SCRI Oncology Partners SCRI Oncology Partners

Advancing Science

SCRI Oncology Partners conducts clinical trials through their affiliation with Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI), a global leader in oncology research that has been offering and managing clinical trials in the community for more than 30 years. Since its inception, SCRI has contributed to pivotal research that has helped advance the majority of new cancer therapies approved by the FDA today.

Internationally recognized experts with decades of experience

Advancing care for all people with cancer

Personalized and innovative treatments

SCRI Oncology Partners cares for people facing cancer whether newly diagnosed, previously treated, or seeking additional opinions in care or research. We have access to clinical trials designed to bring the most advanced science to patients in the community, and our specialized and dedicated team provides care for: • Breast • Central Nervous System • Gastrointestinal (Colon, Rectal, Esophageal, Gastric, Liver, Biliary, Pancreatic) • Genitourinary (Bladder, Kidney, Prostate, Testicular/Germ Cell) • Gynecologic (Ovarian, Fallopian, Uterine, Cervical, Vulvar) • Head and Neck • Lung (Non-Small-Cell, Small-Cell, Mesothelioma) • Melanoma (Uveal, Cutaneous, Mucosal) Basal Cell, Squamous • Neuroendocrine and Adrenal • Sarcoma • Thyroid, Thymoma/Thymic • Unknown Primary

Our Services

People facing cancer should have access to the latest treatment options without having to travel far from home, and SCRI Oncology Partners is dedicated to bringing clinical trials and groundbreaking therapies to the communities where people live. We are a cancer treatment center that is led by globally recognized oncologists with disease expertise in cancer care and clinical research. We offer state-of-the-art personalized care and opportunities to participate in clinical trials with innovative treatments.

Location Information

Transforming Care

Meet Our Physicians

SCRI Oncology Partners

Advancing Science

Meet Our Physicians

Our Services

More than half of patients reported pain improvement

Highest points awarded for a reduction of inpatient hospital admissions

Continuous reduction of emergency department visits

SCRI Oncology Partners is led by experts with decades of experience, as well as dedicated staff who specialize in care and research.

• Chemotherapy • Immunotherapies • Clinical trials • Next-generation sequencing

Additionally, SCRI Oncology Partners offers comprehensive cancer care services including:

SCRI Oncology Partners is located at 335 24th Avenue North, Suite 200, Nashville, Tennessee, 37203

To inquire about making an appointment or additional information, please call 615-329-7640 or email cancercareSCRI@usoncology.com.

Our Services

Meet Our Physicians

Advancing Science

615-329-7640

Dr. Spigel joined SCRI in 2003, and, as chief scientific officer, he oversees all scientific aspects of SCRI’s clinical trial program, working with the research physician leaders to ensure the best new agents and studies are available to our patients. He serves as a primary contact for the Pharma and biotech partners as well as the strategic site physicians with whom SCRI conducts cancer research. Dr. Spigel received his bachelor’s degree from Tulane University in New Orleans in 1992 and medical degree from The University of Tennessee in Memphis, Tenn. in 1996. After completing an internal medicine and chief residency at Indiana University Medical Center, he completed a fellowship in hematology and oncology at The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. He is board certified in medical oncology.

David Spigel, MD

MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST, SCRI ONCOLOGY PARTNERS CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER, SCRI

Dr. Hamilton serves as the director of Breast Cancer Research and executive chair of the Breast Cancer Research Executive Committee for Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI). In her role as director of Breast Cancer Research, she provides oversight and develops strategy for the breast program. In Dr. Hamilton’s role as executive chair of the Breast Cancer Research Executive Committee, she builds and manages a comprehensive breast cancer program menu for the SCRI network. Dr. Hamilton joined SCRI in 2013 as an investigator in drug development for women’s cancers and has served as director of breast cancer research since 2015. Her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer when Dr. Hamilton was in middle school, and thankfully is a survivor. Dr. Hamilton is passionate about personalized treatment, empowering her patients, and treating each person individually based on their goals and preferences. Dr. Hamilton received her undergraduate degree from Washington and Lee University in Virginia and received a NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. She then completed her medical degree and residency from University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and fellowship training in hematology and oncology at Duke University. Dr. Hamilton was named to the Women to Watch Class of 2021 for Nashville Medical News. She was selected for the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s (ASCO) Leadership Development Class for 2021-2022, and was the past chair of ASCO’s Scientific Committee for Metastatic Breast Cancer for 2019-2020. Dr. Hamilton is the incoming ASCO Scientific Chair for ASCO 2025, the 2023-2025 Scientific Committee co-chair of the ESMO Breast Cancer Meeting, and serves on ASCO’s Cancer Research Committee. She is also the associate editor for Clinical Breast Cancer. Dr. Hamilton is board certified in oncology. Additionally, she is a medical oncologist with SCRI Oncology Partners.

