Dr. Saks Q&A

Submitted by abshaver on
  1. Name: Erin Saks, MD
  2. Job Title: Division Director, Gynecologic Oncology; Director of Gynecologic Oncology Clinical Trial Program, Medical Director of Riverside 1 Infusion Center, Medical Director of Cancer Genetic Counseling Program
  3. Department and Location:  Obstetrics and Gynecology; Riverside 1 and CRMH
  4. How long have you worked at Carilion?  9 years
  5. Why did you decide to go into medicine and work here? I went into medicine as it seemed like a career with job security, reasonable compensation, and the opportunity to help people.  I chose to work at Carilion due to proximity to my family in central Virginia as well as a strong gyn oncology group with room for growth.
  6. What is a typical week at work like?  I have protected research time ½ to 1 day per week dedicated to our emerging clinical trials program.  I operate 1-2 days per week.  I see patients at Riverside Complex 1 ½ to 3 days per week.  I am on-call at CRMH 1 out of 4 weeks. 
  7. Gynecology-Oncology is a specialized field. Can you describe some of the conditions you treat, and how your work fits into a patient’s cancer treatment?  We treat all forms of gynecologic cancers including cancers of the cervix, endometrium and ovary.  My practice prescribes systemic therapies for cancer treatment (chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormonal ablation) as well as surgery and often both.  About 1/3 of our volume is benign pathology with complex surgical needs. 
  8. How do you collaborate with other Carilion clinicians and other departments?  We regularly collaborate with BRCC radiation oncology as well as other surgical services including colorectal surgery, plastic surgery and urology.  Many of our patients drive more than 2 hours for their care.  For those that cannot come to Roanoke regularly for infusion treatments, we collaborate closely with local medical oncologists.  We have a twice monthly multidisciplinary tumor board attended by radiology, radiation oncology and pathology. 
  9. So far in your career, what was your best day at work? I have lots of good days at work so I’m not sure.  Getting a terrified patient who desperately needs surgery through an appropriately expedited case safely never gets old.  Gyn oncology is a team effort, and my small, efficient, dedicated team excels at addressing urgent clinical issues requiring complex logistical solutions.  I could do nothing without the support of my amazing office nurses, MAs and lab staff, the best surgical scheduler I could imagine, four excellent APPs, a very detail-oriented manager, two dedicated research coordinators and my four fabulous partners, Drs. Armbruster, Osborne, Summey and Wilhite. 
  10. What’s one thing that would surprise people about you?  I do not enjoy movies or other entertainment about cancer or most other serious topics.  I have read all Calvin and Hobbes cartoons at least 5 times and am on a mission to make my children do the same.  I have a garden and a grudge against the local deer population.  I often garden after dark on busy weeks.  I am not a particularly good gardener, but I keep trying. 
  11. Looking to the future, what developments in your specialty are you most excited about?  I am very excited about antibody drug conjugates for systemic cancer treatment as well as AI driven molecular analysis of cancer biology and emerging targets for therapy. 
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