As West Virginia University prepares to welcome back students, faculty and staff to campus for the fall 2021 semester, the University has developed plans and guidelines for employees to ensure continued adaptation of new ways of working and operating in as safe a manner as possible. 

WVU Cancer Institute Schiffler Cancer Center Welcomes New Director of Medical Oncology

Bhavana “Tina” Bhatnagar, DO, is the director of medical oncology at the WVU Cancer Institute Schiffler Cancer Center. Dr. Bhatnagar is a graduate of Emory University in Atlanta and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She performed her internship and residency at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

She completed her fellowship in hematology and medical oncology at the University of Maryland’s Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center.
Dr. Bhatnagar was most recently the associate professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, at The Ohio State University’s Wexner Cancer Center. She is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in internal medicine, hematology, and medical oncology.

Cincinnati-Area Fundraising Event Boosts Cancer Research via Huggins Memorial Fund

Zulia and his wife, Linda, hope that shared experience motivates people to contribute to the Norma Mae Huggins Endowment Fund at the WVU Foundation, established by WVU Men’s Basketball Coach Bob Huggins in memory of his mother. In fall 2019, the Zulias donated $50,000 of their own money and $50,000 from their Cincinnati-based business, Oxford Physical Therapy Centers, to launch a fundraising campaign that focused first on their employees. Now, they are welcoming Huggins back to the Queen City for a public benefit weekend to boost their efforts to raise money for cancer research.

Presented by Oxford Physical Therapy Centers, Fleet Feet Cincinnati and Central Bank, the inaugural Huggins Homecoming comprises three events June 13-14 – a 5K run/walk, post-run bites and brews, and a dinner event featuring Huggins and special guests. The dinner event will be available to the public via a tickets-required livestream, with a limited on-site audience. All proceeds will benefit the Norma Mae Huggins Endowment Fund.

Through a partnership with the West Virginia Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program, employees can now use our new, online WVU Medicine Employee Cancer Screening Eligibility Tool to determine screening recommendations and possible risk factors.

The goal of the cancer screening eligibility tool is to help reduce barriers transgender and gender-diverse employees face when screening for cancers associated with sex organs.

As the state’s largest employer, WVU Medicine understands that caring for the health of our employees is simply protecting our greatest asset – our people. Helping employees overcome barriers to cancer screening is an important investment in the health of our workforce.

If you have story ideas, photos or other announcements you would like to see in weekly WVU Cancer eNews please send requests to Lori Acciavatti at wvucancer@hsc.wvu.edu.