Accounting to oncology

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Bookkeeper flourishes in hospital scene, moves on to oncology

By Renee Larr

Geist resident Fuad Hammoudeh has worked for the last three years as the St.Vincent Cancer Care executive director. Hammoudeh has worked in healthcare for over 30 years, but got into the field by accident.

“I was graduating with a degree in accounting. Someone told me the hospital was hiring an accountant and they asked me if I would be interested. That’s how I started. I would have never expected hospitals to hire accountants at that time,” said Hammoudeh.

He quickly progressed through the ranks to become a business office manager, controller, assistant administrator and hospital president and chief executive officer.

“In 1994, I was the president and CEO at Hancock Regional Hospital in Greenfield. An opportunity came to me to work for a national company that did practice management for oncology practices. I thought at that time it was a good direction for me to take. I had not worked as much on the physician side as I had on the hospital side. So, I took the opportunity and started focusing on oncology,” Hammoudeh said.

Hammoudeh went on from HRH to work at the University of Tennessee Cancer Institute, IU Health and Indiana University School of Medicine before landing at SVCC.

“My responsibilities include all the strategy development, program development, physician relations, quality for the cancer program that includes radiation oncology, medical oncology, clinical research, survivorship and in-patient areas, as well,” said Hammoudeh.

In addition to his day-to-day duties Hammoudeh finds time to help raise funding for SVCC patients.

“Our mission at St.Vincent is to treat all patients and with special emphasis on the poor and vulnerable. We do everything we can in order to find ways to help patients that cannot afford treatment or do not have access to the care they need especially when it comes to cancer. We have been very blessed at St.Vincent with a great foundation that assists in fundraising that can help us create programs or assist us in buying needed equipment so that we can serve our entire community,” said Hammoudeh.

Each year the SVCC holds a cancer run/walk in Zionsville. The hope is to raise funds to not only offer cutting-edge treatment options but to help treat the mind and spirit. SVCC focuses on treating cancer patients before, during and after their battle. This year’s run/walk is September 9 in Zionsville and participants can choose between a 5K and 10K. The 5K registration fee is $30 and the 10K registration is $40.

“The experience our patients get and how we treat them and support them as well as their loved ones during their journey is so important,” Hammoudeh said.

In his spare time, Hammoudeh likes to spend time with his wife of 43 years, Jan and his family which includes his son, Ryan, his daughter-in-law, Jamie, his daughter, Emily and grandson, Caleb along with the family rescue Labrador, Frannie. For eight-and-a-half years, Hammoudeh and his family cared for his mother-in-law who was struggling with Alzheimer’s.

“After she passed away in May of 2013 we waited a while before we felt ready to take on a dog. God sent us Frannie at the right time,” Hammoudeh said.

Hammoudeh loves living in the Geist area and feels it’s a community on the rise with the addition of walking paths.

“I like living in Fishers because it’s friendly and growing and meeting the needs of the community,” Hammoudeh said.

Working in oncology can sometimes be an arduous task, but Hammoudeh tries to see the positive side.

“You can’t help but feel that you wish you could cure cancer and there comes a time when patients don’t have to suffer through it but unfortunately we’re not there yet. So, in the meantime we do the best we can to accommodate and meet their needs,” Hammoudeh said.

Meet Fuad Hammoudeh

Age: 65

Family: Jan, wife, and kids Ryan, 39 and Emily, 36.

Favorite thing about living in Fishers? Safe, quiet, easy access to shopping and restaurants, great community

Favorite activity to do in spare time? Read, photography, walk

Favorite local restaurant? C R Heroes

Something interesting that no one would know about you? Started the Manchester University varsity soccer program

Favorite vacation spot? Orange Beach, Ala.


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