Development of collaborative, innovative cancer care models to improve patient access to comprehensive specialty care and to strengthen clinicians', patients', and caregivers' informed decision making about medical care in their local, regional, and national communities.
Dr. Passero is a board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist whose clinical practice is at the Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System - University Drive.
As Chief Medical Officer of VA National TeleOncology (virtually based in Durham, North Carolina), her focus is on building innovative comprehensive cancer care delivery services to ensure Veterans 1) have across-the-nation access to specialized hematology/oncology care and treatment and 2) have the option to receive their cancer therapies "Close to Me" (primary care clinics, mobile units, home).
Prior to National TeleOncology, her team at VA Pittsburgh launched the Virtual Cancer Care Clinic where using clinical video telehealth, patients receive chemotherapy in rural Pennsylvania while maintaining routine management and continuity with their primary oncologists located in Pittsburgh.
Dr. Passero is the Associate Program Director for the ACGME-accredited Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program. She is also an active member of the UPMC Medical Education Subcommittee on Accreditation, Review, and Quality (ARQC).
- BA, Georgetown University
- MD, West Virginia University
- MBA, Carlow University
- Residency, Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 2005
- Chief Resident, Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 2006
- Fellowship, Hematology Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 2009
Education & Training
Jiang CY, El-Kouri NT, Elliot D, Shileds J, Caram ME, Frankel TL, Ramnath N, Passero VA. Telehealth for Cancer Care in Veterans: Opportunities and Challenges Revealed by COVID. Journal of Clinical Oncology Oncology Practice. 2021
Tan-Shalaby, J.L., Carrick, J, Edinger, K, Genovese, D, Liman, A.D., Passero, V.A., Shah, R.B. Modified Atkins diet in advanced malignancies - final results of a safety and feasibility trial within the Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2016 Aug 12;13:52. PMID: 27525031. Nutrition and Metabolism. 2018; 12 (13): 52.
Hill J, Shields J, Passero V. Tyrosine kinase inhibitor-associated syndrome of inappropriate secretion of anti-diuretic hormone. Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice. 2015
Shields JL, Englert B, Passero VA. Dispensing and Monitoring Oral Anticancer Therapy. Federal Practitioner: Best Practices in Hematology and Oncology Supplement. Best Practices in Hematology and Oncology. 2015; 31: 40S-43S.
Aspinall SL, Good CB, Zhao X, Cunningham FE, Heron BB, Geraci M, Passero V, Stone RA, Smith KJ, Rogers R, Sheilds J, Sartore M, Boyle DP, Giberti S, Szymanski J, Smith D, Ha A, Sessions J, Depcinski S, Fishco S, et al. Adjuvant chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer: relative dose intensity and survival among veterans. BMC Cancer. BioMed Central. 2015; 15: 62.
Soni A, Aspinall S, Zhao X, Good CB, Cunningham FE, Chatta G, Passero V, Smith K. Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Adjuvant Stage III Colon Cancer Treatment at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. Oncology Research. 2014; 22: 311-9.
Mehta RS, Liman AD, Passero VA, Liman AK. Lung cancer with gastrointestinal metastasis - review of theories of metastasis with three rare case descriptions. Cancer Microenvironment. 2013; 6(3): 203-11.
Passero VA, Branstetter BF, Shuai Y, Heron DE, ibson MK, Lai SY, Kim SW, Grandis JR, Ferris RL, Johnson JT, Argiris A. Response assessment by combined PET-CT scan versus CT scan alone using RECIST in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer treated with chemoradiotherapy. Annals of Oncology. 2010; 21(11): 2278-83.
Neilson L, Kohli M, Munshi KD, Peasah SK, Henderson R, Passero V, Good CB. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on new starts to oral oncology medications in the US. Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice. 2022; Jan 11
- ASCO Foundation Merit Award, 2008
- VAPHS Chief of Staff Clinical Excellence Award, 2014
- VAPHS Chief of Staff Clinical Excellence Award, 2017
- VISN 4 Director’s I CARE Award Recipient, 2018
- Alan Winkelstein UPMC Fellowship Teaching Award, 2021
- VA Distinguished Leader Award, 2022
