Keane brings urology research, vision by Cindy Abole Public
Relations Thomas E. Keane has a vision. Although he cannot read
cards or gaze with prophesying assurance into a crystal ball, he can see the
healthy progress and potential for many South Carolinians.
What this new professor and chairman of MUSC’s Department of Urology foresees
is a way to provide the best in urologic and state-of-the-art cancer care for
the citizens of South Carolina.
“What happens all too frequently is that people don’t feel comfortable with
the level of cancer care available to them and seek it somewhere else,” said
Keane, M.D., who has seen many S.C. patients seek second opinions during his
tenure at both Duke and Emory. “This needs to stop. Lowcountry citizens and
people throughout this state have an excellent cancer center right at their
doorstep.”
From a urology perspective, Keane is satisfied with the current level of
medical expertise and treatment options available for most urologic cancers
including prostate, bladder, kidney and testicular. His respect for MUSC’s
current medical expertise in urologic oncology, female urology, stone disease,
pediatric urology and other urogenital diseases was the driving factors in
accepting the post and relocating to the Palmetto State.
“What needs to improve is how we communicate knowledge and provide
information about these diseases to patients to help them make sound decisions
regarding their course of treatment, quality of life and survival,” he said.
Keane divides his time between caring for patients, conducting translational
research and managing departmental issues. His practical business sense and
experience working in three different medical systems—Ireland, Great Britain and
the U.S.—has helped him appreciate the differences and advantages.
“In today’s world, physicians everywhere are struggling to provide the best
of both worlds in their practices,” Keane said, pointing out the difficulties in
caring for patients while trying to focus on operating and maintaining a
successful business. “It’s a demanding challenge because if you don’t look after
the dual aspects of business and the medical service, neither will be
successful.”
Growing up in Dublin, Ireland, Keane’s dream of running the family business,
an automotive dealership, changed once he became attracted to the challenges and
fulfillment of what medicine had to offer.
“ I wanted to choose something that would challenge me for the rest of my
life,” said Keane, whose own physician-uncle and several family friends were
role models. “I wanted to see if I could make a difference.”
Keane graduated from University College Dublin and earned his medical degree
at National University of Ireland in 1981. After completing a year-long anatomy
demonstratorship, he continued his training in both urology and surgery in
Ireland and Great Britain. In 1988, he entered a five-year urology residency at
Duke University Medical Center, summing up a total of 13 years in residency
training.
In 1993, he joined Emory University School of Medicine as an assistant
professor of urology and surgery and was named director of clinical research at
Emory Clinic’s urology section. He rose to associate professor at Winship Cancer
Center and chief of urology at Grady Memorial Hospital in 1997. The following
year, he briefly served as interim chairman of urology at Emory.
He was co-chairman of the renal section, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group
and has written more than 100 test chapters, peer-reviewed articles and
abstracts on his field and has delivered more than 60 national and international
presentations. He is a regular contributor to Cancerdata.com, a public cancer
Web site. Keane is also co-editor of the textbook, Glenn's Urologic Surgery and
holds memberships as a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and
the American College of Surgeons, Society of Surgical Oncology and Society of
Urologic Oncology.
“Dr. Keane is a superb surgeon, clinician, and academician,” said Jerry
Reves, M.D., dean of the College of Medicine and vice president for medical
affairs. “For the past nine years, his focus has been on urologic oncology and
specializing in surgical genitourinary malignancies, perineal prostatectomies
(prostate cancer) and orthotopic neobladders (bladder cancer). It's fortunate
for us to have a surgeon of his caliber to handle many urological cancers.”
An active researcher, Keane has conducted more than 20 major clinical and
pre-clinical trial studies. He is world-renowned for his work on testing new
therapies in genitourinary malignancies and holds a U.S. patent on boron neutron
capture therapy, a new and innovative treatment used for prostate cancer. Keane
has studied sphingolipids derivatives and their use.
With prostate cancer ranking as one of the state’s most common malignancies
in men, Keane hopes to incorporate prevention with the latest initiatives in
hormonal management and other therapies. Meanwhile, plans are under way to
include a new Prostate Cancer Center within HCC’s expansion plans.
“It would be ideal for a prostate cancer patient to see both the surgeon and
radiotherapist at the same time to decide what treatment options would be most
suitable,” Keane said. An extension of this team-care approach would involve the
input of medical oncologists in the patient’s decision-making process.
Statewide statistics show a considerable rise in bladder cancer diagnoses,
especially among women who smoke. Patients need to be warned about chemical,
occupational and environmental risks associated with bladder cancer, he said. As
a result of a research award, MUSC will serve as a host for a national study to
investigate new therapies in superficial bladder cancer management.
As for his urology staff, he is busy trying to recruit two or three more
specialists, an oncologist and specialist in endurology and laparoscopy by 2004.
He is using this interim period to evaluate the department’s needs and conduct
assessments.
“Charleston’s private practice community already has a superb standard for
care,” Keane said with admiration. “I predict MUSC’s role as that of a tertiary
referral center for more advanced, difficult urologic cases while still
providing good, basic care for most of South Carolina.”