A Visit from Katie Couric

In November, University of Virginia alumna Katie Couric visited Charlottesville where she joined UVA President Jim Ryan for a special conversation and livestream hosted by UVA Lifetime Learning. After reminiscing with Ryan about her journey from UVA Lawn resident to Emmy-winning news anchor and her longstanding support of cancer research, Couric visited the Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center building— named for Couric’s sister and late Senate of Virginia member, who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2001.

Couric toured the building’s newly renovated infusion center with UVA Medical Center CEO Wendy Horton, UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center Director Dr. Tom Loughran, Associate Chief Nursing Officer Veronica Brill, and Medical Director of UVA Cancer Breast Care Dr. Christiana Brenin.

She also spent time with radiology physicians, who described some of the Cancer Center’s promising research trials and innovative new treatments, such as intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) and the new magnetic resonance imaging-guided linear accelerator or MRI-LINAC. This game-changing machine administers high-dose radiation with intense precision, overcoming some of conventional radiation therapy’s limits. This new tool is particularly advantageous for treating soft-tissue tumors, such as those associated with pancreatic cancer. UVA’s MRI-LINAC is one of only 25 machines nationwide and two in Virginia.

Originally published on the UVA Health Facebook page. 

Click here to see the full Winter 2022 issue of Pulse.