Department of Radiation Oncology
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.
Recent Highlights
- 2013: Implemented the world’s first compact proton beam accelerator that involves the use of a superconducting synchrocyclotron mounted on a gantry
- 2014: Implemented the world's first MRI-guided radiation therapy treatment program. (Real-time MRI guidance provides the ability to see tumors move in real time during a patient's entire treatment process. This helps to ensure that tumor targets are hit and that healthy tissue is spared.)
- 2017: Achieved accreditation within all of the Washington University in St. Louis/Barnes-Jewish Hospital Radiation Oncology facilities for the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Accreditation Program for Excellence (APex). The department provides radiation therapy treatment at Siteman Cancer Center locations throughout the St. Louis regional area.
- 2018: Advanced our Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) program with the installation of the ViewRay MRIdian Linac System
- 2019: Spearheaded collaboration with Liga Nacional Contra el Cáncer/Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (LIGA/INCAN) to help modernize radiation therapy by installing state-of-the-art radiation therapy equipment in Guatemala City. We continue working with our collaborators to help bring life-saving therapies to the only cancer center serving the poor of Guatemala.
- 2020: Installed an additional Mevion Proton unit equipped with pencil beam scanning technology
- 2020: Installed an ETHOS (Halcyon) radiotherapy system with adaptive treatment workflow
The department supports a four-year Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited Radiation Oncology Residency Training Program (established 1971) as well as a two-year Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs (CAMPEP)-accredited Medical Physics Residency Training Program (established 1993; accredited 1997).
| Website: | http://radonc.wustl.edu |
Dennis Hallahan, MD
Department Head
Maria Thomas, MD
Clerkship Director
Stephanie Perkins, MD
Clinical Residency Program Director
Olga Green, PhD
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
Christopher Abraham, MS, MD
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Assistant Professor of Medicine
BS Medical College Georgia 2005
MS Washington Univ in St. Louis 2011
MD Saint Louis University 2006
Michael Bernard Altman, PHD
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
PHD University of Chicago 2010
Anthony John Apicelli III, MD, PHD
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
MD Washington Univ in St. Louis 2009
PHD Washington Univ in St. Louis 2009
BS Princeton University 1999
Abdelkareem Azab, PHD
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
PHD Hebrew University 2007
B
Shahed Nicolas Badiyan, MD
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
BS University of Texas Austin 2005
MD University of Texas Austin 2009
Brian Christopher Baumann, MD
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
BA Princeton University 2003
MD University of Pennsylvania 2012
Carmen Renee Bergom, MD, MS, PHD
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
BS Mass Inst of Technology (MIT) 1998
MD Medical College of Wisconsin 2008
MS Cambridge University 1999
PHD Medical College of Wisconsin 2006
Walter R Bosch, BE, MS, PHS
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
BE Washington Univ in St. Louis 1980
MS Washington Univ in St. Louis 1983
PHS Washington Univ in St. Louis 1990
C
Douglas Ford Caruthers, MS
Instructor in Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
MS Univ Texas Health Science Ctr 2010
Aadel Ahmed Chaudhuri, MD
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Engineering
Assistant Professor of Genetics
BS Mass Inst of Technology (MIT) 2004
MD Stanford University 2013
David T Curiel, MD, PHD
Distinguished Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Professor of Medicine
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
MD Emory University 1982
BA West Georgia College 1978
PHD University of Groningen 2000
D
Arash Darafsheh, MS, PHD, MS, PHD
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
MS Shahid Beheshti University 2007
PHD University of NC Charlotte 2013
MS University of NC Charlotte 2011
BS University of Tehran 2004
PHD University of Pennsylvania 2015
Carl J. DeSelm, MD, PHD
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
MD Washington Univ in St. Louis 2012
PHD Washington Univ in St. Louis 2016
BS Dartmouth College 2004
Venkata Rao Devineni, MD
Associate Professor of Clinical Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
MD Osmania Medical College 1973
Igor Dmitriev, PHD
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
PHD SRC Vector 1994
G
H Michael Gach, PHD
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Associate Professor of Radiology
PHD University of Pittsburgh 1998
Jose L Garcia, MS
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
MS Finch Univ of Health Sciences 1997
BS University of Puerto Rico 1995
Hiram Alberto Gay, MD
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
BS University of Puerto Rico 1996
MD University of Puerto Rico 2000
Sreekrishna M Goddu, PHD, MS
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
PHD Andhra University 1991
BS Andhra University 1983
MS Andhra University 1985
Olga Leonidovna Green, PHD, MS
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
BS Washington Univ in St. Louis 2002
PHD Washington Univ in St. Louis 2008
MS Washington Univ in St. Louis 2004
Perry W Grigsby, MD, MBA, MS
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Professor of Radiology
MD University of Kentucky 1982
BS University of Kentucky 1974
MBA Washington Univ in St. Louis 1990
MS University of Kentucky 1978
Yuxing Gu, PHD
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
