David Sindram, MD, PhD

Dr. Shearer cares for hematology and oncology patients with all tumor types. She has a special interest in helping patients who have gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies including esophageal, colorectal and anal cancers, as well as hepatobiliary malignancies. She works closely with the GI multidisciplinary clinic at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center. She has served as the primary investigator on many clinical trials for GI malignancies and regularly attends scholarly meetings. Dr. Shearer enjoys reading, cooking, traveling in her spare time and has run several half marathons. She enjoys spending time with her two daughters, her husband, a physician assistant in cardiothoracic surgery, and her golden retrievers.

My father was a physician and my mother was a nurse, so, growing up as a kid, I always imagined that I too, would find a career in medicine. Ultimately, I chose to become a gynecologic oncologist because I was attracted to the complexity of the medicine that was mixed with advanced surgical care for women diagnosed with cancers of the reproductive tract. \n More importantly, though, I chose to become a gynecologic oncologist because of the women battling these cancers, and the unique relationship that I would be able to develop with them and their families during their cancer journey. In caring for women diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer, I believe it is important to engage them in the discussion of how best to direct their care. In doing so, my goal is to provide them with all available treatment options and access to state of the art surgical and oncologic care. \n In this unique role as a GYN oncologist, I am able to work closely with the patient and her family as she battles her cancer. In doing so, I have the opportunity to guide patients and their families through the ups and downs this battle, a privilege which I believe is critical to both positive outcomes for them as well as personal fulfillment for me. \n Women diagnosed with cancers of the cervix, vagina, vulva and other reproductive organs want to know whether - and how - their lives might change during and after treatment. Some want to know if cancer will affect their fertility. Others want to know how treatments will affect their sex life or ability to participate in favorite activities. My goal is to guide them toward making decisions that work best for them given their type of gynecologic cancer and their personal priorities. \n To fulfill this goal, I work with a team of fellow oncologists specializing in surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapies to keep up with the latest advances in the fight against gynecologic cancers. I also work with physician assistants, nurses, physical therapists and social workers, who specialize in helping women with gynecologic cancers. \n I am a member of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology, which promotes excellence in the care of women who are either at risk for or affected by such cancers through advocacy, education, research and collaboration. To support those efforts, I founded Athenas Run for Gyn Cancers in 2010. In its first decade, the event raised $500,000 for research, education, and outreach efforts in the Piedmont Triad Region. Weve helped pay for a cancer survivors symposium, an outreach program for minority women and a lecture series. \n I am also extremely interested in trying to decrease the disparities in medical care that exist in developing countries. I have had the opportunity to provide surgical/medical care and training on women's health issues to providers in Tanzania and the Dominican Republican. A native of Asheville, NC, in my spare time, I like to run, hike, and together, with my husband Jeffrey, watch our three kids pursue their passions, which often times means lots of soccer games and gymnastic meets!

As a gynecologic oncologist, I specialize in both the medical and surgical care of women with cancers of the female reproductive tract, including the ovaries, uterus, cervix, vagina and vulva. I use advanced medical and surgical techniques, including surgical robotics and laparoscopy, extensively to help patients recover from surgery faster and with less pain than traditional approaches. \n One of the most fulfilling aspects of specializing in this field is that it enables me to use my skills as a surgeon to remove cancers and my knowledge of chemotherapy to treat patients with the most advanced therapies available. \n After successful cancer treatments, I often continue to see my patients intermittently for years to ensure they remain healthy. The relationships I form with them and their families are among the most rewarding of my life. \n As a member of the American Osteopathic Association, I take a whole-person approach to medicine, which means focusing on prevention and helping the body's natural tendency toward health and self-healing. Throughout the process, I strive to respect the patient's wishes, including providing care at the times and locations most convenient to them. I focus on both their physical comfort and emotional wellbeing. \n In addition to direct patient care, I also enjoy clinical research. I have served as primary investigator on multiple Novant Health clinical trials for new cancer therapies and on the operating room committees at both Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center and Novant Health Medical Park Hospital. \n Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time with my wife, a veterinarian, and our daughter, who was born in 2020. My interests include classic automobiles, being outdoors, traveling and studying history. I raised in California, where most of my extended family still lives.