Erika Hamilton, MD

MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST, SCRI ONCOLOGY PARTNERS DIRECTOR, BREAST CANCER RESEARCH, SCRI

Ishwaria Subbiah, MD

Medical Oncologist, SCRI Oncology Partners Exec Dir., Cancer Care Equity & Professional Wellness, SCRI

Ishwaria Subbiah, MD, joined Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) in 2023, and serves as executive director, Cancer Care Equity & Professional Wellness. In her role, Dr. Subbiah focuses on reducing cancer outcomes disparities and diversifying clinical trial participation across SCRI’s network. Dr. Subbiah also oversees SCRI’s healthcare professional well-being program to support multidisciplinary oncology research professionals across sites. Dr. Subbiah works in concert with SCRI’s SMO and CRO to advance unmet needs that both trial sponsors and physicians are seeking to address for patients. Dr. Subbiah is recognized for her work geriatric oncology, symptom management, palliative care, and healthcare professional well-being. She previously was an associate professor in the Division of Cancer Medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Subbiah contributes to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) clinical practice guidelines update in geriatric oncology, new ASCO guidelines on medical cannabis and cannabinoids, and serves on the Older Adult Oncology guidelines committee of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). She holds several peer-reviewed grants and serves in editorial leadership roles for the American Cancer Society (ACS) journal Cancer, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI), JNCI Cancer Spectrum, and the Journal of Geriatric Oncology. She is the Chair for the ASCO Women in Oncology working group and the ASCO State of Cancer Care in America initiative shaping organizational and system-level strategies to ensure a sustainable and thriving oncology workforce. Dr. Subbiah received her bachelor’s degree in molecular & cellular biology and master’s degree in biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University, and medical degree from St. George’s University. After completing residency in internal medicine at University of Texas Health Science Center, she completed fellowships in investigational cancer therapeutics, medical oncology and hospice & palliative medicine at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Howard "Skip" Burris, III, MD

MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST, SCRI ONCOLOGY PARTNERS PRESIDENT, SCRI

Dr. Burris leads clinical strategy and drug development for SCRI’s clinical research network. In 1997, he established the first community-based phase 1 drug development program in Nashville, which became SCRI. Among his many accomplishments, he led the first-in-human studies for many now-approved drugs that have changed the standard of care for several types of cancers, and, more recently has been instrumental in initiating research with novel therapies including mRNA personalized vaccines for the treatment of a variety of cancers. He has authored more than 420 publications and 640 abstracts, and SCRI has initiated nearly 700 first-in-human trials to date under his leadership. Dr. Burris served as ASCO® president for the 2019-2020 term and has continued to hold several leadership positions on behalf of the ASCO® community, including the Board of Governors, Audit Committee, and as chair of the ASCO® Nominating Committee. Currently, he is chair of the Board for the Conquer Cancer Foundation. He received his undergraduate degree at West Point, his medical degree from the University of South Alabama, and performed his residency and fellowship in hematology/oncology at Brooke Army Medical Center. While there, he was director of clinical research at the Institute for Drug Development of The Cancer Therapy and Research Center, and an associate professor at The University of Texas Health Science Center.

Dr. Johnson joined Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) in 2014 and serves as the director of Lung Cancer Research and executive chair of the Lung Cancer Research Executive Committee. As director, Dr. Johnson provides oversight for the cancer program, collaborating with and supporting sites throughout the network to enhance lung cancer research programs. As executive chair, Dr. Johnson identifies clinical trial opportunities and sets strategies for growth and development. Dr. Johnson continues to work in early phase drug development and leads the solid tumor immune effector cellular therapy program at SCRI. She also serves as the chair of the Oncology Department and member of the Medical Executive Committee at TriStar Centennial Medical Center. Dr. Johnson received her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill where she was a Morehead Scholar, and her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She completed her residency in internal medicine at New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and her fellowship in medical oncology and hematology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center where she also served as chief fellow for one year. She spent four years as a faculty member at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University and Feinberg School of Medicine, where she was a founding member of the Northwestern Medical Developmental Therapeutics Institute.  Dr. Johnson is board certified in medical oncology. Additionally, she is a medical oncologist with SCRI Oncology Partners.

Melissa Johnson, MD

MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST, SCRI ONCOLOGY PARTNERS DIRECTOR, LUNG CANCER RESEARCH, SCRI

Vivek Subbiah, MD, joined Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) in 2023, and serves as chief, Early-Phase Drug Development. In his role, Dr. Subbiah oversees SCRI’s nine drug development units and leads the expansion of early-phase capabilities and programs across SCRI’s growing research network. Dr. Vivek Subbiah comes to SCRI from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center where he was an associate professor in the Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics. During his near 15-year tenure there, Dr. Vivek Subbiah held several leadership roles including executive director, Medical Oncology Research, MD Anderson Cancer Network as well as clinical medical director, Division of Cancer Medicine where he oversaw both the outpatient and inpatient clinical care delivery operations for the Phase I program. Dr. Vivek Subbiah has served as the principal investigator in over 100 phase I/II trials and co-investigator in over 200 clinical trials and is known for his leadership in several first-in-human and practice-changing studies that directly led to approvals from the FDA, European Medicines Agency, and other agencies across the world. He has authored over 350 peer-reviewed publications in several high-impact journals such as The New England Journal of Medicine, Nature Medicine, Journal of Clinical Oncology, JAMA Oncology, Cancer Discovery, Lancet Oncology, Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology, Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, and Clinical Cancer Research. After finishing his medical education in India, Dr. Vivek Subbiah completed a combined residency program in internal medicine and pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University, MetroHealth, Cleveland, Ohio. He received board-certifications in both internal medicine and pediatrics and completed fellowships in both adult and pediatric oncology at MD Anderson.

