Three fellowship-trained medical oncologists join Beebe Healthcare

Three fellowship-trained medical oncologists/hematologists have joined the medical team at Beebe Healthcare’s Tunnell Cancer Center. Fellowship-trained physicians have additional years of advanced study and experience in their specialty fields and have participated in expanded clinical, educational and research programs.

The three fellowship-trained and Board Certified cancer specialists are: Porselvi Chockalingam, MD, Philomena Marie Colucci, DO, MS, and Nataliya Melnyk, MD.

Tunnell Cancer Center invites the public to meet the physicians at an open house Thursday, Nov. 6, from 5 to 7 p.m. The open house will take place at the Center, Beebe Health Campus, 18941 John J. Williams Highway, Rehoboth Beach.

Each of the three brings experience and knowledge to Beebe Healthcare from large, U.S. medical research centers. They will participate in the team approach taken at Beebe Healthcare in offering care and treatment to patients, whether at Tunnell Cancer Center, which is an outpatient facility, or as inpatients at the medical center in Lewes.

“We are proud to announce the arrival of these three, fellowship-trained and Board Certified oncologists,” says Cherrie Rich, RN, MSN, executive director of Oncology Services at Beebe Healthcare. “Our cancer program has continued to grow and expand as has the population in southern Delaware. We have been recruiting medical oncologists/hematologists for several months to join our team to make sure that we continue to meet the needs of our community. Throughout the extensive interview process, we know that these oncologists will work closely with our Board Certified radiation oncologists and our Fellowship-trained and Board Certified surgical oncologists, our oncology nurse practitioners and the rest of our team of clinical experts to assure that we can provide our patients with the highest quality of cancer care.”

Chockalingam, known to her patients as Dr. Selvi, is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Oncology and Hematology. She completed her fellowship in Oncology and Hematology at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. While there, her research focused on Kaposi’s sarcoma, breast cancer and treatment of elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

She also served as chief fellow during her third year at Maimonides. Before her fellowship accomplishments, Dr. Chockalingam earned her medical degree in 2001 at the Kasturba Medical College in India, and completed her residency at the Coney Island Hospital in Brooklyn. She treats all types of cancer and blood disorders. She is also trained in transfusion medicine. Chockalingam joined Beebe with patient care experience at the Martinsburg VA Medical Center in West Virginia, and in private practice in Harrisburg, Pa.

Colucci joined Beebe from Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, Mich. She completed her Fellowship in Oncology and Hematology at Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine. In her third year, she was appointed chief fellow.

Colucci earned her doctor of osteopathy in 2000 from Michigan State University. Previously, she earned her master of science in Toxicology from University of Michigan.

She is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology, and Oncology and has published several research articles in peer-reviewed medical publications. She graduated from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She treats cancers of the breast, bladder, colon, esophagus, kidneys, lungs, pancreas, and prostate, among others.

Melnyk joined Beebe following completion of her Fellowship in Hematology Oncology at Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, N.J. While there, she participated in several cancer research efforts, including those for advanced melanoma and sarcoma. She also has completed research on hematological abnormalities in pregnancy and neurological syndromes associated with tumors.

Melnyk earned her medical degree in 2002 at the Ternopil State Medical Academy in Ukraine, and completed her internal medicine residency at the Jersey Shore University Medical Center. She is Board Certified in Internal Medicine.