When Ruth Stanley was diagnosed with colon cancer, she knew exactly where she wanted to go: Duke. "My mother-in-law had been successfully treated at Duke's cancer center, and two of my children who are medical professionals strongly endorsed it," she says. "I'd heard nothing but good things. And with the medical school and all the research there, you know you will get the best care." In fact, Duke physician-scientists were leading a nationwide clinical trial of a highly promising new treatment for colorectal cancer, Avastin. But while Stanley was eager to receive the latest treatment, she didn't relish the thought of frequent six-hour round trips from her rural home to Durham.

As it turned out, she didn't have to go far from home to receive cutting-edge care. Her doctor referred her to Scotland Memorial Hospital, a member of the Duke Oncology Network (DON), in nearby Laurinburg, N.C. There, Duke oncologist Susan Schaffer offers patients specialized care and access to Duke clinical trials right in their local community.

"It has meant a great deal to me to be able to stay close to home," says Stanley, who goes in for treatment once a week. "Now I can just drive to the clinic and be home by afternoon, instead of having to spend the night in a hotel. And Dr. Schaffer and all the staff are just wonderful. I'm so pleased with how everything has worked out."

Stanley is one of 15,000 patients who received cancer care last year through DON, which administers 18 clinical and research programs at partner institutions across six states (including 10 in North Carolina). Often, the outreach provides a level of care that patients would be unable to obtain otherwise. "Many of our patients just don't have the resources to travel to a tertiary-care medical center," says Schaffer. "And rural clinics often don't have the resources to offer specialized cancer services. I think if we weren't here lots of people just wouldn't get the care."

In addition to placing cancer specialists in underserved areas, DON works with its community hospital partners to improve cancer treatment facilities, educate local caregivers about advances in cancer care and coordinate clinical trials. Last year, more than 600 patients enrolled in clinical trials through DON, gaining access to potentially lifesaving experimental treatments. In turn, their participation benefits cancer research—more patients are recruited, enabling trials to be completed faster, and the resulting data reflect more cultural and socioeconomic diversity. "The network is a true partnership that benefits community hospitals, Duke and most of all patients," says director Alison Andre.

Duke health care outreach isn't limited to cancer care. In the past fiscal year, approximately 165 Duke specialists provided 35,000 patient visits in 27 North Carolina counties, offering services often unavailable locally -- including heart, cancer, pediatric, arthritis, diabetes, psychiatry and high-risk obstetric care. Duke also placed 24 new full-time practitioners in communities across the state, including a number of rural underserved areas.

Together, these efforts reflect a commitment that has lasted more than 70 years, says Malcolm Isley, associate vice president of Duke Network Services. "Since its founding, Duke has worked in collaboration with local caregivers to improve health care services for the citizens of North Carolina, South Carolina and southern Virginia," he says. "It's what we're all about."