Mark Roh, MD
President – MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando
Dr. Mark Roh became President of MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando in May 2012. Dr. Roh is an internationally renowned liver cancer surgeon who has been recognized by his peers as one of the Best Doctors in America every year since 1992. Dr. Roh has also been named among the top one percent of physicians in the nation by US News & World Report and is on the American Cancer Society’s Florida Board of Directors.
Dr. Roh received his medical degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine and completed his surgical residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He fulfilled a clinical and research fellowship in surgical oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Previously, he served for 10 years as chief of Liver Tumor Surgery at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He also graduated from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business with a master’s degree in Medical Management in 2007.
Dr. Roh came to Central Florida from Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh where he was chairman of the Department of Surgery and professor of Surgery at Drexel University College of Medicine.
Additionally, he has served in numerous leadership positions in international oncology organizations. Since 1994, Dr. Roh has served as the executive editor of the Annals of Surgical Oncology. He has also been recognized by his peers as one of the Best Doctors in America every year since 1992. He is the associate director of Medical Affairs at the National Surgical Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP), an NIH supported clinical trials foundation, and he has published hundreds of articles in peer-reviewed journals and lectured nationally and internationally.
Nicholas G. Avgeropolous, MD
Dr. Avgeropoulos, serves as co-director of the Neuro-Oncology Department at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando.
Board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Dr. Avgeropoulos has been exclusively practicing neuro-oncology since completion of his fellowship training. Dr. Avgeropoulos’ residency training in neurology was at the Medical University of South Carolina where he was chief resident and subsequently completed neuroimmunology and neurovirology fellowships.
Dr. Avgeropoulos continued fellowship cross-training in neuropathology at Yale University/Yale New Haven Hospital and was then accepted into the neuro-oncology fellowship training program at Harvard/Massachusetts General Hospital. He was named as the first Pappas Fellow of neuro-oncology during his second year of training at which time he also completed clinical research effectiveness courses at the Harvard School of Public Health.
Dr. Avgeropoulos’ expertise includes the design and conduct of clinical and translational research studies advocating the health and benefit of neuro-oncology patients of all ages. Prior to his current position, he served as program director of Neuro-Oncology and medical director of the Office of Research Administration at Florida Hospital and was adjunct faculty at Duke University and at Moffitt Cancer Center.
Dr. Avgeropoulos served as principal or co-investigator in many clinical trials and translational research projects. While at MD Anderson - Orlando, he has been the recipient of the Exemplary Physician Colleague Award, the Service Star Award and consistently listed as one of Orlando's Best Doctors. Dr. Avgeropoulos also co-directs the Brain and Spine Tumor Support Group.
Said Baidas, MD
Dr. Said Baidas, hematologist/medical oncologist, joined MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando in March 2006 as program director of the hematology/oncology fellowship program.
For 16 years Dr. Baidas served on the faculty of Georgetown University Medical Center/Lombardi Cancer Center, where he held the positions of associate professor of medicine and oncology and director of the hematology/oncology fellowship program.
Dr. Baidas has particular experience in the treatment of breast cancer, neurologic malignancies, hemostasis and thrombosis, and is a member of the Breast, Gastrointestinal, Hematology, Lymphoma/Myeloma and Thoracic/Head and Neck Cancers Departments.
Dr Baidas completed his fellowship in medical oncology and hematology at Georgetown University and fulfilled his residency in internal medicine at State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center.
He has been published in professional journals including the Journal of Clinical Oncology, American Journal of Clinical Oncology and the Journal of Neuro-Oncology. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member of the American Cancer Society of Clinical Oncology.
He is published in professional journals including the Journal of Clinical Oncology, American Journal of Clinical Oncology and the Journal of Neuro-Oncology. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member of the American Cancer Society of Clinical Oncology.
Arvind Bakhru, MD, MPH
Arvind Bakhru, MD, MPH, is a gynecologic oncologist specializing in complex pelvic surgery, minimally invasive surgery, and chemotherapy for women with gynecologic cancers and precancers. Dr. Bakhru cares for women with ovarian, endometrial, uterine, cervical, vulvar and vaginal cancers and sarcomas. He is trained in minimally invasive techniques and advanced, precision da Vinci® robotic surgery.
Dr. Bakhru’s undergraduate studies were in biomedical engineering at The Johns Hopkins University. He earned his medical degree from the University of Rochester. He also studied at the Yale University School of Public Health, where his master’s thesis won top honors. Dr. Bakhru did his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Maryland, where he was chief resident and won numerous teaching awards. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in gynecologic oncology at the University of Michigan. During that time, he was the fellow member of the Executive Council of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology, helping to implement evidence-based practice and quality care.
Dr. Bakhru has published in major medical journals, and his research includes the role of diabetes and nutrition in ovarian cancer and the long-term needs of ovarian cancer survivors. He is a member of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology, International Gynecologic Cancer Society, American Society of Clinical Oncology, and American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Debashish Bose, MD, PhD
Dr. Bose is board certified in general surgery and serves as a pancreatic surgeon for the Gastrointestinal Cancer Specialty Section at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando.
