In the early 1990s, Bob Stabile, RPh, instituted the first ambulatory oncology outpatient pharmacy at Mass General — moving the system away from nurses mixing chemotherapy for their patients. This shift created a safer environment for care delivery, and led to the development of a double-check system for the chemotherapy administered to patients. Then in the late 1990’s Bob became the oncology pharmacy clinical trials specialist at MGH. He worked closely with oncologists, nurses, and pharmacists at MGH and DFCI to develop tools to ensure the safety of oncology patients enrolled in clinical trials. These are just two examples of Bob’s leadership and knowledge being applied to new systems and patient care in the Cancer Center. After many years working at Mass General’s main campus, Bob became the clinical trials specialist at the Mass General/North Shore Cancer Center, developing another premier ambulatory oncology pharmacy and helping to ensure an environment that fosters clinical research every day.
Known as a wealth of information about chemotherapy, symptom management, safety and systems innovation, Bob is a legend among his colleagues. Says Mimi Bartholomay, RN, “I learned so much of what I know about oncology care from Bob (even though he would be the first to say he learned more from us).” Antoinette Lavino, RPh, BCOP, chief pharmacist at the Mass General/North Shore Cancer Center shares, “He believes in continuous learning in oncology and maintains his expertise in this ever-changing field. I can think of no other oncology professional who has contributed so much, though behind the scenes to a degree, to the Mass General Cancer Center services over the course of more than two decades.”
