80th Years of Accredited Cancer Care at Nashville General Hospital

Each year Nashville General Hospital treats dozens of cancer patients through its Dr. Robert E. Hardy Cancer Center. The Cancer program provides quality care for patients with cancer/hematologic disorders and sickle cell disease. Earlier this year, Nashville General Hospital announced that it once again earned reaccreditation from The American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC). Accredited for 80 consecutive years, Nashville General Hospital is the second-oldest accredited cancer program in Nashville.

This accreditation demonstrates how Nashville General Hospital takes a multidisciplinary approach to treating cancer as a complex group of diseases that requires consultation among surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists, and other cancer specialists. This multidisciplinary partnership results in improved patient care.

Tim White, a local Nashville resident and hockey player, was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer on January 22, 2020. When the melanoma quickly spread throughout his body, he didn’t know if he had more than 6-9 months to live. White began immunotherapy treatment at Nashville General Hospital immediately after his diagnosis. 

“I actually look forward to coming for my treatments, which a lot of people would think is insane,” said White. “They make me feel so comfortable. The nursing staff back in the infusion center themselves, all of them, they’re great, and I consider all of them my friends.”

With each treatment, he kept waiting for negative side effects to kick in but they didn’t. The treatments continued to work with no side effects and because of that he believes he is a living miracle.

As part of Nashville General Hospital’s Cancer Reaccreditation Celebration, NGH held a luncheon to unveil a hockey jersey Tim so graciously gifted our Cancer program. Tim’s full story, as part of our 2021 Community Town Hall can be viewed here.