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Dr. Janice Nevin named among Modern Healthcare’s 2022 ‘Top 25 Women in Health Care’

Mar 18, 2022

3 min

Nevin praised for her work expanding ChristianaCare’s efforts in health equity, value-based care and emerging technology


ChristianaCare President and CEO Janice E. Nevin, M.D., MPH, has been named one of Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Women in Healthcare for 2022.


This is the second time Dr. Nevin has received this distinction.


Modern Healthcare chose awardees – female executives from different sectors of the health care industry – who are guiding health care improvement by influencing policy and care delivery models across the country.


A panel of judges and the top editors of Modern Healthcare made the selections.


The publication focused on Dr. Nevin’s leadership in ChristianaCare’s use of innovation and technology to aid in the battle against COVID-19 and improve health equity. It also called attention to her leadership in ChristianaCare’s collaboration with Highmark Health; through a new joint venture company, ChristianaCare and Highmark are combining their expertise and capabilities to create better health and to make health care more affordable for everyone by taking costs out of the system.


“I am deeply gratified by this award, but it is even more so a recognition of the incredible work all of ChristianaCare’s caregivers do every day to create better health,” said Dr. Nevin. “Living our values of love and excellence, we are transforming care and becoming not just a health system—but a system that truly impacts health.”


Dr. Nevin has overseen growth at ChristianaCare during the past year that includes a joint venture with AccentCare (formerly Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care) to expand in-home hospice and palliative care services throughout Delaware and a recently announced letter of intent to acquire Crozer Health, as well as the continued integration into the health system of Union Hospital in Cecil County, Maryland, which joined ChristianaCare in January 2020.


At the same time, she has worked tirelessly to ensure the system continued its tradition of clinical excellence while maintaining financial health and stability. This year, ChristianaCare was recognized for the second consecutive year by Healthgrades as one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals and by Forbes as one of the best health systems to work for in the United States.


Dr. Nevin continues to promote caregiver wellbeing and health equity. For the work of ChristianaCare’s Center for WorkLife Wellbeing to support its caregivers, ChristianaCare earned a 2021 Joy in Medicine recognition from the American Medical Association. The American Hospital Association’s Institute for Diversity and Health Equity named ChristianaCare a 2021 Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care Award honoree for demonstrating health equity as a priority across the organization.


“ChristianaCare is lucky to have Dr. Nevin’s leadership,” said Nicholas M. Marsini, Jr., chair of the ChristianaCare board of directors. “Having Modern Healthcare recognize her extraordinary efforts and passion is a wonderful acknowledgement of what we see on an ongoing basis. Dr. Nevin is incredibly invested in the wellbeing of ChristianaCare’s workforce, the communities we serve and the future of the U.S. healthcare system.”


The recognition also highlighted Dr. Nevin’s work in promoting gender equity – from building an executive cabinet evenly split between women and men to the creation of ChristianaCare’s Gender Equity Taskforce, which focuses on issues like pay equity and leadership access.


The profiles of all the winners were featured in the February 21 issue of Modern Healthcare.

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CorriXR Launches Bold Collaboration to Create First Inhaled CRISPR Therapy for Lung Cancer

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3 min

National Cancer Institute Renews Wistar—ChristianaCare Cancer Center Support Grant with Exceptional Score

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has renewed the Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) for The Wistar Institute and ChristianaCare’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute, awarding $16.3 million over the next five years. The renewal received an “exceptional” rating — the highest possible — recognizing the strength and impact of a partnership that combines world-class basic science with leading community-based cancer care. A One-of-a-Kind National Model This collaboration is the only one of its kind in the nation, joining Wistar, an NCI-Designated Basic Cancer Center, with ChristianaCare, one of the country’s premier academic community cancer centers and a National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program. Together, they focus on driving advances against some of the most challenging cancers, including pancreatic, melanoma, breast, lung and ovarian cancers. The grant supports shared infrastructure, scientific resources and programs that enable researchers and clinicians to work seamlessly across both institutions. By connecting laboratory breakthroughs at Wistar with ChristianaCare’s ability to rapidly apply new approaches in a diverse patient population, the partnership accelerates the path from discovery to care. NCI highlighted the collaboration’s effectiveness, noting that “the ongoing alliance with the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute is where most clinical translation into active oncology trials is occurring, supported by productive collaboration between Wistar investigators and Graham Cancer Center oncologists.” Impact on Patients and Community “At ChristianaCare, we are committed to bringing innovation directly to the people we serve. Our collaboration with Wistar connects the best of basic science with the realities of patient care,” said Thomas Schwaab, M.D., Ph.D., Bank of America Endowed Medical Director of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute. “The NCI’s exceptional score recognizes the promise of this work and the progress we are making together. It is a powerful affirmation that our patients are benefiting from research at the highest level.” “This renewal from the NCI is proof that we are building a model for how cancer research and community care can come together,” said Nicholas J. Petrelli, M.D., director of the Cawley Center for Translational Cancer Research at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute and associate director of Translational Research at The Wistar Institute Cancer Center. “Through our partnership with Wistar, patients in Delaware and beyond are gaining access to cutting-edge research and therapies for some of the toughest cancers we face.” Dario Altieri, M.D., president and CEO of The Wistar Institute and director of its Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center, added: “An exceptional rating from the NCI is a reflection of the scientific excellence and real-world impact of this partnership. What makes this collaboration unique is its ability to take discoveries in areas such as melanoma and ovarian cancer and bring them rapidly into clinical practice through ChristianaCare.” NCI underscored the alliance’s reach, noting that “the partnership with the Graham Cancer Center brought cutting-edge cancer research to the community and advanced groundbreaking discoveries to first-in-human oncology clinical trials.” A Pipeline of Research Advancing Faster Than Ever Research achievements supported by the Wistar—ChristianaCare partnership include: Advancing multiple Wistar discoveries into investigator-initiated, first-in-human oncology clinical trials, including studies in pancreatic, melanoma, lung, breast and ovarian cancers. Launching joint research programs across several cancer types, with expanding efforts in cancer risk and population health. Increasing access to high-quality biospecimens — including tumor tissue, biopsies and blood samples — that fuel translational research. Strengthening shared scientific infrastructure supporting immunotherapy research, organoid development, xenograft models and molecular profiling. The Wistar—ChristianaCare partnership, established in 2011, has grown into a nationally recognized alliance that bridges science and medicine. With this CCSG renewal, the collaboration will expand research in pancreatic, melanoma, breast, lung and ovarian cancers and continue advancing prevention, early detection and training programs for the next generation of physician—scientists. The Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute depends on grants and community support to keep this work moving forward. To learn more or make a gift, visit Support the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute.

