Stem Cell Transplant Team

Dipti Patel-Donnelly, MD

Dr. Patel-Donnelly graduated magna cum laude in biochemistry with honors and independent research from Binghamton University in Binghamton, New York. She received her Doctorate of Medicine from Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York, New York. She completed internal medicine internship/residency at Mt. Sinai Medical Center. She also went on to complete a fellowship in medical oncology and hematology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Massachusetts General Hospital at Harvard Medical School. She is board certified in medical oncology, hematology and internal medicine and is co-director of the Inova Fairfax Hospital Stem Cell Transplant Program.

Dr. Patel-Donnelly has received multiple awards and honors which include the Harvard Partners in Excellence Award (2002), Excellence in Teaching Awards (2000 and 1999), National Institutes of Health Research Fellowship (1994 and 1993), NASE Achievement Scholarship (1992), and Distinguished Honors and Independent Research in Biochemistry (1992). A published author, Dr. Patel-Donnelly is also a member of the American Medical Association and the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

In addition to dedicated care for her patients, Dr. Patel-Donnelly has a special interest in hematologic malignancies and breast cancer and runs the Lymphoma Tumor Board at Inova Fairfax Hospital.

Gregory Orloff, MD

Dr. Orloff, a native of metropolitan Washington, DC, is a Phi Bata Kappa graduate of Grinnell College. Dr. Orloff graduated from Yale Medical School where he was selected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. He completed his medical internship, residency and hematology/oncology fellowship at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. 

Dr. Orloff is board certified in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology. At the conclusion of his training he joined the faculty in the Hematology/Oncology Division at the Brigham Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School. 

Dr. Orloff is a member of the American Society of Hematology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Bone Marrow Transplantation. He joined Virginia Cancer Specialists in 1995 and is the co-director of the Fairfax Stem Cell Transplant Program.

You will be cared for by not only your transplant physician but by a transplant team. The team members include:

Primary oncologist

Your primary oncologist has been caring for you and has referred you to the Transplant Program. Your primary oncologist will continue to follow your progress, even if he or she is not directly involved in your care.

Surgeon

Your transplant physician may ask a surgeon to insert a central venous catheter for pheresis or use during your treatment.

Other specialty physicians

Depending on your particular needs and the side effects you experience during treatment, your transplant physician may ask other physicians who are specialists to assist in your care. Your transplant physician is always the physician directing your overall care during the transplant treatment. If you become confused by information given to you by different physicians, always refer your questions to your transplant physician.

Transplant nurse coordinators

The transplant nurse coordinators will work with the other members of your care team including your own caregiver(s) to make sure your treatment is planned, scheduled, and carried out. They will teach you many things about your transplant and your care and will be one of your primary resources. This nurse has had special training and experience in stem cell transplantation.

Transplant nurses

They are the nurses that will administer your chemotherapy, educate you and your caregiver(s) and monitor your response to therapy. They are trained in chemotherapy and transplant care.

Financial coordinator

The financial coordinator will work with patients, family members and insurance providers or medical plans to help patients obtain reimbursement for the costs related to transplantation. The financial coordinator will help you understand the cost and reimbursement for your care before treatment begins.

Office coordinator

The office coordinator is the person who schedules the dates and times of your appointments and tests. He or she also helps to coordinate the activities of the transplant clinic. Call him or her if you have questions about your schedule or if you need to make a time change.

Data coordinator

The data coordinator is the person who will send pertinent information about your transplant to organizations that require certain information. The data coordinator will assign you a number that will be used instead of your name to keep your information confidential.

Laboratory staff

The laboratory staff ensures that the proper tests are performed at the proper times and the results are communicated. Laboratory personnel are also involved with the collection, processing, storage, and thawing of your stem cells.

Pheresis specialist

These are trained nurses who operate the pheresis machine who may collect your or your donors stem cells. They are specially trained in this procedure.

Social workers

A medical social worker and counselors are available to you and your family to help with the feelings you may have as you go through transplant. They can also help with practical matters such as transportation, housing, disability, and financial concerns, and finding spiritual support.

We also have support groups and former patient mentors.