A New Frontier
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
By Erena Fulton ◆ Photos by Jessica McCafferty
Dr. Todd Whitman is a busy man. He treats patients at Whitman Hematology - Infusion Therapy (WHIT) in Plattsburgh one week, travels to his oncology practice at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany the next, and then he’s back to Plattsburgh. While he is away, his experienced team handles the daily routines of scheduling appointments, managing referrals, and caring for patients in the office while communicating frequently with him.
Treatments at the Clinic
The WHIT clinic’s bright decor and purposeful design focuses on creating a calm, comfortable environment. There are four infusion rooms, a staff break room, a pharmacy, and Dr.Whitman’s exam room with a connecting office. Each infusion room is equipped with an adjustable chair, a snack/drink tray, a warming blanket, and a tablet with internet access.
Patients who seek treatment at WHIT are those diagnosed with a variety of hematology-related noncancerous conditions including anemia, clotting and bleeding disorders, iron metabolism abnormalities, and other non-malignant hematologic issues.
IV treatments (intravenous therapy) deliver fluids, medications, or nutrients directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system for rapid absorption and 100% bioavailability. They can be used to treat severe dehydration, manage chronic illnesses, deliver targeted medicine, and rapidly replenish electrolytes or vitamins.
Infusion centers are most often found in pharmacies or as part of a clinic. WHIT is clinic based and provides medications for Dr. Whitman’s patients and for those who receive treatment from out-of-town specialists. “Fifteen years ago there were a handful of drugs available for infusion in outpatient care centers. Now there are over 100 drugs which cannot be given by injection so they must be given intravenously.” Whitman observed.
A Diverse Career Path
Dr. Whitman attended medical school at the University of Rochester and completed a three-year residency at University of Vermont Medical Center (UVM) in Burlington. Initially, he was intrigued by internal medicine, but during a rotation in his first year at UVM, he was on the cancer floor and fell in love. “It was a privilege to take care of those patients,” he explained. “They had a view of the world that the rest of us should be lucky enough, or smart enough, to have. They lost a lot of the nonsense that we focus on every day.”
After his residency, Dr. Whitman moved to North Carolina to work as a hospitalist and then returned to Burlington for a hematology oncology fellowship. His next move was to the FitzPatrick Cancer Center in Plattsburgh where he practiced for 15 years. After spending time in administration and overseeing other doctors, he realized he missed practicing medicine. That’s when he knew , “It was time for a change.” WHIT opened its doors in November 2024.
Hemonc is Always Changing
Hematology-Oncology (Hemonc) is a specialized field combining the study of blood diseases and cancer treatments, using medication, chemotherapy, and blood-related therapies, “Science is progressing rapidly and patients with a cancer diagnosis live so much longer with new innovative therapies. That keeps the field of Hemoc exciting for me,” Dr. Whitman emphasized. “At WHIT we treat, not only cancer patients, but we see a lot of general medicine patients, which is something I love.”
Dr. Whitman observed, “More than ever before, patients have so much information and access to medical research and literature, Dr. Google and now AI. They come to the office prepared with sophisticated questions. It has changed how we practice. It’s great because patients can advocate for themselves, and they feel empowered.” He predicted, “In the next five years, the medical field will experience dramatic changes in the development of drugs and the study of DNA. Artificial Intelligence (AI) will change medicine in ways we can’t yet comprehend.”
Plans for Growth
Dr. Whitman is currently expanding the wellness infusion side of his practice. “Now that the clinic is solidly set up with care for our medical patients, we are delving into the vitamin infusion side of things.,” he offered. “The community has been asking for it for a long time.
“IV wellness treatments are more than just vitamins,” Dr. Whitman explained. “They are a restorative experience. In our luxurious private infusion suite, clients will receive elective intravenous therapy to deliver fluids, electrolytes, and nutrients directly into their bloodstream. They will enjoy personalized care and expert oversight in the comfort of a safe, relaxing environment. Treatments will be designed to Rehydrate. Revitalize. Rebalance, and Restore wellness from the inside out.” IV therapy is designed to treat dehydration, hangovers, jet lag, and fatigue, or for general immune support and wellness.
All Hands-on Deck
Amy Keith, nurse and office manager, along with Melissa Ducatte, charge nurse, and Jennifer Carpenter, medical assistant, operate the WHIT clinic full-time. Ducatte’s colleagues call her “the hub of the wheel” and their “go-to person.” Physician’s Assistant, Kayla Napper, facilitates follow-up visits and care coordination of hematology treatments.
Three skilled, experienced chemotherapy nurses round out the team – April Davis, Christina Bushey and Chelsey Bond. Each person on the WHIT team has “18-25 years’ experience,” Keith emphasized.
Bushey added, “The hospital setting can be chaotic. Here, it is serene and calm. Patient care it utmost here.” Davis and Bushey laughed and explained that sometimes patients don’t want to leave once they get settled into their comfy chairs and tucked up into a warm blanket.”
With Dr. Whitman’s commitment to “hands-on treatment” along with his highly skilled team, Whitman Hematology – Infusion Therapy patients can feel confident they are receiving the very best care.
Whitman Hematology – Infusion Therapy
285 Tom Miller Road, Suite 300
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
518 825-2731
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