OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center

02/28/2026

It was an honor to partner with the Oklahoma Sooners as we came together to celebrate strength, hope, and survivorship in the fight against breast cancer during last weekend’s Pink Game.

Our incredible breast health team showed up in full force, and several of our dedicated physicians were recognized on the court for their compassionate care and unwavering commitment to patients.

OU Health employee and cancer survivor Angela “Dashed for Cash” during MidFirst Bank's in‑game activity, bringing amazing energy to the court and making the moment truly special.

One of the most powerful moments of the evening was the Survivor Walk, when breast cancer survivors, our heroes, took center stage. Their courage inspires everything we do.

Thank you to the Oklahoma Women's Basketball team for helping shine a light on breast cancer awareness and for supporting survivors across Oklahoma. And thank you to everyone who cheered, showed up in pink, and shared in this meaningful afternoon.

02/27/2026

When 31‑year‑old Wesley Haines was diagnosed with primary mediastinal large B‑cell lymphoma, he faced a fast‑growing cancer that didn’t fully respond to chemotherapy.

Thanks to the expertise at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, Wesley had access to chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy (CAR-T cell therapy), an advanced treatment that uses a patient’s own genetically modified immune cells to better recognize and fight cancer.

As the only program in the state offering CAR‑T cell therapy, we provide lifesaving options close to home. This innovative treatment offers high response rates, long‑lasting results, and targeted care designed to preserve healthy tissue. For Wesley, it represented the next hopeful step in his cancer journey — and one he chose to take right here in Oklahoma.

At Stephenson Cancer Center, nationally recognized, leading‑edge treatments are delivered to patients who need them most.

02/23/2026

At OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, innovative clinical trials are changing lives, including that of Mike Schuster, an Oklahoman diagnosed with glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer.

After undergoing standard treatments and multiple surgeries, Mike sought a new path through one of our clinical trials featuring the Oklahoma-developed drug OKN-007, developed by scientists at the OMRF. This treatment has made a remarkable impact. Today, more than a decade after his diagnosis, Mike is celebrating milestones he once feared he would never reach.

His journey underscores the strength of an academic health system where breakthrough research and compassionate care come together to provide hope when conventional therapies fall short. We take pride in leading the charge to deliver evidence-based cancer treatments to Oklahoma and the families who rely on them.

02/20/2026

If you're participating in our annual fundraiser Outpace Cancer, don't forget to share your own cancer journey or honor a loved one with a storyboard.

Storyboards provide a visual reminder for everyone at Outpace Cancer of our "why" we bring our pace — to lessen the burden of cancer for all Oklahomans.

Submit your storyboard by Tuesday, Feb. 24, here: https://brnw.ch/21x07AR

02/18/2026

Sometimes healing requires more than standard care. It requires asking, “What if?”

For nearly two years, Jim Everest lived with a chronic, open wound caused by radiation damage from cancer treatment he received decades earlier. Despite months of antibiotics, surgery, and even hyperbaric oxygen therapy, nothing worked.

“It started as barely more than a scratch on the neck,” said OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center head and neck surgeon Dr. Greg Krempl, professor and chair of the Department of Otolaryngology at the OU College of Medicine.

“But over the course of weeks and months, it evolved into a deep, open wound. The tissue was so damaged from prior radiation that the normal healing process simply didn’t occur.”

That’s when our experts at OU Health turned to a different approach.

Through the FDA’s Expanded Access Program, our team used a regenerative therapy called Purified Exosome Product (PEP™), which is currently being studied in FDA‑regulated clinical trials and is not yet available commercially. The therapy uses healing signals derived from platelets to help stimulate tissue repair, and in Jim’s case, it was carefully applied week after week as our experts began to see damaged tissue respond and healing take hold.

Over time, the results became clear.

By spring, the wound had closed.
By summer, Jim no longer needed a bandage.
For the first time in years, he had his life back.

This is what academic healthcare at OU Health makes possible, when our clinicians and researchers work together to find solutions for the most complex conditions.

02/18/2026

Each year Outpace Cancer — our annual fundraiser for cancer research and patients and their families — wouldn't be possible without the help and support of our volunteers.

If you're looking for a way to get involved and running isn't your cup of tea, then volunteering might be the perfect option for you!

