PR contact: Joy Lee-Calio
(732) 294-7082 EmailSUMMIT, NJ OCTOBER X, 2025 – Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center has been nationally recognized by the National Pancreas Foundation as an approved NPF Center of Excellence for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. NPF Center designation is given only to those hospitals and health care facilities that focus on multidisciplinary treatment of pancreas disease, treating the “whole patient” with a focus on the best possible outcomes and improved quality of life. Overlook Medical Center is among only 170 other Centers of Excellence throughout the nation.
The pancreatic program at Overlook Medical Center offers a comprehensive approach to pancreatic cancer care including early detection (for individuals at high-risk of developing the disease), active treatment, surveillance and survivorship, as well as palliative and end-of-life care.
“Treatment for pancreatic cancer – also known as exocrine cancer or pancreas cancer – may vary by patient and requires a wide array of breakthrough therapies,” said Usman Shah, MD, Medical Director, GI Oncology at Overlook Medical Center. “We are extremely proud that Overlook Medical Center has been designated a NPF Center for treatment of pancreatic cancer, which underscores our clinical team’s focus on providing the highest quality and innovative care possible, to patients with this challenging disease.”
“We are thrilled to expand our NPF Centers of Excellence Program to better serve the needs of patients suffering from pancreas disease,” said Jenny Pagel-Guile, Executive Director of The National Pancreas Foundation. “The NPF Centers of Excellence Program is one of the pillars of NPF, and we are looking forward to working with our current and new Centers.”
An approved NPF Center must meet the criteria that were developed by a task force made up of invited subject matter experts and patient advocates. The criteria include having the required expert physician specialties such as gastroenterologists, pancreas surgeons, and interventional radiologists, along with more patient focused programs such as a pain management service, psychosocial support and more.
Additionally, Atlantic Health has developed high-risk pancreatic cancer programs at Overlook Medical Center, Atlantic Health Morristown Medical Center (also an NPF Center of Excellence) and Atlantic Health CentraState Medical Center where patients at risk of developing the disease are monitored according to national guidelines.
Through Atlantic Health’s collaboration with TGEN (Translational Genomics Research Institute), Atlantic Health Cancer Care offers an extensive portfolio of phase 1 and 2 clinical trials through the Breakthrough Oncology Treatment Center. This allows patients access to novel therapies while staying in their home community. This is critically important to provide patients access to the latest, cutting-edge therapies.
Atlantic Health is also designated as a National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) site, offering patients access to all cooperative group trials inclusive of supportive care trials. This exclusive designation makes Atlantic Health one of 32 NCORP Community Sites in the country. As the first (and only) Community Site in New Jersey, the Atlantic Health Cancer Consortium Community Oncology Research Program (AHCC-CORP) is comprised of half a dozen of the state’s leading health care systems.
Over the last five years Atlantic Health Cancer Care has participated in 17 pancreatic specific clinical trials encompassing novel treatment modalities including intratumoral injections, subcutaneous administration of novel agents, metabolic interventions and medical food. Over the last five years Atlantic Health has enrolled approximately 86 patients with pancreatic cancer in treatment clinical trials.
“Atlantic Health’s multidisciplinary team of oncology physicians and surgeons, including those who are highly skilled and specially trained in pancreatic and complex hepatobiliary surgery, provide exceptional and personalized care to patients,” said Eric D. Whitman, MD, System Medical Director, Atlantic Health Cancer Care. “Congratulations to all the dedicated clinicians for this recognition as an NPF Center of Excellence.”
For more information about the National Pancreas Foundation, visit www.pancreasfoundation.org. Visit the Atlantic Health website to learn more about the exciting research underway in cancer care and other specialties.
About Atlantic Health Cancer Care
Atlantic Health Cancer Care offers an unparalleled network of cancer specialists and resources for more than 70,500 patients annually through its flagship Carol G. Simon Cancer Center at Morristown and Overlook medical centers, as well as its comprehensive oncology programs at Chilton, Hackettstown, Newton and CentraState medical centers. With more than 250 cancer specialists and medical professionals, all six hospitals and Atlantic Medical Group have been recognized nationally for their role in advancing the fight against cancer.
Atlantic Health Cancer Care is the lead affiliate of Atlantic Health Cancer Consortium (AHCC) - the only New Jersey-based National Cancer Institute (NCI) Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP). Atlantic Health is affiliated with the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) of Phoenix, Arizona, and together they have created the Breakthrough Oncology Accelerator, a pioneering research and clinical collaboration designed to improve patient access to the most innovative and sophisticated therapies for cancer.
About Atlantic Health
Atlantic Health is at the forefront of medicine, setting standards for quality health care in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the New York metropolitan area. Powered by a workforce of 24,000 team members and more than 7,779 affiliated physicians dedicated to building healthier communities, Atlantic Health serves more than half of the state of New Jersey including 14 counties and 7.5 million people.
The not-for-profit system offers more than 550 sites of care, including its eight hospitals: Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ, Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ, Newton Medical Center in Newton, NJ, Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, NJ, Hackettstown Medical Center in Hackettstown, NJ, Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, NJ, Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute in Madison, NJ and CentraState Medical Center in Freehold, NJ.
The system includes Atlantic Medical Group, part of a physician enterprise that makes up one of the largest multispecialty practices in New Jersey with more than 1,700 physicians and advance practice providers. Joined with Atlantic Accountable Care Organization and Optimus Healthcare Partners they form part of Atlantic Alliance, a Clinically Integrated Network of more than 2,500 health care providers throughout northern and central NJ.
Atlantic Health provides care for the full continuum of health care needs through 30 urgent care centers, Atlantic Visiting Nurse and Atlantic Health Virtual Visits. Facilitating the connection between these services on both land and air is the transportation fleet of Atlantic Mobile Health.
Founded by Atlantic Health, the Healthcare Transformation Consortium is a partnership of seven regional hospitals and health systems dedicated to improving access and affordability. Atlantic Health has a medical school affiliation with Thomas Jefferson University, is home to the regional campus of the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Morristown and Overlook Medical Centers and is the official health care partner of the New York Jets.