Board Certified Providers

The Heart of our Organization. The people that come to work every day, to find better ways to care for you. Reaching into tomorrow and bringing you what you need today.

Your Providers

William R. Mitchell, MD

Undergraduate – Marshall University School of Medicine
Medical School – University of Louisville School of Medicine
Internal Medicine Residency – Bowman Gray School of Medicine
Fellowship – Bowman Gray School of Medicine

Dr. Mitchell received his undergraduate degree Magna Cum Laude at Marshall University. He furthered his education at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. He completed both his internal medicine residency and fellowship at Wake Forest University Bowman Gray School of Medicine. From 1992 to 1995, he was the Chief Fellow of Oncology. He previously was the Chairman of Oncology for Novant Health Huntersville and assisted the Internal Medicine Residency Program for Oncology Rotation for Carolinas Medical Center. Dr. Mitchell founded Southern Oncology Specialists in 2010. He enjoys spending time with his family and has a passion for all genres of music.

Jack D. Burton, MD

Undergraduate – Carleton College, Northfield, MN
Medical School – University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis
Internal Medicine Residency & Fellowship– University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

Dr. Burton is a board certified physician in medical oncology who completed his medical rotations throughout his educational career in Minneapolis. He broadened his specialty medicine in cancer research at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. In the mid-2000’s he established various positions at Staten Island University Hospital in New York City with roles as Director of Oncology Research and Director of Institutional Review Boards. Following, he joined the oncology program at Coney Island Hospital in Brooklyn where he headed the Hematology/Oncology Fellowship program for several years and continued directing research. A member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Association for Cancer Research, he continues to provide an abundance of oncology and hematology advanced medical care at Southern Oncology Specialists.
Dr. Burton stated “Patient care is complex and involves many directions. I am able to get to the level each individual patient is on, and that is when I see the best outcomes”.

Poras K. Patel, MD

Undergraduate – Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
Medical School – American University of Antigua, College of Medicine, Antigua and Barbuda
Internal Medicine Residency & Fellowship – The Brooklyn Hospital Center, Affiliate of Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City

Dr. Patel is a board certified physician in medical oncology and hematology who started his career in science as a major in Chemistry at Middlesex County College in Edison, New Jersey before obtaining a bachelor of science degree in Biochemistry at Rutgers University. While at both colleges, he achieved dean’s list. Upon completing his doctor of medicine from American University of Antigua, he joined staff at The Brooklyn Hospital Center and received a Chief Resident Recognition Award. Dr. Patel has extensive research in blood disorders, blood cancers, such as multiple myeloma, lung cancer, breast cancer and neuroendocrine carcinoma cases. Since 2016, he has been a volunteer physician with the Medical Reserve Corps, a citywide emergency preparedness program. He and his wife recently relocated to North Carolina where he joined the team at Southern Oncology Specialists.

James (Jia Hao) Liang, MD

Undergraduate – The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Medical School – Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC
Internal Medicine Residency – Wake Forest Medical Center, High Point, NC
Fellowship (Hematology & Oncology) – Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

Dr. Liang completed most of his education in North Carolina and would consider himself a North Carolinian. He also spent many years of his childhood in China and speaks fluent Mandarin and Cantonese. He received his undergraduate degree from UNC-Chapel Hill then moved to the triad region and received his medical degree at Wake Forest School of Medicine. He went on to complete his Internal Medicine Residency at Wake Forest Hospital then moved up the state lines and completed the fellowship training program in Hematology-Oncology at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. He is a North Carolinian and it has always been his goal to return home. Now back in North Carolina to continue his journey in medicine and is part of our team at Southern Oncology Specialists. In his free time, he enjoys traveling and experiencing different cultures, but prefers outdoor-scenic locations over big cities. The beautiful Great Smokey Mountains would be a perfect weekend getaway. On a completely unrelated note, he says “my favorite color is sky blue”!

Abdul R. Miah, MD

Undergraduate – West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
Medical School – The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
Internal Medicine Residency – West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
Fellowship (Hematology & Oncology) – University of Toledo, Toledo, OH & Augusta University, Augusta, GA

Dr. Abdul R. Miah was born in Morgantown, West Virginia, and spent much of his childhood in London before returning to the United States at age 12. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at West Virginia University, in Morgantown. He then serves as Clinical Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Oncology at The Ohio State University James Cancer Hospital.

Dr. Miah completed his fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at the University of Toledo, Ohio and Augusta University in Georgia. He and his family now call Mooresville home.

“The patients here are consistently kind, humble and deeply appreciative of their care. Being part of their journey – offering not only treatment but also hope – is a privilege I do not take lightly”.

Ami Caban, PA-C

Bachelor of Science, Physican Assistant Studies – Springfield College, Springfield, MA

Master of Science – Physican Assistant Studies – Springfield College, Springfield, MA

Ami Caban earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts. With an impressive 24-year career in Emergency Medicine, Urology, and OBGYN Surgery, Ami brings a wealth of experience and dedication to her role. She joined Southern Oncology Specialists to pursue her passion for oncology and provide compassionate, high-quality care to her patients.

Ami grew up in the Virgin Islands, racing Sailboats, a hobby she continues to enjoy today. She also enjoys, playing the piano, and traveling but most of all spending time with her two children.

Xavier Harrison, PA-C

Medical Training – Air Force, Medical Laboratory Technician
Master of Medical Science – Wake Forest University
Bowman Gray School of Medicine

Xavier Harrison has over 30 years of experience in medicine. Although a Charlotte native, he grew up in Germany. He previously treated patients in his physician assistant role in the fields of urology, emergency medicine, and pain medicine. Xavier is board certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and brings a diverse medical background to the cancer team at Southern Oncology Specialists.

Kelli McLane, PA-C

Undergraduate – University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Master of Public Health – University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Master of Science in Physican Assistants Studies – Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA

Kelli is Board Certified by the National Commission of Certification of Physician Assistants. She received her Undergraduate degree in 2012 from the University of Tennessee and completed a Master of Public Health from the University of Kentucky in 2014. She completed her Master of Science in Physician Assistants Studies in 2018 from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She completed APP Orthopedic Fellowship in 2019 and spent the first 5 years of her career in Orthopedic Surgery, specializing in total joint arthroplasties. Kelli is a native of South Carolina. Kelli enjoys spending time with her family, her friends, and her Great Pyrenees. She enjoys reading, traveling, playing and watching sports. She is a third-generation health-care provider and is excited to continue to provide excellent care to the patients at Southern Oncology Specialists.