Wake Forest Baptist Health
1 Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157
Wake Forest Baptist Health has a mesothelioma cancer center with one of the few national HIPEC programs in the country. The staff includes multiple mesothelioma specialists, with a focus on peritoneal mesothelioma.
Pleural Mesothelioma and Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Wake Forest Baptist Health
1 Medical Center Blvd.
Winston-Salem, NC 27157
Dr. Edward Levine
Dr. Konstantinos Votanopoulos
Dr. Fabian Johnston
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More About Mesothelioma Treatment at Wake Forest Baptist Health
Wake Forest Baptist Health, located in Winston-Salem, N.C., includes a premier cancer center for treating mesothelioma called the Wake Forest Baptist Cancer Center. The cancer center is considered a highly ranked institution for treating this disease.
The Wake Forest Baptist Cancer Center mesothelioma program’s focus includes treating people with peritoneal mesothelioma, notably the use of HIPEC surgery after debulking surgery. Dr. Edward Levine is the head of treatment for this cancer at the center. He’s a highly regarded surgeon.
Wake Forest Baptist Cancer Center received recognition as a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. This acknowledges the cancer center’s excellence in patient care, research and education.
Wake Forest Baptist Health and Wake Forest Baptist Cancer Center are also educational institutions, affiliated with Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Wake Forest is one of the few mesothelioma cancer centers associated with a prestigious academic institution. Studies show that academic cancer centers have a higher volume of cancer cases and better survival outcomes.
Experienced Mesothelioma Specialists
- Dr. Edward Levine, chief of surgical oncology and and senior advisor to the director of the Wake Forest Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Dr. Konstantinos Votanopoulos, surgical oncologist
- Dr. Fabian Johnston, surgical oncologist
- Dr. Paul Savage, medical oncologist
- Dr. Jill Ohar, pulmonologist
Affiliations
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine
- Wake Forest Comprehensive Cancer Center
Treatment Specialties
- Peritoneal mesothelioma and pleural mesothelioma
- Cytoreductive or debulking surgery
- Heated intraoperative chemotherapy
Get Connected to Wake Forest Baptist Health
Surgeons at the hospital have performed more than 1,000 HIPEC procedures for peritoneal mesothelioma. This puts Wake Forest Baptist Health near the top for case volume, an important factor for choosing a cancer center for treatment.
Why Choose Wake Forest?
- National program seeing patients from across country
- Experienced surgeons with HIPEC treatment
- Named a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute
Decades of Experience With HIPEC
Wake Forest Baptist Cancer Center’s innovative HIPEC mesothelioma program began in 1991. Around seven years later, Dr. Levine joined the staff as a surgical oncologist. HIPEC is a type of mesothelioma surgery.
The cancer center also provides adjuvant treatment after HIPEC surgery. These options include systemic chemotherapy and immunotherapy. They’re determined on a case-by-cases basis.
“It depends on the clinical situation,” Dr. Levine said. “It depends on how complete of a cytoreduction we achieved.”
Wake Forest Baptist provides a multidisciplinary team of experts. The cancer center has multiple medical oncologists specializing in pleural mesothelioma. Dr. Jill Ohar is a pulmonologist who specializes in pleural mesothelioma. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award in COPD from the American Thoracic Society.
Hospital Ranking
- Not listed in the U.S. News & World Report 2025-2026 hospitals Honor Roll
- Ranked 10th in North Carolina
- Ranked 2nd in Winston-Salem/Greensboro
Leader in Clinical Trials
Wake Forest Baptist Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute (NCI) funded Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) research base. As one of only six CCOP research bases in the country, Wake Forest Baptist can perform clinical trials in community cancer centers nationwide.
The cancer center is involved in many clinical trials for mesothelioma. The center is part of 10 studies involving mesothelioma listed on the clinicaltrials.gov database.
One focused on quality of life and survivorship after HIPEC for peritoneal mesothelioma. Another used an experimental drug, dasatinib, to stop mesothelioma cell growth by blocking specific enzymes. Dr. Levine said he’s starting organoid research to learn more about how mesothelioma tumors spread.
Sources & Author
- Edward A. Levine, MD. Wake Forest Baptist Health. Retrieved from: https://www.wakehealth.edu/Providers/L/Edward-A-Levine. Accessed: 08/24/2021.
- Konstantinos Votanopoulos, MD, PhD. Wake Forest Baptist Health. Retrieved from: https://www.wakehealth.edu/Providers/V/Konstantinos-Votanopoulos. Accessed: 08/27/2021.
- Fabian M. Johnston, MD. Wake Forest Baptist Health. Retrieved from: https://www.wakehealth.edu/providers/j/fabian-johnston. Accessed: 08/11/2025.
- Comprehensive Cancer Center. Wake Forest Baptist Health. Retrieved from: https://www.wakehealth.edu/Locations/Facilities/Comprehensive-Cancer-Center. Accessed: 08/27/2021.
- Jill Ohar, MD. Wake Forest Baptist Health. Retrieved from: https://www.wakehealth.edu/Providers/O/Jill-Ohar. Accessed: 08/27/2021.
- Paul D. Savage, MD. Wake Forest Baptist Health. Retrieved from: https://www.wakehealth.edu/Providers/S/Paul-D-Savage. Accessed: 09/13/2021.
- Women in CP. American Thoracic Society. Retrieved from: https://www.thoracic.org/members/assemblies/assemblies/cp/working-groups/women-in-cp/jill-ohar.php. Accessed: 08/27/2021.
- Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved from: https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/nc/wake-forest-baptist-medical-center-6361700#rankings. Accessed: 08/11/2025.
AI Summary of Wake Forest Baptist Health
Wake Forest Baptist Health in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is renowned for its comprehensive cancer center that specializes in the treatment of mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer often linked to asbestos exposure. The center features one of the few national HIPEC programs in the country, offering advanced surgical options specifically designed for peritoneal mesothelioma. The dedicated team of specialists has extensive experience in treating mesothelioma, with a focus on patients diagnosed with peritoneal and pleural types of the disease. The expertise of the hospital’s surgeons and oncologists has helped position it as a leading institution for mesothelioma care.
The Wake Forest Baptist Cancer Center is highly regarded for its commitment to research and patient care. It has received recognition from the National Cancer Institute as a comprehensive cancer center, which signifies its dedication to clinical excellence, innovative research, and comprehensive patient support. The center’s specialists work collaboratively to develop treatment plans tailored to each patient's specific needs. This team includes experienced surgeons, medical oncologists, and pulmonologists, who work together to provide multidisciplinary care focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for patients. The hospital’s surgical team has performed over 1,000 HIPEC procedures for peritoneal mesothelioma, reflecting a high level of expertise and case volume that benefits patients seeking advanced treatment options.
Patients interested in treatment at Wake Forest Baptist Health can expect access to cutting-edge clinical trials and innovative therapies. The center participates in numerous studies aimed at improving mesothelioma outcomes, offering patients access to new drugs and approaches not widely available elsewhere. As part of its commitment to ongoing research, the center explores new ways to understand and combat the progression of mesothelioma, including tumor growth and spread. With a strong affiliation with Wake Forest University School of Medicine, the center continues to advance knowledge and treatment methods for this challenging disease, providing hope and specialized care for patients from across the country and around the world.