Radiation Oncology

Radiation therapy machine and exam room

The Department of Radiation Oncology at Rutgers Cancer Institute is committed to providing patients the information and support services they need to achieve the best possible treatment outcome. The Department combines the latest in technology with personalized and supportive care throughout and after treatment.

In addition to the advanced therapeutic care offered in our state-of-the-art clinical facilities, the Division of Radiation Cancer Biology conducts basic science research with the goal of translating research findings into improved radiation treatment of cancer. The program is home to New Jersey's only residency training program in Radiation Oncology.

Our radiation care teams can be seen at University Hospital Newark, as well as RWJBarnabas Health's New Brunswick and Somerset locations.

To schedule an appointment with our Radiation Oncology team please call 732-253-3939. | Explore Radiation Oncology clinical trials →

The Latest Advanced Radiation Therapies

Working together with a multidisciplinary team of cancer specialists, our department uses highly advanced cancer care techniques including multimodality imaging for defining tumor volume, state-of-the-art intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), MRI-based treatment planning, and interstitial brachytherapy using high dosage rate treatment.

MR-Linac Based Adaptive Radiotherapy

The department offers MR-Linac based Adaptive radiotherapy (ART) that uses real time MR imaging to monitor and adjust IMRT radiation treatment plans during the radiation treatment to ensure that the radiation is delivered precisely to the target area while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues.

Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT, including VMAT)

We routinely offer IMRT to precisely deliver radiation beams of varying intensities to conform to the shape of the tumor and minimize damages to surrounding healthy tissues, ensuring treatment of cancer targets with minimal side effects and toxicities.

Brachytherapy

Also called internal radiation therapy, brachytherapy allows your Radiation Oncologist to use a highly conformal radiation dose to precisely target tumors in a shorter time, with less toxicity to the surrounding healthy tissue, than is possible with external beam radiation treatment.

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT)

In stereotactic radiotherapy, stereotactic radiation devices deliver radiation with beams of fast-moving subatomic particles. The beams are precisely directed through the use of advanced imaging technologies combined with a sophisticated computer guidance system.

Proton Therapy

Unlike conventional x-ray (or photon) therapy, proton beams have the unique property of stopping at a certain depth in tissue. This special property of proton beams can be put to use and controlled to focus on a specific area of target in the treatment of cancer patients.

Gamma Knife

While using Gamma Knife, there are no blades and the physician does not make any incisions, but rather uses numerous painless beams of radiation which are delivered with extreme accuracy. This approach, known as radiosurgery, focuses radiation directly and very precisely, on the targeted area without affecting surrounding healthy tissue.

Radionuclide Therapies

Our team administers prescription nuclear medicines used in the treatment of metastatic neuroendocrine tumors, including pancreatic and small neuroendocrine tumors in the gastrointestinal tract, such as Lutathera® infusion treatments.

Tattoo-less Radiotherapy

Instead of relying on permanent tattoo marks for treatment setup, “tattoo-less” radiation technology uses non-invasive light emitted from specialized camera units that tracks the patient's skin surface anatomy in real time, before and during treatment, to ensure the correct treatment position in every treatment.

Additional Treatment Options

Multimodality imaging for defining tumor volume
MRI-based treatment planning
3D Conformal External Beam Radiotherapy
Extracranial Radiosurgery
Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)
Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Total Body Irradiation (TBI)
Total Skin Electron Treatment (TSET)
Advanced treatment options and emerging therapies through clinical trials
Support for patients living with cancer through the Survivorship Program

Meet Our Team

Outstanding radiation treatment requires a team approach. Each patient is cared for by a team of physicians, advanced practice nurses, registered nurses, certified radiation therapists, physicists and dosimetrists. Working together, the department customizes each patient’s treatment plan and assures patient safety and comfort.

Our radiation care teams can be seen at University Hospital Newark, New Brunswick and Somerset.

Bruce Haffty, MD, MS

Chair, Radiation Oncology,
Associate Vice Chancellor for Cancer Programs, Rutgers Cancer Institute;
System Director of Radiation Oncology, RWJBarnabas Health

Laura Bond, MD

Radiation Oncologist
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Joel Braver, MD

Radiation Oncologist

Matthew Pierre Deek, MD

Radiation Oncologist
Assistant Professor, Division of Clinical Radiation Oncology
Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Nicholas DeNunzio, MD, PhD

Co-Director of Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Associate Program Director, Radiation Oncology Residency Program

Ronald D. Ennis, MD

Medical Director, Clinical Network for Radiation Oncology
Radiation Oncologist

Lara Hathout, MD, FRCPC

Radiation Oncologist
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology and Division of Clinical Radiation Oncology,
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Director of Brachytherapy, Department of Radiation Oncology

Salma Jabbour, MD

Associate Director for Faculty Affairs and Development
Vice Chair of Clinical Research & Faculty Development
Clinical Chief, Radiation Oncology at RWJUH/Rutgers Cancer Institute
Radiation Oncologist

Sung Kim, MD

Radiation Oncologist
Professor & Vice Chair of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Medical Director, Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute at University Hospital