PHD University of MO St Louis 2014
H
Lannis Hall, MD, M PH
Associate Professor of Clinical Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
BA University of Michigan 1988
MD Howard University 1992
M PH Saint Louis University 1995
Dennis E Hallahan, MD
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Elizabeth H and James S McDonnell III Distinguished Professor of Medicine
Head of the Department of Radiation Oncology
Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology
Professor of Molecular Microbiology
Professor of Pathology and Immunology
MD Rush University 1984
BS University of Illinois 1980
Yao Hao, PHD
Instructor in Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
BS Shanxi Medical University 2004
PHD Univ of Massachusetts Lowell 2016
Lauren Elizabeth Henke, MSCI, MD
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
MSCI Washington Univ in St. Louis 2018
BS St Olaf College 2010
MD Washington Univ in St. Louis 2014
Jiayi Huang, MD
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
MD University of Massachussetts 2007
Geoffrey Douglas Hugo, PHD
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Professor of Computer Science and Engineering
PHD University of CA Los Angeles 2003
K
Vaishali Kapoor, MS, PHD
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
MS All-India Inst of Medical Sci 2008
PHD All-India Inst of Medical Sci 2013
BA Delhi University 2006
James Alexander Kavanaugh, MS, PHD
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
BS University of Saint Thomas 2008
MS Louisiana St University 2011
PHD Louisiana St University 2020
Rao Fawwad Khan, MD, PHD
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering
MD Quaid-Azam University 1997
PHD McMaster University 2003
Hyun Kim, MD
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
BS University of California 2006
MD University of Pittsburgh 2012
Taeho Kim, PHD
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
PHD Washington Univ in St. Louis 2007
Nels C Knutson, PHD, MS
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
PHD Univ of Massachusetts Lowell 2016
BS University of Montana Missoula 2009
MS Louisiana St University 2012
L
Susan Joy Laduzinsky, MD
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
MD University of Illinois 1983
Jason Dole Lee, MD, PHD
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
MD Duke University 2010
PHD Duke University 2009
Hui Li, MS, PHD
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
MS Chinese Academy of Sciences 1995
PHD Friedrich-Alexander Universit 2001
BS Huashong University of Science 1992
Alexander Justin Lin, MD, PHD, MA
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
MD University of CA Irvine 2016
BA University of Nebraska 2016
PHD University of CA Irvine 2016
MA University of CA Irvine 2016
Hsiu-San Lin, PHD, MD
Professor Emeritus of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
PHD University of Chicago 1968
MD National Taiwan University 1960
Zhi Hong Lu, PHD
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (Pending Dean's Approval) (primary appointment)
BS Fudan University 1990
PHD University of Mississippi Med 1999
M
Stephanie Markovina, MD
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
MD University of Wisconsin-Madiso 2010
Nichole M Maughan, PHD
Instructor in Radiation Oncology Instructor in Radiation Oncology (Pending Deans Approval) (primary appointment)
PHD Washington Univ in St. Louis 2017
Thomas Rolf Mazur, PHD
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
BS Union College New York 2007
PHD University of Texas Austin 2014
Jeff Michael Michalski, MD, MBA
Carlos Perez Distinguished Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Vice Chairman of Radiation Oncology
BS Univ of Wisconsin Madison 1982
MD Univ of Wisconsin Madison 1986
MBA Washington Univ in St. Louis 2001
Timothy John Mitchell, PHD, PHD, MS
Instructor in Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
PHD Washington Univ in St. Louis 2011
BS John Carroll University 2005
PHD University of MO St Louis 2014
MS Washington Univ in St. Louis 2007
Robert J Myerson, PHD, MD
Professor Emeritus of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
BA Princeton University 1969
PHD University of California 1974
MD University of Miami 1980
P
Stephanie Mabry Perkins, MD
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
BS Union University 2001
MD University of Tenn Memphis 2005
James Vernon Piephoff, MD
Instructor in Clinical Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
BS Citadel 1985
MD University of South Carolina 1989
Alex Price, MS
Instructor in Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
BS Hampden Sydney College 2013
MS Duke University 2015
Michael Thomas Prusator, PHD, MS
Instructor in Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
BS University of Ozarks 2012
PHD Univ of Oklahoma Health Sci 2018
MS Univ of Oklahoma Health Sci 2014
James A Purdy, PHD, MA
Emeritus Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
BS Lamar University 1967
PHD University of Texas Austin 1971
MA University of Texas Austin 1969
R
Francisco Javier Reynoso, MS, PHD
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
MS Georgia Tech 2008
PHD Georgia Tech 2014
Clifford Grant Robinson, MD
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Professor of Medicine
MD Case Western Reserve Univ 2004
BS University of Pittsburgh 2000
Buck Edward Rogers, MA, PHD
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Adjunct Professor of Chemistry (Courtesy Affiliation)
Professor of Radiology
MA Washington Univ in St. Louis 1991
PHD Washington Univ in St. Louis 1995
BS Loyola University Chicago 1989
Tapan Roy, MS
Instructor in Clinical Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
MS Baroda Medical College 1974
S
Pamela Parker Samson, MA, MS, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
BA University North Carolina 2001