3 min

Expanding Comprehensive Cancer Services to Middletown, Delaware

ChristianaCare’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute is expanding access to high-quality, comprehensive cancer care for residents in Middletown and nearby communities. These services will be offered at the new Middletown Health Center, now under construction and expected to open in May 2027. “Our vision is to expand and grow our services throughout the region so that more patients can access high-quality cancer care close to home,” said Thomas Schwaab, M.D., Ph.D., Bank of America Endowed Medical Director of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute. “By bringing our full cancer-care team and advanced technology to Middletown, we can provide highly precise, coordinated treatment while maintaining the same high standard of care our patients expect.” The cancer care services offered at the Middletown Health Center will reflect the same high-quality, comprehensive care provided at ChristianaCare’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute in Newark. Patients will have access to specialists across all major cancer types, supported by the Graham Cancer Center’s participation in the National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP), which brings advanced treatments and clinical trials directly to the community. In Middletown, this means coordinated multidisciplinary treatment planning, advanced radiation therapy, infusion services, consultations with oncologists and surgeons, nurse navigation, supportive care, clinical trial participation and both in-person and virtual visit options. Advanced Technology Enhances Precision and Comfort When services open in Middletown, patients will have access to advanced radiation therapy using the Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator, one of the most sophisticated radiation therapy systems available. TrueBeam delivers highly precise, image-guided treatments for a wide range of cancers, allowing physicians to target tumors more accurately while minimizing radiation to healthy tissue. “The TrueBeam system represents a major step forward in how we deliver radiation therapy,” said Adam Raben, M.D., chair of Radiation Oncology at ChristianaCare. “Treatments that once took 30 minutes can now be completed in just a few minutes, with real-time imaging ensuring precision. This means better tumor control, fewer side effects and a more comfortable experience for patients.” A Growing Community with Expanding Health Care Needs Middletown is one of Delaware’s fastest-growing communities, with its population projected to rise 8% by 2029, nearly twice the statewide rate, according to the US Census Bureau. Since 1990, the town’s population has grown more than 550%, and the number of residents age 65 and older has increased 24% since 2020, driving demand for accessible, high-quality health care. With continued growth and an aging population, cancer service demand in Middletown is expected to increase by 11% over the next decade, according to health care forecasts from Sg2, a Vizient company, underscoring the need for expanded local care options. Expanding Access to Meet Future Cancer Care Demand By expanding services in Middletown, ChristianaCare is responding to both the region’s population growth and the increasing need for cancer care. The new site will help patients receive timely diagnosis and treatment while reducing travel time and improving coordination with the full Graham Cancer Center team. “As our community grows, so too does the need for locally accessible, state-of-the-art cancer services,” said Schwaab. “This expansion represents a pivotal investment in the health of the Middletown—Odessa—Townsend corridor and beyond.” $92 Million Investment in Middletown’s Health The $92.3 million Middletown Health Center reflects a deep investment in the health and vitality of the state. It is part of ChristianaCare’s larger plan, announced in July 2025, to invest more than $865 million in Delaware over the next three years. In addition to cancer care, the Middletown Health Center will offer a full range of services, including primary and specialty care, women’s health, behavioral health, cardiovascular care, pediatrics, neurology, imaging, diagnostics and lab testing. The center’s healing environment will also include walking trails and abundant natural light, making high-quality, convenient and coordinated care more accessible and welcoming for patients and families. The 87,000-square-foot Health Center will be located at 621 Middletown Odessa Road, next to ChristianaCare’s existing freestanding emergency department.

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