancer treatment regimens and is confident in assuming this additional responsibility.” Cyndi Knox is responsible for setting the overall direction and development of the center’s clinical research program. This includes the design and implementation of a portfolio containing clinical research projects to help cancer patients and physicians more easily and effectively access leading-edge clinical trials. Knox will also take a leadership role in the National Cancer Institute Gulf South-Minority Based Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP), an initiative to help provide more Gulf South residents with advanced cancer treatments. As chief of physics, Jonas Fontenot Ph.D. will supervise the medical physics program at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at St. Tammany Parish Hospital. In this role, Dr. Fontenot is responsible for the overall management of the Cancer Center’s physics and dosimetry teams, in support of clinical, research and educational activities. Medical physicists are a vital component of the cancer treatment team, collaborating with radiation oncologists to design treatment plans and monitor equipment and procedures to ensure patients receive the prescribed dose of radiation to the correct location. Their assistance to other healthcare professionals is crucial in optimizing the balance between the beneficial and harmful effects of radiation and assuring compliance with applicable federal and state regulations. Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at St. Tammany Parish Hospital provides comprehensive cancer care that strives to positively impact the lives of cancer patients and their families on the Northshore. Services include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery, as well as patient navigation, clinical trials and free community screenings. Not only do patients have access to these vital cancer services and high quality cancer care, but these services are readily available close to home.