|
|
Links for patients and the public::
|
About this siteThe goal of this site is to inform medical practitioners, their patients and the general public about the availability of management expertise for cancer and hematological disorders under the supervision of a certified and registered privately practicing medical oncologist and hematologist. The site will regularly inform its visitors of important developments and advances in cancer biology and treatment.
Our MissionThe mission of this organization is to become the leading provider of the state-of-the-art care in the fields of cancer chemotherapy and the treatment of blood disorders on the Vancouver Island.
Consultancy ProfileWhy The Consultancy?The Malahat is a range of mountains that separates the Capital Region of Victoria from the rest of the island. In 2004, all full-time practicing oncologists and hematologists on the island reside south of the island. Thus, over 300,000 Central Vancouver Islanders living north of the Malahat have no direct access to a trained, certified and registered full-time hematologist or oncologist. The only full-time medical oncologist that served the area at the Nanaimo Cancer Clinic has recently had to take a mandatory retirement. For several months now, patients requiring consultative appointments for cancer or blood disorders invariably have to travel for hours or even days to see specialists in Victoria or the Lower Mainland. Others have their cases reviewed by video-link. The bedridden ones are sometimes airlifted to far-off treatment centres, away from their home and family. Effort to recruit a medical oncologist and hematologist to a place like Nanaimo, BC has failed in the past. This is because of the scarcity of qualified and certified physicians in this highly specialized fields of medicine. A suitable consultant should be one who can walk solo, an endeavor that requires the experience of several years in practice. This requirement further limits the likelihood of a suitable specialist being found in this field for the area in the foreseeable future. The establishment of the new private Hematology/Oncology Consultancy in Nanaimo/Parkville, BC area is the first of its kind on the Vancouver Island. However, similar private consultancies have existed in the Lower Mainland and, until recently, in Kamploops, BC for several years. There are also two private-practice hematologists in Victoria. The private-practice consultancy in medical oncology and hematology provides virtually the same services in private practice as are provided in the cancer centres of the province, where salaried oncologists and oncologists operate. The Consultant
Dr. Christopher K.O.Williams, who is a Canadian, received his undergraduate medical training at the University of Munich Faculty of Medicine, Munich, Germany, where he graduated with distinction and cum laude. He did postgraduate training in International Medicine and Clinical Hematology at the University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada and the McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He subsequently trained as a medical oncologist at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, New York, USA under the tutelage of the renowned medical oncologist, James F. Holland, MD. He holds certifications in Internal Medicine, Clinical Hematology and Medical Oncology with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and Certification in Medical Oncology with the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Williams has practiced Hematology and Medical Oncology for over 30 years in the United States, Canada, Nigeria, and the Middle East. Dr. Williams is the author of over 70 scientific publications, including articles in leading journals of medicine from all over the world, monographs and books. He is currently editing a book on "Breast Cancer In Women of African Descent." He was an Associate Professor of Oncology at the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. He is a member of several prestigious organizations, including the American Association for Cancer Research and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. From March 1997 to December, 2003, Dr. Williams was principally involved in the development of the Nanaimo Cancer Clinic of the Vancouver Island Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency. His activities during the period went beyond helping to establish a thriving cancer treatment centre. He also created and directed a clinical research unit at the clinic until his mandatory retirement. Dr. Williams is licensed to practice Internal Medicine, Clinical Hematology and Medical Oncology in the province of British Columbia, Canada. He is also licensed to practice in the province of Ontario, Canada. The ConsultancyDr. Williams holds consultations on new patients and follow-up patients at his office in Parksville, BC, Canada. He treats his patients at the Nanaimo Cancer Clinic and the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, in Nanaimo, where he lives with his family. The hospital is reachable from his private office in about 20 minutes by road. All services on Canadian patients are billed to the public insurance program (such as the Medical Services Program of British Columbia). Chemotherapy agents are provided by the Systemic Program of the BC Cancer Agency. Cancer patients in Dr. Williams' practice have access to all treatment and consultative facilities available within the province. These include radiation therapy, chemotherapy agents, social services support, genetic screening, medical imaging, laboratory and pathology services etc.. Associated NetworkThe Consultancy is a member of the Community Oncology Network of British Columbia, Canada. Clients' CommentsMedical Professionals:"This is a great relief to our patients and their families....." (several physicians in the Parksville, BC Qualicum Beach, BC and Port Alberni , BC areas, which constitute a major Canadian retirement community). "This is a win-win situation for everyone...." (a senior pharmacist at the St. Joseph's Hospital in Comox, BC commenting on the fact that patients would have the option of consultation with a qualified, certified and registered practitioner of hematology and oncology closer to home as opposed to what was available prior to the establishment of the consultancy). Patients:"Why travel 2 to 8 hours for consultation and treatment in Victoria or the Lower Mainland, when I can have the same service closer to my home" (paraphrased comments of several patients from various parts of Central Vancouver Island. "It costs me $200.00 to travel to Vancouver, and at least $100.00 to Victoria, for consultation. Who needs that when I can have the same thing here in Parksville for nothing!" The Founder And His AssociatesDr. Williams, the Director of the consultancy shares office facilities with two general practitioners. In addition, there are three office administrative assistants. The treatment facilities of the Nanaimo Cancer Clinic and the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, where Dr. Williams is an active member of staff with full privileges, are at his disposal. For more information about Dr. Williams, our founding consultant and Director, please, see his curriculum vitae.
Contact InformationOfficeThe office is located at the: Jensen Medical Clinic135E. Jensen Avenue Parksville, BC, V9P 2H2 Canada.
Office Telephone 250 248-6969 Office FAX 250 248-4275 Office e-mail: For General Clinic Information, please, call Lisa De Amorim at 250 24806969
Postal Address:
How To Get To The Office
The office is located at 135 Jensen Avenue East in Parksville, BC (please, see map). It is easily reachable by road. From Nanaimo and the south, take the Island Highway and drive north (please, see direction). From Comox and the north, take the Island Highway and drive south. Exit at the Port Alberni Highway, and drive in the direction of Parksville downtown (please, see direction). Visitors from Port Alberni and the west of Vancouver Island may reach us by the way of Port Alberni Highway to Parksville. The second set of traffic lights on the Port Alberni Highway after the Island Highway is Jensen Avenue. Turn right at the crossing.. Two crossings away on E. Jensen Avenue is a 4-way stop sign. Jensen Medical Clinic is in the next block, to your left, and directly opposite the Parksville Community Centre (please, see direction). V
Visitors from the Lower Mainland and Washington State can reach Nanaimo by ferry from the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal (please, see directions) or the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal (please, see direction).
Business HeadquartersTelephone 250 729-0157 FAX
|
|
Send mail to cwilliam@nisa.net with
questions or comments about this web site.
|
