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
Barbara A. Murphy, M.D.
Director, Cancer Supportive Care Program
Director, Head and Neck Research Program
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
M. Rachel McDowell, MSN, RN, APRN, BC
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
Dr. Currey has over 25 years of experience working in various clinical settings including rehabilitation hospitals, community mental health centers, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, nursing homes, and private practice. He served as Assistant Director of Psychology at Allied Services Rehabilitation Hospital in Scranton, PA, and was Assistant Director of the Work Rehab/Pain Management Program at Thoms Rehabilitation Hospital in Asheville, NC. In addition, he was Clinical Director at Bethany Center in Bethany, PA, a residential substance abuse treatment program. Dr. Currey has a special interest in utilizing cognitive-behavioral principles and skills in helping patients and their families effectively manage the psychological and emotional impact of cancer.
With extensive experience working in medical settings, Dr. Currey provides a range of behavioral services aimed at helping patients and their families cope with the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis, cancer treatment, and cancer survivorship, including individual counseling and psychotherapy, patient-family counseling and education, and stress/anxiety/depression management.
Nutrition Services Staff
Lisa Woodbury, MS, MPH, RD, LDN
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 Bachelor’s 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
Ann Marie Flores, P.T., Ph.D., M.S., M.A.
Manager of the Rehabilitation Oncology Program, Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation
Dr. Flores is an Assistant Professor in Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation. She is the Manager of the Rehabilitation Oncology Program for Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation and is a member of the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center where she directs the Sociobehavioral Research Working Group for the Pain & Symptom Management Program. Dr. Flores is the Director of Research for the Section on Women's Health for the American Physical Therapy Association. She is a member of the National Black Leadership Initiative on Cancer (Nashville) and is a board member of the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Flores received her MS degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Miami where she received awards in Neuroanatomy & Physiology and for her outstanding academic performance. She received her MA and PhD degrees in Sociology from The Ohio State University where she was awarded a Dean's Fellowship and a Foreign Language Area Studies Fellowship from the U.S. Department of Education. She has also completed an NCI funded fellowship in Cancer, Culture & Literacy at the University of South Florida, Moffit Cancer Center. She has received awards for her research from the American Association of Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, InterCultural Cancer Council, University of Maryland, and Meharry Medical College. Dr. Flores is also a recent recipient of the Sister's Network (Nashville) ESTHER Award for her community work and research.
Dr. Flores' research focuses on cancer survivorship, women's health, and health disparities.
Social Work Services Staff
Cindy Tinker, CMSW
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.
