Clinical Division

Our highly collaborative environment has fostered world-class multidisciplinary oncology clinics here at UNC, where every new cancer patient receives a comprehensive treatment recommendation on the day of initial consultation that includes input from members of all the oncologic specialties including radiation oncology. As such, we serve as the specialty oncology referral center for the entire state of North Carolina. The Department also has close ties with the world-renowned UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, which have significantly enhanced our research and bench-side to bed-side focus. Members of our Clinical Division develop and participate in innovative translational clinical trials at both the institutional and national levels.

Fourteen radiation oncologists spearhead our Clinical Division to provide services at our treatment centers:

  • NC Cancer Hospital in Chapel Hill
  • Rex Cancer Center in Raleigh
  • Rex Cancer Center of Wakefield
  • Smithfield Radiation Oncology
  • Clayton Radiation Oncology

Many of our faculty physicians specialize in different disease sites, while others provide more general radiation oncology services. A list of our physicians and their areas of expertise include:

  • Dr. Lawrence Marks, Professor and Chairman: breast and lung cancers
  • Dr. Joel Tepper: gastrointestinal cancers and sarcomas; trained in CyberKnife
  • Dr. Julian Rosenman: lung and head and neck cancers
  • Dr. Mahesh Varia: gynecological cancers
  • Dr. Andrew Wang: prostate cancers; trained in CyberKnife
  • Dr. Bhisham Chera: head and neck cancers
  • Dr. Ronald Chen: prostate cancers; trained in CyberKnife
  • Dr. Ellen Jones: gynecological and breast cancers
  • Dr. Timothy Zagar: lung and breast cancers; trained in CyberKnife
  • Dr. Pete Hoffman: prostate cancers
  • Dr. Catherine Lee: general radiation oncology
  • Dr. Charles Scarantino: general radiation oncology
  • Dr. Justin Wu: general radiation oncology and breast cancer
  • Dr. Roger Anderson: general radiation oncology and head and neck cancer

We employ state-of-the-art equipment and treatment planning systems to deliver IMRT (intensity modulated radiation therapy) and IGRT (image guided radiation therapy), utilizing both CT-on-rails and CyberKnife stereotactic techniques. We also have active high-dose rate remote afterloading brachytherapy, TomoTherapy and Mobetron intraoperative radiotherapy programs.

Of particular interest are clinical trials in Radiation Oncology. Some of our trials are developed by Department faculty, and can be offered only at UNC, thus providing our patients with unique treatment opportunities. Other trials that have been initiated by members of our Department are also available nationally, offered through cooperative clinical trials groups such as the CALGB.