CEO highlights HOA’s work in clinical trials, talks about innovative cancer treatments offered by the practice
By Aaron Gifford
As a nurse, teacher and administrator, Jennifer Pichoske has witnessed staggering advances in cancer treatment from every perspective.
Just since the 1990s, she explained, the advances with breast cancer increased from five lines of therapy to 50 and cancer in general is becoming a treatable, chronic disease.
“We’re not just looking at mortality anymore,” she said. “The science and technology are astounding.”
On Valentine’s Day, Pichoske will mark her first anniversary as chief executive officer of Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY. She recently talked about her career journey, her passion for medicine and the challenges she faces in running the only cancer care specialty center in New York state that’s not part of a “supergroup” owned by a hospital corporation or a private equity firm.
“I love the complexity, the science and the connection,” she said. “I don’t like things that are simple. I’m always a ‘what’s next’ person.”
The Western New York native was drawn to medicine at an early age, enjoying hospital visits with her grandmother. She viewed patient rooms, operating tables and nurses’ stations as positive, exciting spaces, not scary or sad places.
“I was fortunate to find my calling early on,” she said.
Pichoske started her career as a cancer care nurse in a Buffalo hospital and advanced to become a hematology-oncology nurse practitioner. She completed a master’s degree in nursing at the University at Buffalo and later earned an executive MBA from Quantic School of Business and Technology.
Pichoske arrived in Central New York in 2001. At Hematology-Oncology of CNY, she worked her way up from nursing director to chief clinical officer to chief operating officer. In February 2025, she took the helm from retiring CEO Maryann Roefaro, who led the practice for 23 years.
“As a leader for HOA, Jen has driven innovation, operational excellence and patient advocacy efforts and we are thrilled to have her as our new CEO,” physician Tarek Sousou, president of HOA’s board of directors, announced last year. “Her deep industry knowledge and visionary leadership will be instrumental in continuing our mission to provide the highest level of quality care in a healing environment for the mind, body, and spirit of patients dealing with cancer and blood disorders.”
The practice opened in 1982 and today includes facilities in East Syracuse, Auburn and Camillus. It employs 21 doctors and 34 nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
In addition to her work at HOA, Pichoske was also a faculty member of the Crouse Hospital of Nursing for five years. Teaching was an extremely rewarding and fulfilling experience, “especially when you watch the graduates cross the stage,” she said. Still, after five years, the nurse by trade got a bit restless and needed to work with providers and patients again.
“When I was a registered nurse, I never thought I could re-invent myself so many ways,” she said.
Aside from a cybersecurity breach and a water line problem in the office one day, Pichoske has found her new role exhilarating. She tries to interact with patients and staff on the floor as often as possible, maintains an open-door policy and always answers her phone.
She started an advisory board to gain input from patients and their families. “I’m there to listen,” she said.
Pichoske said she’s especially proud of HOA’s work in clinical trials, which allow patients to access new treatments before they are widely available and its bispecific antibody therapy program that’s available as an outpatient service. By contrast, the same treatment in Rochester and Buffalo is based at hospitals and requires a seven-day stay.
Under this treatment option, a patient’s own immune system is used to fight the disease by binding the cancer cells and white blood cells that protect the body from infection and fight cancer.
Research indicates that up to 60% of patients receiving this therapy have a positive response to the point where the disease progression is slowed or stopped, this improving their quality of life or extending life expectancy, according to the HOA website.
HOA’s ongoing clinical trials cover several types of cancer, including breast, colorectal, esophageal, lung, pancreatic, prostate, renal, solid tumor, melanoma and leukemia.
Pichoske said the practice and its providers have been recognized nationally for their cutting-edge research.
“The options patients here have right in their backyard are just enormous,” she said, adding that most people are unaware of the role clinical trials play as a public good.
“Everything we put in our bodies has to be tested, even aspirin,” she said.
That kind of innovation is crucial to remain competitive in a saturated cancer care market, Pichoske said. Too many hospital corporations and practices owned by private equity firms are adding hematology and oncology services to take advantage of federal incentives, but ultimately, too many providers in a relatively small area can dilute the quality of cancer care in communities, she added.
“If you can’t do it with complete excellence, you shouldn’t do it,” she said.
Pichoske thinks it would be useful to hold a town hall meeting or summit with all the cancer care providers in the Central New York region to talk about “who’s going to do what in case resources run dry.”
“But that’s probably just wishful thinking,” she said.
HOA leaders communicate weekly with colleagues who work at a similar independent practice in Arkansas, Pichoske said.
“Like us, they are holding strong,” she said. “Practices like ours are so rare these days.”
Outside of work, Pichoske also volunteers with Hospice of CNY and the Finger Lakes; Breast Care Partners LLC; Cancer Connects; and the Community Oncology Alliance.
She previously also volunteered at Helping Hounds, where she started a respite program to assist cancer patients who needed help taking care of their dogs.
The mother of two also enjoys the outdoors, cooking, yoga, spending time with family and watching her sons compete in sports. Her oldest plays baseball at college, while her youngest is a high school hockey player.