Our Purpose

To bring the leading-edge medical and surgical thoracic care found at the nation's leading medical centers to the convenient community setting of Reston Hospital Center. To provide comprehensive, interdisciplinary care including, surgical, medical and radiation oncology services, cancer screening and education, community outreach and clinical research trials. To promote and conduct thoracic screening programs in order to detect disorders early, when they are most treatable. Above all, to provide personalized care to each of our patients.

Multidisciplinary Coordinated Care

Physicians from all aspects of thoracic care are involved in each patient's treatment protocol. Clinicians hold Multidisciplinary Thoracic Oncology Case Presentations to discuss individual cases and determine best course of treatment based on research and their experience. This ensures the best possible, coordinated care for patients at RHC.

Medical Leadership

Marc Margolis, MD, FACS
Medical Director, Northern Virginia Thoracic Oncology Program

Dr. Margolis earned his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Cape Town Medical School, in Cape Town, South Africa. He then came to the United States and completed the first year of his general surgery residency at Mount Sinai Hospital, in New York City. He completed the remaining years of his residency at New York Methodist Hospital in New York City. Following his residency, Dr. Margolis continued his training by completing a Cardiothoracic Surgery fellowship at The George Washington University Medical Center.

State-of-the-Art Diagnostics

• Philips Brilliance Big Bore 64-slice CT. This leading-edge technology facilitates diagnosis at the earliest stage possible. It is equipped with Tumor L.O.C (or Localization On Console) - which allows clinicians to run a simple simulation to quickly localize the tumor and accurately mark the patient. This information can then be exported to our radiation planning system, improving accuracy and increasing throughput by simplifying the CT simulation process. To further ensure the best radiation oncology planning, the Big Bore is additionally equipped with respiratory correlated imaging. This enables visualization of multiple lung phases, minimizing motion artifacts and improving clinical confidence.
• PET Scan. Reston Hospital Center has Positron Emission Tomography capabilities in order to best identify changes in cell function and possible tumor growth. Reston Hospital Center has the advanced technology necessary to fuse the PET and CT images in order to create the most precise imaging available. When these technologies are brought together, patients will have the knowledge that their physicians are making the best possible care decisions based on the most advanced information available.
• 3.0 Tesla MRI. MRI technology at Reston Hospital Center is the most advanced in the region, we are the only center in Northern Virginia to offer 3.0 Tesla MRI, which produces finely detailed images which facilitate in early detection, treatment planning and follow-up care for thoracic oncology patients at RHC. Reston Hospital Center is also able to offer patients open-MRI technology, which provides comfort with technology, for those patients who may feel claustrophobic when undergoing traditional MRI.
• RHC is also able to offer patients 4-D ultrasound in addition to conventional ultrasound, X-ray, fluoroscopy and digital mammography.

Access to Scientific Research & Clinical Trials

At Reston Hospital Cent all patients have access to all appropriate clinical trials through their physicians. Any patient participating in a clinical trial at Reston Hospital Center through one of their physicians will receive the standard-of-care treatment in addition to the new treatment under investigation. In addition to clinical trials offered by Reston Hospital Center physicians, clinicians keep patients informed on the thousands of ongoing trials at the National Institutes of Health's National Cancer Institute.

Patient Support

Reston Hospital Center recognizes that patient education and support is an integral aspect of comprehensive care. We try to ensure that all of the patient's needs are addressed so that they are best equipped to fight cancer.

• Dietitians educate patients on the different nutritional needs that their body will develop as they recover from surgery and go through adjuvant treatments.
• Case Managers help patients to face all of the obstacles that may arise with a cancer diagnosis, from finding appropriate support groups to recommending home health care services, if necessary.
• Reston Therapy and Fitness at Reston Hospital Center offers specialized physical therapy and rehabilitation for patients with cancer. This includes a specialized program for patients diagnosed with lyphoedema.
• Chaplains of most religious denominations can be arranged to visit inpatients for spiritual support.
• The Resource Library on the Medical Oncology Unit is a place where nurses can educate patients and families on types of cancer, treatment option, support and clinical trials.
• Reston Hospital Center Cancer Support Group is held monthly. Members are invited to network and share with one another, discuss traditional and cutting-edge treatments and gain and share information and resources with the clinical leaders present.
• Look Good Feel Better® is non-medical, national public service program founded in 1989 to help women offset appearance-related changes from cancer treatment.

Community Outreach & Education

Prevention and early detection are important ammunition in the fight against cancer. Reston Hospital Center clinicians understand their responsibility to educate the community on cancer risks and prevention measures.

• Preventative CT Screening for patients who have a qualifying history of smoking
• Smoking cessation education programs and counseling
• Lung cancer educational sessions at Northern Virginia businesses and associations
• Lung cancer education at community health fairs and health education events.
• Cancer education on HealthFocus an HCA sponsored, half-hour regional television program available to Comcast subscribers.

Cancer Care at Reston Hospital Center

The Northern Virginia Thoracic Oncology Program is part of Cancer Care at Reston Hospital Center. Cancer Care is accredited by the American College of Surgeons, and is committed to providing the continuum of cancer care to its patients and their families.