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ChristianaCare’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute is the first in Delaware to offer a powerful new tool in the fight against multiple myeloma—a type of blood cancer that affects plasma cells in the bone marrow. That tool is a new chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, called CARVYKTI, which can improve treatment for adults with multiple myeloma that has returned or stopped responding to other treatments.
“CAR-T cell therapy represents a paradigm shift in the treatment of multiple myeloma,” said Thomas Schwaab, M.D., Ph.D., Bank of America Endowed Medical Director of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute." We are expanding access to this life-extending therapy right here in Delaware — close to home, close to hope. This is part of our ongoing commitment at the Graham Cancer Center to ensure our community has access to the most advanced cancer therapies.”
Multiple myeloma is a relatively rare cancer, but it still affects a significant number of people each year. In the United States, it is estimated that around 36,110 new cases will be diagnosed in 2025, according to the American Cancer Society
What is CAR-T Therapy? CAR-T cell therapy uses a patient’s own immune cells to fight cancer. Doctors first collect the patient’s T cells, which are a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight infections. In the lab, these T cells are reprogrammed by adding a special receptor called a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). This receptor allows the T cells to recognize specific proteins on cancer cells, acting like a navigation system to help the T cells find and attack the cancer.
After this genetic modification, the reprogrammed T cells are expanded in the lab to create a larger army of cancer-fighting cells. Then, they are infused back into the patient’s body, where they go on to find and destroy the cancer cells. This therapy is approved for adults who have already tried several standard treatments, like proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulators and anti-CD38 antibodies, without success. When those treatments stop working, CARVYKTI can offer a powerful new option.
CAR T-cell therapy has given new hope to patients with multiple myeloma whose cancer has returned or stopped responding to other treatments. Many people see their cancer shrink or even disappear for a period of time, which can help them live longer and feel better. While the treatment can have short-term side effects, many patients report feeling stronger and having fewer symptoms once they recover. It’s not a cure, but for some, it can mean more time with loved ones and a better quality of life.
“This therapy gives our patients a chance when other treatments have failed,” said Zhifu Xiang, M.D., medical oncologist at ChristianaCare Oncology Hematology. “It’s a deeply personalized approach that uses the patient’s own immune system to fight the cancer in a powerful new way. Being able to offer this locally means our patients don’t have to travel far for world-class care.”
A Leader in Cell Therapy The Graham Cancer Center’s dedicated team of specialists have been offering CAR-T cell therapy for other cancer types, such as lymphoma and leukemia, since 2018. The center is also recognized by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) for meeting the highest standards in safety, quality and patient care.
To learn more about CAR-T cell therapy or other cancer treatments at ChristianaCare, visit christianacare.org/cancer or call the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute at 302-733-HOPE (4673).
Jennifer Moberg, DNP, MPA, RN, CPPS, NEA-BC, has been appointed vice president of Emergency Services at ChristianaCare. In this role, she will oversee the delivery of safe, high-quality, patient-centered care across ChristianaCare’s emergency departments and support prehospital services and trauma programs.
Jennifer Moberg, DNP, has been appointed vice president of Emergency Services at ChristianaCare.
Moberg has a strong track record of improving care quality, safety and caregiver engagement in complex health care settings. She has helped build more diverse teams, reduce staff turnover and lead major emergency department renovation projects. She has also worked to make patient care more efficient and improve safety for caregivers by strengthening security practices.
Prior to joining ChristianaCare, Moberg served as director of Emergency Services at HealthPartners in Bloomington, Minnesota. She also worked as a senior advisor assessing and standardizing security protocols across hospitals and clinics. Earlier in her career, she spent more than 20 years at Abbott Northwestern, where she served as a critical care nurse and later as a patient care manager.
Moberg earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice in executive leadership from Baylor University. She holds a Master of Public Affairs in nonprofit leadership from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Bethel University.
She reports to Chief Nurse Executive Danielle Weber, DNP, MSM, RN-BC, NEA-BC.
ChristianaCare has once again been recognized by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) for its exceptional complex care. The AACN has awarded the Beacon Award for Excellence to three intensive care units at Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware: the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU), the Surgical Critical Care Complex (SCCC), and the Transitional Surgical Unit (TSU)
Beacon Awards honor critical-care nursing units that demonstrate exceptional patient care, improved patient health outcomes, a supportive work environment and opportunities for collaboration. The Beacon Award is widely considered to be the most prestigious award in critical-care nursing.
“The Beacon Award shines a light on individual nursing units for their commitment to providing critically ill patients with exceptional care and evidence-based practices,” said Danielle Weber, DNP, MSM, RN-BC, NEA-BC, chief nurse executive at ChristianaCare. “These awards reflect nursing excellence and commitment to exceptional health outcomes, an outstanding work environment and superior patient experience.”
AACN President Jennifer Adamski, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC, CCRN, FCCM, applauds the commitment of the caregivers at ChristianaCare for working together to meet and exceed the high standards set forth by the Beacon Award for Excellence. These dedicated healthcare professionals join other members of our exceptional community of nurses, who set the standard for optimal patient care.
“The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes caregivers in outstanding units whose consistent and systematic approach to evidence-based care optimizes patient outcomes. Units that receive this national recognition serve as role models to others on their journey to excellent patient and family care,” Adamski said.
Consecutive successes Each of these units has received multiple Beacon Awards.
• The MICU has been continuously recognized as a Beacon unit since 2009. It is the sixth time that the MICU—Delaware’s first Beacon Award-winning unit—has received the national award, with four silver and two gold recognitions. The unit holds the most Beacon Awards in Delaware.
• The SCCC received a silver-level award for the fourth time.
• The TSU received a gold-level award for the first time, after receiving two silver-level awards.
“For us to be designated for such a consecutive amount of time is a testament to the ongoing, intensive work that we do and the focus on excellence that we have,” said Carol Ritter, MSN, RN, CCRN, CNML, nurse manager for the MICU.
“It’s an affirmation of the care that the nurses provide and the excellence that they bring every day, using advanced protocols and the latest technology and research.”
Beacon-designated units are renowned for their healthy work environments and high morale, which results in strong relationships among the nurses and outstanding patient care.
“Our nurses are committed to providing exceptional care and patient outcomes,” said Amanda Latina, MSN, MBA, RN, TCRN, nurse manager of the TSU and SCCC. “They embody what it means to be a critical-care nurse.”
Of the seven Beacon Award-winning patient care units currently in Delaware, all are at Christiana Hospital in Newark. These include the Neuro Critical Care Unit (silver), the Cardiovascular Stepdown Unit 4E (silver), the Cardiovascular Critical Care Complex (three-time gold winner), the Transitional Medical Unit and the 3C Intermediate Medical Unit (both silver).
