The Department of Radiation Oncology was created in 2001, after having been part of the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology for many decades. The department has a broad academic program that focuses on excellence in patient care and the development of new treatment paradigms; innovative research in each of our three divisions: Clinical, Medical Physics and Cancer Biology; and teaching graduate students, medical students, residents in both radiation oncology and medical physics, and allied health personnel.
The department is one of the largest, most academically balanced, and best equipped in the country, and it is responsible for all radiation therapy procedures at Washington University Medical Center and at Siteman Cancer Center facilities throughout the St. Louis regional area. Our faculty have gained international recognition for innovative technological advances in physics and treatment planning, biological research, computer applications and clinical investigation.
We have advanced treatment planning computer systems for 3D conformal and intensity-modulated radiation therapy as well as the latest Gamma Knife, the ICON unit. We have six linear accelerators with on-board CT imaging capability. The brachytherapy suite includes capabilities for high dose rate remote after-loading and for image-guided permanent prostate seed implants. Interstitial and external hyperthermia treatments are also available.
The Department of Radiation Oncology offers the following formal educational programs:
- Clinical Residency Training Program (four years), ACGME-accredited; established 1971
- Medical Physics Residency Training Program (two years), CAMPEP-accredited; established 1993
- Post-PhD Graduate Certificate in Medical Physics (one to two years), CAMPEP-accredited; established 2017
- Master of Science (MS) in Medical Physics (two years), CAMPEP-accredited; established 2020
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Medical Physics (two to five years); established 2022
Contact Info
| Website: | http://radonc.wustl.edu |
Sana Karam, MD, PhD
Department Head
James Randall, MD
Medical Student Director
Joanna Yang, MD, MPH
Clinical Residency Program Director
Phillip Wall, PhD, MS
Medical Physics Residency Program Director
Michael Altman, PhD
Director of Education in Medical Physics
Visit our website for more information about our faculty and their appointments.
A
Michael Bernard Altman, Ph.D.
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Chicago, 2010
Anthony John Apicelli, Ph.D., M.D.
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, Princeton University, 1999
Doctor of Philosophy, Washington University in St Louis, 2009
Doctor of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis, 2009
B
Nadia Marie Benabdallah, M.S., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, University of Paris, 2012
Master of Science, University of Paris, 2016
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Paris, 2017
Carmen Renee Bergom, M.S., Ph.D., M.D.
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1998
Master of Science, University of Cambridge, 1999
Doctor of Philosophy, Medical College of Wisconsin, 2006
Doctor of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 2008
Amit Bhatt, Ph.D., M.D.
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, University of Michigan Dearborn, 1997
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Wisconsin, 2002
Doctor of Medicine, Rush University, 2006
C
Douglas Ford Caruthers, M.S.
Instructor in Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Master of Science, University of Texas Health Science Center, 2010
Li-Yun Chen, Ph.D.
Instructor in Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Doctor of Philosophy, Keele University, 2019
Jessika Contreras, M.D.
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Arts, Johns Hopkins University, 2009
Bachelor of Science, Johns Hopkins University, 2009
Doctor of Medicine, University of South Florida, 2014
Austen Curcuru, M.S., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, Loyola University Chicago, 2014
Master of Science, Washington University in St Louis, 2018
Doctor of Philosophy, Washington University in St Louis, 2023
David T Curiel, Ph.D., M.D.
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Distinguished Professor of Radiation Oncology
Professor of Medicine
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Bachelor of Arts, West Georgia College, 1978
Doctor of Medicine, Emory University, 1982
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Groningen, 2000
D
Arash Darafsheh, M.S., Ph.D.
Professor of of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, University of Tehran, 2004
Master of Science, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2011
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Pennsylvania, 2015
Jennifer De Los Santos, M.D.
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Doctor of Medicine, University of Florida, 1995
Carl J. DeSelm, Ph.D., M.D.
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, Dartmouth College, 2004
Doctor of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis, 2012
Doctor of Philosophy, Washington University in St Louis, 2016
Venkata Rao Devineni, M.D.
