Cancer Care

Jeffrey Albert, MD, MPH, serves CommonSpirit Health as Executive Medical Director of Oncology. In his role, Dr. Albert works to build CommonSpirit’s enterprise-wide cancer program from the ground up. As part of a team, he is committed to building, developing and implementing the CommonSpirit cancer care service line. Dr. Albert collaborates with peers, stakeholders and providers to create a destination program. Reporting to the Executive Medical Director of Oncology, he also works closely with physician executives, entity leaders and experts in the oncology field.

Prior to joining CommonSpirit, Dr. Albert served as the Physician Executive for the Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center program in Northern Colorado. He also maintained an active clinical practice. Dr. Albert was selected as a 2017 honoree for the Northern Colorado 40 Under Forty program, recognizing emerging leaders in the region. He has served in a national role on the Clinical Affairs and Quality Council for the American Society for Radiation Oncology, as well as that organization’s Measures Subcommittee.

Dr. Albert completed his internship and residency in radiation oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. During his training, in addition to receiving numerous honors and awards, he completed a Masters in Public Health with a focus in health care management at The University of Texas School of Public Health. He is a graduate of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

Dr. Albert has a passion for the outdoors and enjoys many activities in the mountains such as trail and ultrarunning, hiking, backpacking, camping, skiing, and snowshoeing. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Erin, and three young children: Parker (7), Caroline (5) and Owen (4).

Eric Bernicker, MD, has nearly three decades of clinical experience treating cancer patients and is board certified in both internal medicine and medical oncology from the American Board of Internal Medicine. 

Dr. Bernicker earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Yale University and his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He completed his residency in internal medicine through the Baylor Affiliated Hospitals Training Program where he served as the chief resident of Ben Taub General Hospital. Dr. Bernicker completed his medical oncology training at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

Prior to joining CommonSpirit Health, Dr. Bernicker spent decades at Houston Methodist Hospital, where he eventually served as Director of Medical Thoracic Oncology. He oversaw the expansion of lung cancer clinical trials in the Methodist Cancer Center and served on the international committee that developed guidelines for lung cancer mutation testing. In addition to his lung cancer practice, Dr. Bernicker was part of a multidisciplinary group focused on treating uveal melanomas. During his tenure at Houston Methodist Hospital, he also served as the assistant program director for the Houston Methodist Fellowship Program. Throughout his career, Dr. Bernicker has also served on numerous national committees and boards with the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. He has authored dozens of scientific papers and edited two textbooks.

Gretchen Ahrendt, MD, is a breast surgeon at St. Anthony Hospital and St. Anthony North Hospital. She provides patient-centered care, prioritizing individual needs and preferences while emphasizing education to support shared decision-making. Dr. Ahrendt places a strong emphasis on open communication and empowers her patients to actively participate in their care plans.

Dr. Ahrendt earned a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, and her medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She completed her residency and fellowship at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. She is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a Fellow of the Society of Surgical Oncology.

Outside of her medical practice, Dr. Ahrendt enjoys downhill, cross-country, and backcountry skiing, road and gravel cycling, traveling, cooking, and spending quality time with her family.

Elizabeth Ceilley, MD, strives to personally connect with her patients and to provide the most state-of-the art care in a compassionate and healing environment. Dr. Ceilley cares for patients with cancerous and benign tumors, using external beam radiation, brachytherapy, and unsealed radiation sources.

Dr. Ceilley earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. She went on to earn a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Iowa School of Medicine in Iowa City. She also completed a surgery and internal medicine internship at Tucson Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona and a residency in radiation oncology at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts.

Dr. Ceilley enjoys a variety of hobbies including photography, crafts, and spending time with her family and two dogs. She also spends time doing outdoor activities like hiking, cycling, and skiing.