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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.”   Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.