Voluntary Clinical Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology
Doctor of Medicine, Osmania Medical College, 1973
Igor Dmitriev, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Doctor of Philosophy, SRC Vector, 1994
Robert E Drzymala, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus of Radiation Oncology
Bachelor of Science, Northern Illinois University, 1972
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Oklahoma, 1977
E
Sharbacha Edward, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 2022
F
Farnoush Forghani-Arani, M.S., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, 2000
Master of Science, University of Tehran, 2002
Doctor of Philosophy, Colorado School of Mines, 2013
G
Jose L Garcia, M.S.
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, University of Puerto Rico, 1995
Master of Science, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (Formerly Finch University of Health Sciences), 1997
Hiram Alberto Gay, M.D.
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, University of Puerto Rico, 1996
Doctor of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, 2000
Sreekrishna M Goddu, M.S., Ph.D.
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, Andhra University, 1983
Master of Science, Andhra University, 1985
Doctor of Philosophy, Andhra University, 1991
Yuxing Gu, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Missouri Columbia, 2000
H
Lannis Hall, M.P.H., M.D.
Voluntary Clinical Professor of Radiation Oncology
Bachelor of Arts, University of Michigan (Duplicate of University of Michigan Ann Arbor), 1988
Doctor of Medicine, Howard University, 1992
Master of Public Health, Saint Louis University, 1995
Dennis E Hallahan, M.D.
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology
Professor of Pathology and Immunology
Professor of Molecular Microbiology
Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Bachelor of Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1980
Doctor of Medicine, Rush University, 1984
Yao Hao, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
California, 2004
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Massachusetts Lowell, 2016
Joseph Harms, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Doctor of Philosophy, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus, 2018
Ibrahim Hatipoglu, M.S., Ph.D.
Instructor in Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, Istanbul University, 2004
Master of Science, University of Anatolia, 2006
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Anatolia, 2012
Dean Hobbis, M.S., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, Eckerd College, 2015
Master of Science, University of South Florida, 2018
Doctor of Philosophy, University of South Florida, 2020
Donghua Hu, Ph.D.
Instructor in Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (安徽中医学院), 2011
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Tasmania, 2018
Jiayi Huang, M.D.
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Doctor of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester, 2007
Geoffrey Douglas Hugo, Ph.D.
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Director - Physics Division, Medical Physics
Professor of Computer Science and Engineering
Endowed Professor of Radiation Oncology
Doctor of Philosophy, University of California Los Angeles, 2003
K
Vaishali Kapoor, M.S., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Arts, Delhi University, 2006
Master of Science, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, 2008
Doctor of Philosophy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, 2013
Sana D Karam, M.S., M.D., Doctorate
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Elizabeth H and James S McDonnell III Distinguished Professor of Medicine
Head of the Department of Radiation Oncology
Bachelor of Science, American University of Beirut, 1991
Master of Science, University of Maryland at Baltimore, 1994
Doctorate, University of Washington, 2001
Doctor of Medicine, Georgetown University, 2008
Taeho Kim, Ph.D.
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Doctor of Philosophy, Washington University in St Louis, 2007
Nels C Knutson, M.S., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, University of Montana Missoula, 2009
Master of Science, Louisiana State University, 2012
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Massachusetts Lowell, 2016
L
Susan Joy Laduzinsky, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Doctor of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1983
Hugh HC Lee, M.S., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, Hanyang University, 2009
Master of Science, Seoul National University, 2011
Doctor of Philosophy, Purdue University-Main Campus, 2016
Jason Dole Lee, Ph.D., M.D.
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Doctor of Philosophy, Duke University, 2009
Doctor of Medicine, Duke University, 2010
Hua Li, Ph.D.
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Doctor of Philosophy, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (华中科技大学, HUST), 2001
Hsiu-San Lin, Ph.D., M.D.
Professor Emeritus of Radiation Oncology
Doctor of Medicine, National Taiwan University, 1960
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Chicago, 1968
Zhi Hong Lu, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, Fudan University (复旦大学), 1990
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 1999
M
Mustafaa Saleem Mahmood, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Arts, Saint Louis University, 2015
Doctor of Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine (SIU-SOM), 2019
Stephanie Markovina, M.D.
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Doctor of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Madison, 2010
Thomas Rolf Mazur, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, Union College New York, 2007
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Texas Austin, 2014
Jeff Michael Michalski, M.B.A., M.D.