From monitoring our course to cheering on participants to handing out medals, there is something for everyone.

Sign up here: https://brnw.ch/21x03kQ

02/16/2026

OU Health is expanding cancer care in Tulsa with a new 175,000-square-foot OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center at 41st and Yale. Set to open in 2028, the new center is aimed at providing advanced treatment closer to home for families in northeast Oklahoma.

The region’s need for outpatient cancer care is projected to increase by 14.2% through 2034, driven by high rates of pancreatic, hepatobiliary and other complex cancers often resistant to traditional therapies. Despite northeast Oklahoma’s high rates of cancer, the region has historically had the lowest clinical trial participation rates at Stephenson Cancer Center. The new facility in Tulsa aims to reverse this trend.

In addition to increased access to clinical trials and a dedicated clinical trials space, the facility will feature advanced research labs, specialized clinics and 70 exam rooms. Cancer survivor Dana Jones highlights the importance of local access to care, noting it could significantly help patients outside Tulsa.

See the full story from KJRH: https://brnw.ch/21wZZoj

02/13/2026

In August 2024, Cale Olbert’s neck pain led to a diagnosis of blood cancer and a rapid start to treatment at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center. Just days after getting engaged, Cale and his fiancée, Lauren, married and shifted their focus to survival as he underwent intensive chemotherapy and a lifesaving stem cell transplant through the state’s only stem cell transplant program at Stephenson Cancer Center.

Nearly a year later, with close follow-up from his care team, Cale is recovering, returning to work and planning a long-awaited wedding celebration with Lauren — marking a hopeful new chapter made possible by specialized, world-class cancer care and Oklahoma's only National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center.

An Oklahoma man recounts his battle with cancer and the exceptional care he received at a local hospital, highlighting his journey from diagnosis to recovery and his plans for a future celebration.

02/11/2026

Protecting our patients is at the heart of everything we do.

For individuals undergoing cancer treatment, even common respiratory viruses like RSV, flu, and COVID‑19 can pose serious risks. As these illnesses circulate, we encourage our community, especially loved ones visiting or caring for cancer patients, to take extra steps to reduce the spread.

✔️ Wash your hands frequently
✔️ Avoid touching your face
✔️ Wear a mask if you’re feeling sick or around someone who is
✔️ Follow vaccination recommendations based on your age and health needs

These simple actions help safeguard cancer patients whose immune systems may be weakened by treatment.

If illness develops or symptoms worsen, OU Health is here with trusted, evidence‑based care and support. Thank you for helping us protect our patients and our community.

02/10/2026

Lay back, relax and in a couple minutes, you'll have a detailed picture of your lungs. That's all it takes to complete a lung cancer screening at our next Lung Cancer Screening Day on Saturday, Feb. 21.

Call (405) 271-LUNG to make an appointment — early detection saves lives!

Not sure if you're eligible? Make sure you meet the following criteria first:
✅ 50 to 80 years old; and
✅ Currently smoke or have quit in the past 15 years; and
✅ Have at least a 20 pack-year smoking history.

*A pack-year history = the number of packs of ci******es you smoke per day multiplied by the number of years you've smoked.

02/09/2026

Love running but want to make an even bigger impact than just crossing the finish line at your personal best?

Become a part of something bigger through Outpace Cancer Race 2026 by fundraising to support cancer patients, their families and cancer research. You can set a personal goal or become a part of a team working to raise funds together. Whatever you raise will have a significant impact on our community!

Outpace Cancer will be Saturday, April 18. 🎯 Start raising funds now! https://brnw.ch/21wZMR7

02/08/2026

Kim Morgan, a medical assistant at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, brightens patients’ days with her positive attitude and compassion. Being a breast cancer survivor, Kim understands the challenges our patients. Despite personal hardships, including the loss of her husband, she continues to uplift those around her.

Her best friend nominated her for KFOR-TV’s Pay It 4Ward award, and she was surprised with $400 in recognition of her impact. Team members and patients alike praise Kim's dedication, kindness and ability to bring joy — highlighting her resilience and love for her work. Morgan is now cancer-free, recently engaged and continues to inspire and uplift everyone she meets!

Every morning, Kim Moran will show up at the OU Stephenson Cancer Center in Oklahoma City with a bubbly personality.