Outer Banks Health welcomes Michael Spiritos, medical oncologist, to its team of healthcare professionals at the Cowell Cancer Center. Dr. Spiritos brings decades of experience, compassion, and prestigious expertise to the Outer Banks community.Dr. Spiritos, an associate professor of medicine, joins OBH from Duke Raleigh Hospital, where he served as chief medical officer since 2013 and practiced medical oncology and hematology, with an interest in breast cancer. Previously, he was a PDC representative for Wake County specialty practices and chief of medical oncology at Duke Raleigh Hospital. With extensive service in cancer care, Dr. Spiritos is a recognized expert in the field.
Charles Shelton, radiation oncologist at the Cowell Cancer Center, shared, “Dr. Spiritos brings new and exciting energy, beautifully coupled with a pedigree from Duke, a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center, where he practiced medical oncology and hematology with an interest in breast cancer. This is exactly the right oncologist for us at this time. I am personally thrilled that OBH attracted him after working alongside him as a locum provider in 2023 and 2024. We are blessed to have Dr. Spiritos joining the Outer Banks full time.”
A graduate of Harvard University, Dr. Spiritos earned his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College. He completed his residency in Medicine at The New York Hospital in New York, NY, and his fellowship in Hematology-Oncology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA. He is board-certified in medical oncology, hematology, and internal medicine.
“Dr. Spiritos will also lead our breast care team as Breast Program Director as OBH seeks the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) re-accreditation in 2025,” Dr. Shelton said. “OBH remains the only critical access hospital in the U.S. to achieve both comprehensive cancer accreditation by the Commission on Cancer (2016, 2019, 2023) and breast care accreditation—including breast cancer and benign diseases—with NAPBC accreditation originally earned in 2022. For a small, rural hospital to have achieved these great results and to have attracted doctors of this caliber speaks volumes to our community, our hospital administrators, and the Cowell Cancer Center. We are proud to continue raising the bar in cancer care, delivering the right care, right here at home.”
Dr. Spiritos is dedicated and eager to provide personalized care, ensuring his patients receive the latest advancements and the most effective treatment options. He will develop individualized care plans, incorporating advanced diagnostics, cutting-edge therapies, and a compassionate, expert approach to care.
With the addition of Dr. Spiritos, Outer Banks Health is making cancer care more accessible for the local community. Patients can be diagnosed and receive their treatment plan, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and supportive care right here close to home. Most surgical oncology will be performed at an alternate location, but otherwise most oncology services are available on the barrier island, allowing patients to “Keep Making Waves,” right here at home.