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Carlos Perez Distinguished Professor of Radiation Oncology
Director - Clinical Division, Clinical Programs
Vice Chair - Department of Radiation Oncology
Professor of Radiology
Bachelor of Science, University of Wisconsin Madison, 1982
Doctor of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 1986
Master of Business Administration, Washington University in St Louis, 2001
Justin Mikell, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Associate Professor of Radiology
Bachelor of Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2002
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Texas Houston, 2015
Timothy John Mitchell, M.S., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, John Carroll University, 2005
Master of Science, Washington University in St Louis, 2007
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Missouri in St Louis, 2014
Eric Daniel Morris, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, Michigan Technological University, 2015
Doctor of Philosophy, Wayne State University, 2020
Naoshad Muhammad, M.S., Ph.D.
Instructor in Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, Bundelkhand University, 2005
Master of Science, Jamia Hamdard University, 2009
Doctor of Philosophy, Savitribai Phule Pune University, 2016
Robert J Myerson, Ph.D., M.D.
Professor Emeritus of Radiation Oncology
Bachelor of Arts, Princeton University, 1969
Doctor of Philosophy, University of California, 1974
Doctor of Medicine, University of Miami, 1980
N
Gilbert H Nussbaum, M.A., Ph.D.
Associate Professor Emeritus of Radiation Oncology
Bachelor of Science, City College, 1960
Master of Arts, Harvard University, 1962
Doctor of Philosophy, Harvard University, 1967
O
Seung Jong Oh, M.S., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology, 2001
Master of Science, Catholic University of Korea, 2003
Doctor of Philosophy, Catholic University of Korea, 2011
P
Stephanie Mabry Perkins, M.D.
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
S. Lee Kling Endowed Chair of Radiation Oncology
Bachelor of Science, Union University, 2001
Doctor of Medicine, University of Tennessee at Memphis, 2005
James Vernon Piephoff, M.D.
Voluntary Clinical Instructor in Radiation Oncology
Bachelor of Science, Citadel Military College of South Carolina, 1985
Doctor of Medicine, University of South Carolina (Duplicate of University of South Carolina Columbia), 1989
Michael Thomas Prusator, M.S., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, University of Ozarks, 2012
Master of Science, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 2014
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 2018
James A Purdy, M.A., Ph.D.
Emeritus Professor of Radiation Oncology
Bachelor of Science, Lamar University, 1967
Master of Arts, University of Texas Austin, 1969
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Texas Austin, 1971
R
Nikhil Rammohan, M.S., M.D.
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, Johns Hopkins University, 2008
Master of Science, Johns Hopkins University, 2009
Doctor of Medicine, Northwestern University, 2018
James Randall, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, University of Texas, 2015
Doctor of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 2019
Clifford Grant Robinson, M.D.
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Professor of Medicine
Bachelor of Science, University of Pittsburgh, 2000
Doctor of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 2004
Buck Edward Rogers, M.A., Ph.D.
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Professor of Radiology
Bachelor of Science, Loyola University Chicago, 1989
Master of Arts, Washington University in St Louis, 1991
Doctor of Philosophy, Washington University in St Louis, 1995
Tapan Roy, M.S.
Voluntary Clinical Instructor in Radiation Oncology
Master of Science, Baroda Medical College, 1974
S
Ziad Saleh, M.S., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Master of Science, University of Florida, 2003
Doctor of Philosophy, Florida Institute of Technology, 2010
Pamela Parker Samson, M.A., M.P.H., M.S., M.D.
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Arts, University North Carolina, 2001
Master of Arts, University of Washington, 2003
Master of Science, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus, 2007
Doctor of Medicine, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus, 2011
Master of Public Health, Washington University in St Louis, 2020
Matthew Schmidt, M.S., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, Valdosta State University, 2011
Master of Science, Duke University, 2013
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Massachusetts Lowell, 2022
Julie K Schwarz, Ph.D., M.D.
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology
Bachelor of Science, Duke University, 1995
Doctor of Philosophy, Washington University in St Louis, 2004
Doctor of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis, 2004
Christopher Spencer, M.A., M.D.
Voluntary Clinical Instructor in Radiation Oncology
Master of Arts, Truman State University (Duplicate of Truman State University (Formerly Northeast Missouri State University)), 2006
Doctor of Medicine, Saint Louis University, 2010
William L Straube, M.E.E.
