Renowned cancer doctor leaves PCI

CEDAR RAPIDS –  Well-known Cedar Rapids oncologist and community benefactor, Dr. Chirantan Ghosh, said he has been terminated by his employer, Physicians' Clinic of Iowa.

Ghosh, who began practicing in Cedar Rapids 21 years ago and founded Iowa Blood & Cancer Care in 2002, said he received a letter from PCI last week, notifying him that he was terminated without cause.

His last day, according to the letter, is June 30.

“We had a difference of opinion,” Ghosh said Tuesday, May 3. Part of that difference of opinion was his reluctance to financially invest in PCI's new medical mall, he said.

Construction on the mall will begin later this month on Second Avenue near 10

^th

Street SE.

PCI's CEO Mike Sundall cited a confidentiality agreement between PCI and Ghosh and declined comment.

Ghosh said he is working on a plan to inform his patients individually.

He is exploring opportunities for his practice, which has 1,600 active patients, and said he would like to stay in Cedar Rapids.

Ghosh estimated he has treated 20,000 people in Cedar Rapids.

Many of those cancer patients are loyal to Ghosh, as evidenced by a “Support Dr. Chirantan Ghosh” page on Facebook .

“Every doctor I talked to said, ‘he's the one you want,'” said Margaret Kegel, 51, of Hiawatha, who was treated by Ghosh after being diagnosed with breast cancer at age 39. “He's the only one I'd be interested in going to and I'd travel far for his services.”

Kegel said Ghosh treats his patients in a holistic manner and does not order tests and scans just for the sake of performing more tests.

“He looks at every aspect of how the treatment impacts your quality of life,” said Kegel, who still sees Ghosh for annual check-ups.

Iowa Blood & Cancer Care, 855 A Ave. SE, came under PCI's umbrella in January 2009. At the time, Ghosh said he wanted to further the methods he developed in treating cancer patients to more people.

His philosophy is caring for patients first, and then taking care of the staff and the community, he said.

PCI announced a name change for the practice last month to Physicians' Clinic of Iowa-Hematology & Oncology.

“Unchanged, are the physicians, staff and quality care that the group has provided since founded in 2002,” the media release stated.

The release goes on to say that the practice has a diverse array of expertise in oncology and hematology. “Built upon the core purpose of bringing hope to patients' lives and improving their overall well-being, the care team works closely with patients and their families to maintain a better quality of life after diagnosis.”

Besides his expertise in cancer treatment, Ghosh is known as a philanthropist.

He is one of four finalists for the American Society of Clinical Oncology's humanitarian award. The winner, who exemplifies giving service to patients above and beyond the scope of a medical practice, will be announced at the group's national meeting in June.

Ghosh has given more than $115,000 of his own money to Cedar Rapids high school students through the Anna Purna Ghosh Advanced Placement Incentive Program, which encourages students to take AP classes and exams by reimbursing part of the test fees.

He founded the Anna Purna Ghosh Foundation – both are named after his mother – to help patients pay for prescriptions for cancer or blood diseases at Cedar Rapids medical facilities.

He and his wife donated to flood recovery efforts and Ghosh paid the utility cost for a year of the Green Square Meals program, while it was using the city's downtown building in Greene Square Park.

In October, Ghosh received the Pravasi Achievers Gold Medal by Great Britain's House of Lords for achievements in medicine and for bringing honor to his Indian homeland.