MA University of Washington 2003
MS University of Cincinnati 2007
MD University of Cincinnati 2011
MPH Washington Univ in St. Louis 2020
Matthew Schmidt, MS
Instructor in Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
BS Valdosta St College 2011
MS Duke University 2013
Julie K Schwarz, MD, PHD
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology
Vice Chair of Research Department of Radiation Oncology
MD Washington Univ in St. Louis 2004
BS Duke University 1995
PHD Washington Univ in St. Louis 2004
Christopher Spencer, BAS, MD, MA
Adjunct Instructor in Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
BAS Truman State University 2005
MD Saint Louis University 2010
MA Truman State University 2006
Matthew Benjamin Spraker, MD
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
MD University of Illinois 2013
William L Straube, MEE
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
MEE Washington Univ in St. Louis 1992
BS University of Illinois 1983
Baozhou Sun, PHD, MS
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
BS Jilin Medical University 2000
PHD College of William and Mary 2005
MS College of William and Mary 2002
T
Maria A Thomas, MD, PHD
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
BS Creighton University 2000
MD Saint Louis University 2008
PHD Saint Louis University 2006
Wade L Thorstad, MD
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
BS Trinity University 1986
MD University of Texas Austin 1991
Dinesh Thotala, MS, PHD
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
MS Bangalore University 1993
BS Bangalore University 1990
PHD Bangalore University 1998
Amaris Renee Tippey, PHD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
PHD East Carolina University 2014
V
Gregory Riccardo Vlacich, MD, PHD
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
MD University of Chicago 2009
PHD University of Chicago 2007
W
Bruce J Walz, MD
Associate Professor of Clinical Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
MD Washington Univ in St. Louis 1966
BA Washington Univ in St. Louis 1962
Jeffrey F Williamson, PHD, MS
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
BA St Olaf College 1974
PHD University of Minnesota 1982
MS University of Minnesota 1980
Y
Deshan Yang, PHD, MS
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
PHD Univ of Wisconsin Madison 2005
MS Illinois Institute of Technol 2001
BS Tsinghua University, China 1992
Joanna Chensi Yang, MD, M PH
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (Pending Executive Faculty Approval) (primary appointment)
MD Mount Sinai School of Medicine 2013
M PH Harvard University 2018
Z
Jin Zhang, MS, PHD
Instructor in Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
MS Tianjin Polytech University 2008
BS Tianjin University 2005
PHD University of Connecticut 2012
Tiezhi Zhang, PHD, MS
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
BS Jilin Medical University 1994
PHD Univ of Wisconsin Madison 2004
MS Drexel University 1999
Tianyu Zhao, PHD, MS
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
BS Shanghai Jiao Tong University 1998
PHD Washington Univ in St. Louis 2010
MS Shanghai Jiao Tong University 2001
Imran Zoberi, MD
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
BS University of South Dakota 1992
MD Washington Univ in St. Louis 1996
Jacqueline Esthappan Zoberi, PHD
Professor of Radiation Oncology (primary appointment)
BA University of Chicago 1995
PHD 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.
The Department of Radiation Oncology offers a clinical clerkship for medical students that can be selected as an elective through the medical school.
Please visit the Department of Radiation Oncology website for more information about current research in the department.
Post-PhD Graduate Certificate/ Masters of Science in Medical Physics
For course information, please visit the Medical Physics page of this Bulletin.
MD/MSTP Programs
The Department of Radiation Oncology offers two courses that are open to students in the MD and MSTP (MD/PhD) programs. For course information, please visit the online course listings.
M92 RadOnc 740 Radiation Oncology Clerkship
The two-week clerkship in Radiation Oncology will provide students with the opportunity to participate in the evaluation and management of a broad range of patients referred for consideration of radiation therapy. Clerkship activities will take place at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Siteman Cancer Center complex and at our satellite facilities. Students will conduct patient evaluations under the supervision of radiation oncology department residents and faculty. Students will attend many conferences throughout the weeks of this clerkship, with the workday starting between 7:00 and 7:30 a.m. Students will also have the opportunity to attend the appropriate multidisciplinary clinics, follow-up clinics, and multidisciplinary conferences (such as pediatric neuro-oncology, cardiothoracic oncology, lymphoma, GYN tumor conferences, and so on) pertaining to their rotation schedule. Instructional materials are available for students on the rotation. (Students are not expected to purchase any curricular materials for the clerkship.) Student performance will be evaluated by both resident and faculty members who supervise the student over the course of the two-week clerkship.
Credit 77 units.
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M92 RadOnc 801 Clinical Radiation Oncology Subinternship
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. This course is designed for MS4 students who are entering the Radiation Oncology Match. If a student is an MS4 applying in another specialty but interested in a radiation oncology elective, we encourage them to pursue a two-week special study elective in Radiation Oncology.
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