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1983
Master of Electrical Engineering, Washington University in St Louis, 1992
T
Maria A Thomas, Ph.D., M.D.
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, Creighton University, 2000
Doctor of Philosophy, Saint Louis University, 2006
Doctor of Medicine, Saint Louis University, 2008
Wade L Thorstad, M.D.
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, Trinity University, 1986
Doctor of Medicine, University of Texas Austin, 1991
Amaris Renee Tippey, Ph.D.
Voluntary Clinical Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology
Doctor of Philosophy, East Carolina University, 2014
V
Gregory Riccardo Vlacich, Ph.D., M.D.
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Chicago, 2007
Doctor of Medicine, University of Chicago, 2009
W
Phillip Douglas Hardenbergh Wall, M.S., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, Davidson College, 2014
Master of Science, Louisiana State University, 2017
Doctor of Philosophy, Louisiana State University, 2020
Bruce J Walz, M.D.
Voluntary Clinical Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology
Bachelor of Arts, Washington University in St Louis, 1962
Doctor of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis, 1966
Michael Richard Waters, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, Davidson College, 2010
Doctor of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2019
Y
Joanna Chensi Yang, M.P.H., M.D.
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Arts, Stanford University, 2008
Doctor of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 2013
Master of Public Health, Harvard University, 2018
Z
Hailei Zhang, M.S., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, Henan University (河南大学), 2013
Master of Science, Henan University (河南大学), 2016
Doctor of Philosophy, Fudan University (复旦大学), 2019
Jin Zhang, M.Eng., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, Tianjin University (天津大学), 2005
Master of Engineering, Tianjin Polytechnic University (天津工业大学), 2008
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Connecticut, 2012
Xiandong Zhao, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Doctor of Philosophy, Southern Methodist University, 2017
Xiaodong Zhao, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Doctor of Philosophy, Louisiana State University, 2020
Imran Zoberi, M.D.
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Science, University of South Dakota, 1992
Doctor of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis, 1996
Jacqueline Esthappan Zoberi, Ph.D.
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Bachelor of Arts, University of Chicago, 1995
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Chicago, 2000
Radiation Oncology Research Electives
The Cancer Biology division provides opportunities for graduate students in the Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences (DBBS) and the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) to train with faculty in the cancer biology research laboratories.
Please visit the Department of Radiation Oncology website for more information about current research in the department.
Graduate Programs in Medical Physics
For course information related to the Master of Science in Medical Physics, the PhD in Medical Physics, and the Post-PhD Graduate Certificate in Medical Physics, please visit the Medical Physics page of this Bulletin.
MD/MSTP Programs
The Department of Radiation Oncology offers courses that are open to students in the MD and MSTP (MD/PhD) programs. For course information, please visit the online course listings.
RADONC 8005 Clinical Radiation Oncology (Clinical Elective)
The Radiation Oncology clinical division offers an elective with emphasis on the evaluation, planning, and administration of radiation therapy in patients with malignant tumors. Students will have the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of the natural history of cancer, as well as its pathological and biological features. Students will sharpen their clinical skills by participating in the management of cancer patients. Students will be mentored to prepare and lead a department noon conference on the management of a specific patient's care, including literature review and discussion. Students will be expected to prepare for clinical consultations by reviewing patient records and relevant literature, obtaining the patient's history and performing a physical examination. This will be followed by presenting findings and a proposed care plan to the attending and resident physicians.
Credit 2 units.
Typical periods offered: Medicine Year
RADONC 9100 Radiation Oncology Advanced Clinical Rotation (ACR)
The Radiation Oncology clinical division offers an elective with emphasis on the evaluation, planning, and administration of radiation therapy in patients with malignant tumors. The objective of this course is to expose students to the field of Radiation Oncology through clinical experience. Students will have the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of the natural history of cancer, as well as its pathological and biological features. Students will sharpen their clinical skills by participating in the management of cancer patients. Students will be expected to prepare for clinical consultations by reviewing patient records and relevant literature, obtaining the patient's history and performing a physical examination. This will be followed by presenting findings and a proposed care plan to the attending and resident physicians.
Credit 4 units.
Typical periods offered: Medicine Year