Special to the Daily Journal
PINEHURST — Dr. Michael Batalo’s interest in cancer medicine started when he was in medical school and with his mother’s cancer diagnosis and treatment.
“I saw how my mother benefited from personalized oncology care as her physicians had used newly advanced tumor gene profiling to best treat her breast cancer,” he says. “From that point forward, I knew I wanted to become a medical oncologist to study and employ the latest advances and best personalized treatments for patients diagnosed with cancer.”
In August, Michael S. Batalo, M.D., will become a medical oncologist at the FirstHealth Outpatient Cancer Center.
“Providing excellent cancer care for patients remains a team effort,” Dr. Batalo says, “and I am excited to join the team at FirstHealth. I look forward to promoting cancer prevention and patient wellness throughout treatments.”
A native of Ohio, Dr. Batalo received his undergraduate degree in biology (cellular and molecular track), graduating summa cum laude from Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania. He earned his medical degree from the West Virginia University School of Medicine in Morgantown, where he also completed his internship and residency in internal medicine.
He comes to FirstHealth from Richmond, Virginia, and the Medical College of Virginia-Virginia Commonwealth University, where he completed a hematology-medical oncology fellowship. He is board certified in internal medicine and board eligible in hematology-oncology. His professional interests cover a wide range of cancer care.
“While providing general oncology and benign hematology care remain my main focus, my residency and fellowship training involved research study in targeted cancer treatments in breast cancer and lymphoma,” he says. “I also have a great interest in promoting and providing high-quality cancer care, having participated in the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s quality care program.”
At FirstHealth, Dr. Batalo will join a cancer care team that also includes Ellen Willard, M.D.; Todd Moore, M.D.; Charles Kuzma, M.D.; and Robert Pohlmeyer, M.D.
“We are very excited to have him join our community and our oncology team,” says Dan Barnes, D.O., president of the FirstHealth Physician Group. “The addition of another specialist in hematology and oncology will enable us to care for more patients where they would prefer to be — close to home.”