Ballad Health introduces two advanced cancer surgeries at Johnson City Medical Center

Patients facing complex abdominal cancers now have new hope close to home as Ballad Health expands access to advanced, life-extending treatments at Johnson City Medical Center.

In February, surgical oncology teams performed the first hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) procedure, followed by the first hepatic artery infusion (HAI) in March. These therapies expand treatment options for patients with complex abdominal cancers.

Both procedures were led by Dr. Jennifer Whittington of ETSU Health. The HAI procedure, specifically, is performed by the teams of Dr. Whittington and Dr. Trevy Ramos, as well as a specialized operating room staff trained to perform these complex procedures.

“Some patients with extensive disease might have only weeks or months to live,” Dr. Whittington said. “With these advanced procedures, we’re often able to extend our patients’ lives by years.”

HIPEC is used for cancers that have spread within the abdominal cavity, including cancers of the appendix, colon and ovaries, as well as some primary peritoneal cancers. It is offered to patients with advanced disease, typically stage III or IV, when the cancer can still be surgically removed.

The HIPEC procedure involves two stages. First, surgeons remove any visible tumors from the abdominal cavity. Then, a heated chemotherapy solution is circulated throughout the abdomen for about 90 minutes. Delivering the medication directly to the affected area allows higher doses to reach cancer cells while reducing some side effects of conventional chemotherapy. The heat also helps the drug penetrate tissues that might contain microscopic cancer cells.

HAI is a treatment for cancers that have spread to the liver, most often from colorectal tumors and cholangiocarcinoma.

In HAI, chemotherapy is delivered directly into the hepatic artery, which supplies blood to the liver, allowing high doses of the drug to target tumors while reducing side effects throughout the rest of the body. HAI is often used in combination with surgery or systemic chemotherapy to help control liver tumors that cannot be fully removed by surgery alone.

“These procedures will change lives,” said Dr. Elizabeth Jackson, chief medical officer of Johnson City Medical Center. “Both treatments not only have the potential to extend a patient’s life, but it does so in a way that reduces the side effects patients have come to expect with chemotherapy treatment. That helps keep our patients more comfortable while giving them some of the most advanced cancer treatment available.”

These two new treatments strengthen Ballad Health’s surgical oncology program and expand access to advanced cancer care across the Appalachian Highlands.

“Previously, patients had to leave the region for these treatments. Now, they can stay close to home,” Dr. Whittington said.

“Cancer care is demanding for both patients and families, especially when it requires extended hospital stays. Receiving treatment locally allows patients to remain surrounded by their support system, which is essential to healing. In many ways, having loved ones nearby during recovery is just as important as the care itself.”

A native of Richlands, Virginia, Dr. Whittington graduated from East Tennessee State University’s Quillen College of Medicine. She completed her medical residency and earned a doctorate in clinical and translational sciences at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Whittington returned home to the region in 2025 to practice surgical oncology.

“I came here as an experienced HIPEC surgeon, but this is also my home,” Dr. Whittington said. “To bring this level of care back to my community is an honor. It’s truly my privilege to care for the people of this region.”

Learn more about oncology services in Johnson City or request an appointment.