Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

Cancer Supportive Care Clinic

Supportive Care Clinic Staff

• Director
• Pain and Symptom Management Staff
• Psychological Oncology Staff
• Nutrition Services Staff
• Rehabilitation Services Staff
• Social Work Services Staff

Murphy, Barbara A., M.D.
Professor of Medicine; Director, Cancer Supportive Care Program; Director, Head and Neck Research Program; Medical Oncologist

Dr. Murphy is a medical oncologist who specializes in head and neck cancer as well as in pain and symptom management control. The Head and Neck Oncology Program has achieved national recognition for its expertise in combined modality therapy. Her clinical interests for head and neck cancer include identifying new and more effective treatments. For example, Dr. Murphy studies patients who have been diagnosed with head and neck cancer that has either spread throughout the body (metastasized) or has returned after initial treatment with surgery or radiation (recurred). Although several chemotherapy drugs (anti-cancer medications) are effective in the treatment of metastatic or recurrent head and neck cancer, these agents are unable to provide a cure and are associated with side effects.

Dr. Murphy recently developed a new Pain & Symptom Management Program dedicated to providing our patients with a comprehensive and integrative approach to their health care. Dr. Murphy works with a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals to address specific problems facing cancer patients and their families and to ensure a coordinated plan of care. The program is committed to improving the quality of life of patients and families by helping to identify and resolve physical, emotional and spiritual issues.

 

Pain and Symptom Management Staff

McDowell, Mary (Rachel), MSN
Cancer Pain and Symptom Management Nurse Practitioner; Support/Psychologist

Rachel McDowell is a Masters prepared nurse who is certified as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner educated at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in Nashville, TN. Ms. McDowell works in both clinical and research areas. She has a special interest in working with pain management of oncology patients, as well as symptom management.

Ms. McDowell graduated from John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas with a B.S. in biology with a minor in chemistry. She then worked for several years with a non-profit organization that provided practical aid to underdeveloped countries while living in Germany.

 

Psychological Oncology Staff

 

 

Nutrition Services Staff

Woodbury, Lisa, R.D.
Dietician; Clinic Dietician

Lisa Woodbury is a dietitian who specializes in adult solid tumor cancers, such as those involving the head and neck, lung, colon, and breast. Ms. Woodbury attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and received a Bachelors of Science. She continued her education at UTK to receive Dual Masters Degrees in Nutrition and Public Health while completing her dietetic internship. After graduation in August 2005, Lisa came to Vanderbilt to practice dietetics at the Cancer Center.

 

Rehabilitation Services Staff

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Social Work Services Staff

Tinker, Cynthia A. (Cindy), CMSW
Clinic Social Worker; Social Worker

Cindy Tinker's professional background has been wide and varied. It gives her great satisfaction to be a useful link and team player in helping people get what they need and finding resources that work for them. Ms. Tinker has her master's degree in Social Work from the University of Tennessee, her bachelor's degree in Social Work from Middle Tennessee State University, and a two-year Associate's degree in Interpreting for the Hearing Impaired from Chattanooga State Technical Community College. She spent one year on a Rotary International Scholarship at James Cook University in Townsville, Queensland, Australia studying social work as a Foundation Scholar.