Radiation Oncology

The West Penn Allegheny Health System and its network of both city and community-based radiation oncology practices is striving to merge sophisticated technology with compassionate patient care in a collaborative multi-disciplinary environment.

We are a patient-oriented community where dedicated professionals present a warm and sensitive treatment environment while using the latest technological advances in an atmosphere committed to graduate medical and specialist training and research.

History

In 1986, the American College of Radiology (ACR) established an accreditation review for Radiation Oncology Clinics as part of an initiative from a Patterns of Care Study sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. The goals of the program are to provide impartial third-party peer review, to recognize quality radiation oncology practices through accreditation, to make recommendations for improvement in practice and patient outcomes according to recognized standards of the scientific community, and to provide a referral list for patients.

The West Penn Allegheny Health System's Radiation Oncology clinics have completed an extensive internal review process, application, and three-day site visit by representatives from the ACR including a board-certified radiation oncologist and a board-certified medical physicist. As a result, each clinic has received full accreditation by the ACR.

This accreditation validates our procedures, standards of clinical and technical care and peer review that are long established and continually improved across our network. There is no larger ACR-accredited network of radiation oncology clinics in the country. Such integration and demonstrated adherence to national clinical and technical practice standards assures our patients they will receive the best and most consistent care possible.

We have achieved substantial collaborative growth resulting in one of the largest, most advanced and innovative radiation oncology practices in the country.The latest technologies are utilized to maximally conform and individualize radiation treatments. These include three-dimensional conformal external beam radiotherapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery/stereotactic radiotherapy and, electron beam irradiation including total skin electron beam therapy and operative placement of radiation with both low-dose rate and high-dose rate capabilities (brachytherapy).

Radiation Oncology Program Leaders

David S. Parda, MD, Chairman and Professor, Temple University School of Medicine
Russell Fuhrer, MD, Director of Clinical Operations and Assistant Professor, Drexel University College of Medicine
Mark Trombetta, MD, Director of Clinical Programs and Associate Professor, Temple University School of Medicine

Stephen Karlovits, MD, Director of CNS and EMR Programs, Residency Program Director

Athanasios Colonias, MD, Director of Thoracic and Clinical Trials
Alexander Kirichenko, MD, PhD, Director of SRS/SRT Programs
Don McNary, RTT MBA, Executive Director
E. Day Werts, PhD, Director of Education and Clinical Research, and Associate Professor, Temple University School of Medicine