Vivek Subbiah, MD

Medical Oncologist, SCRI Oncology Partners Chief, Early-Phase Drug Development, SCRI

Dr. McKean joined Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) in 2018 and serves as director of Melanoma & Skin Cancer Research. Dr. McKean is also executive chair of the BRIDGE Research Executive Committee and Melanoma Research Executive Committee for SCRI. In her role as director of Melanoma and Skin Cancer Research, Dr. McKean collaborates with SCRI’s sites to enhance their melanoma and skin cancer programs by providing a comprehensive menu of clinical trials to researchers throughout the network. As executive chair of the BRIDGE Research Executive Committee and Melanoma Research Executive Committee, Dr. McKean directs the committees, setting and executing strategy for research growth and development across SCRI’s network. Dr. McKean received her undergraduate degree from Iowa State University, and her Master of Public Health degree and medical degree from University of Iowa. Prior to joining SCRI, she completed her fellowship in hematology-oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. In 2017, Dr. McKean received an ASCO Conquer Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Award. She is board certified in internal medicine and medical oncology. Additionally, Dr. McKean is a medical oncologist with SCRI Oncology Partners.

Meredith McKean, MD, MPH

MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST, SCRI ONCOLOGY PARTNERS DIRECTOR, MELANOMA AND SKIN CANCER RESEARCH, SCRI

Dr. Garmezy joined Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) in 2021 and serves as associate director of Genitourinary Cancer Research and executive co-chair of the Genitourinary Cancer Research Executive Committee. In his roles at SCRI, Dr. Garmezy oversees investigational therapy trials for genitourinary cancers, including prostate, kidney, bladder, and testicular cancers. He is responsible for managing a comprehensive genitourinary cancer program menu for the many sites within the SCRI network. Dr. Garmezy received his undergraduate degree from Amherst College and his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine. Prior to joining SCRI, he completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Michigan and his fellowship in hematology/oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Garmezy is board certified in medical oncology, hematology, and internal medicine. He currently sees patients in clinic at SCRI Oncology Partners.

Benjamin Garmezy, MD

MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST, SCRI ONCOLOGY PARTNERS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, GENITOURINARY RESEARCH, SCRI

Dr. Pelster joined Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) in 2021 and serves as associate director of Gastrointestinal Cancer Research, specializing in gastrointestinal cancer and head and neck cancer research. Dr. Pelster is also executive chair of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Executive Committee for SCRI. In this role, she sets and executes strategy for the growth and development of SCRI’s gastrointestinal cancer program. Clinically, she is a medical oncologist with SCRI Oncology Partners where she sees patients with gastrointestinal cancers and head and neck cancers. Dr. Pelster received her medical degree from Vanderbilt University. She completed her fellowship in hematology and medical oncology at the MD Anderson Cancer Center and her residency and Master of Science in clinical investigation at Northwestern University. She is board certified in medical oncology, hematology, and internal medicine.

Meredith S. Pelster, MD, MSCI

MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST, SCRI ONCOLOGY PARTNERS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, GASTROINTESTINAL RESEARCH, SCRI

Meredith S. Pelster, MD, MSCI

Meredith McKean, MD, MPH

Dr. Yardley joined Sarah Cannon Research Institute in 2000 as the Program Director of the Breast Cancer Research Program and currently serves as Associate Director of Breast Cancer Research and as an Executive Member of the Breast Cancer Executive Committee as well as Pharmacy and Therapeutics Executive Committee. In this role, she oversees and serves as principal investigator on numerous breast cancer clinical trials as well as leads investigational therapy trials evaluating the best new investigational agents and studies to further improve the outcomes and standard of care for our patients. Before joining Sarah Cannon, Dr. Yardley served as the Medical Director at University of Texas Southwestern’s Center for Breast Care. She received her undergraduate degree from Columbus State University and her medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia. She completed her internal medicine residency followed by a hematology and medical oncology fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. During fellowship she was awarded the American Cancer Society’s Clinical Oncology Fellowship Award. A diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology and Hematology, she is also a recipient of the American Cancer Society Clinical Oncology Career Development Award. She is board certified in medical oncology and hematology and has been caring for patients in Nashville over 20 years.

MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST, SCRI ONCOLOGY PARTNERS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, BREAST CANCER RESEARCH, SCRI

Denise A. Yardley, MD

MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST, SCRI ONCOLOGY PARTNERS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, BREAST CANCER RESEARCH, SCRI

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