Dr. Bose received both his medical and doctoral degrees from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Before completing his residency Dr. Bose served as a registrar in surgery at The Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, Ireland. He completed his residency in general surgery from The Johns Hopkins Hospital and his fellowship in surgical oncology from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Dr. Bose has received several awards, including the 2009 and 2010 Merit Award from the Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. He is currently an associate member of the American College of Surgeons, an associate member of the American Association of Cancer Research and a fellow member of the Society of Surgical Oncology.
He holds a PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology and has a long interest in cancer research. His current work focuses on chemotherapy resistance and gastrointestinal cancers. He has presented at several national conferences and has been published in several peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of National Cancer Institute, Lancet Oncology, and the Annals of Surgical Oncology. Additionally, he has contributed book chapters on primary and metastatic liver tumors, genetic profiling in colorectal cancer and molecular biology in surgery.
Dr. Bose is currently an associate member of the American College of Surgeons and the American Association of Cancer Research, and a fellow member of the Society of Surgical Oncology.
Daniel J. Buchholz, MD, FACP
Dr. Buchholz is the chairman of radiation oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando and serves as team leader for the Breast and Gastrointestinal Cancers Departments.
Board certified in radiation oncology, Dr. Buchholz received the top score in the nation on the written board examination. He earned his medical degree from New York Medical College in Valhalla and completed a general surgery internship at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland.
Dr. Buchholz served his country as a primary care physician aboard the submarine tender USS Fulton and furthered his studies through a residency at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston where he was the chief resident in radiation oncology.
After his training, he remained on the medical staff in Houston, until he joined MD Anderson - Orlando in 1995. Since his arrival, he has been an active member of the medical staff and has helped transform MD Anderson - Orlando from a community cancer center to a nationally recognized quality cancer center.
For the past seven years, Dr. Buchholz has been recognized by Orlando Magazine as one of Central Florida’s top doctors. He is a member of American Society of Therapeutic Radiology, American Medical Association, Florida Medical Association and the Orange County Medical Society.
His research interests include the study of organ and tumor motion and radiation targeting. He has initiated protocols on the use of radiation in treatment of liver cancer and in radiation targeting for breast cancer. He has developed quality standards in radiation oncology to help assure our patients are receiving the highest quality of treatment.
Susan Constantino, MD
Dr. Susan Constantino is board certified in medical oncology and internal medicine, serves as a medical oncologist and hematologist for the Medical Oncology and Hematology Specialty Section at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando. Dr. Constantino graduated from Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, NE, where she also completed her residency. She completed her medical oncology and hematology fellowship at MD Anderson – Orlando, serving as chief fellow. Prior to her fellowship, Dr. Constantino served as an adjunct instructor of medicine at Creighton University Medical Center, as well as a hospitalist physician at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, IA.
Dr. Constantino is very involved in the community and has been an American Cancer Society Relay for Life participant for the past two years. She has received many honors and awards, including the 2010 Breast Cancer Achievement Award presented to her at the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Symposium. Dr. Constantino specializes in breast cancer and has published research in this area. She is a current member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Hematology. She is proficient in Spanish.
Marc L. Demers, MD, FACS
Dr. Demers serves as leader of surgical oncology for the Gastrointestinal Cancer Department and is a member of the Melanoma/Sarcoma and Breast Cancer Departments at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando. Dr. Demers completed a fellowship in surgical oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He fulfilled a residency in general surgery at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine, and earned his medical degree from Boston University. He is board certified in general surgery by the American Board of Surgery.
Dr. Demers made numerous presentations at annual meetings and symposiums. He has been published in journals including the Journal of Surgical Oncology and the Journal of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons. In 1999, he received the surgical resident teaching award from Orlando Regional Medical Center.
Dr. Demers is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the Society of Surgical Oncology and the Massachusetts Medical Society. He sits on the Florida Surgical Society's board of directors.
Tomas Dvorak, MD
Dr. Dvorak serves as a radiation oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando. He specializes in the treatment of breast and gynecological cancers.
Dr. Dvorak received his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He completed his internship in Internal Medicine at Harvard University/Mt. Auburn Hospital. He completed his clinical research fellowship in radiation oncology at Mahidol University/Siriraj Hospital.
Prior to focusing on radiation oncology, Dr. Dvorak served as a healthcare consultant with Easton Associates, where he led evaluations of new drugs, medical devices and health technology for venture capital firms, biotechnology companies and pharmaceutical companies. Before joining MD Anderson – Orlando, Dr. Dvorak served as chief resident in the department of radiation oncology at Tufts University/Tufts Medical Center as well as at Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital. His research interests include health technology assessment with a focus on potential utilization of proton therapy and evidence-driven delivery of medical care.
His research has been published in peer-reviewed journals. He also works as a developer and editor of the online Wiki Textbook of Radiation Oncology. He is currently a member of the American Brachytherapy Society, American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Medical Association and the American Society for Radiation Oncology, where he serves on the Communications Committee.
Don Eslin, MD
Dr. Don Eslin, pediatric hematologist/oncologist, is a member of the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Department at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando. He also serves as a clinical associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Florida State University.
Dr. Eslin is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in general pediatrics and pediatric hematology/oncology.
Dr. Eslin earned his medical degree from Marshall University School of Medicine in Huntington, West Virginia, and completed a residency in pediatrics through Orlando Health's Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. He fulfilled a fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and held a National Research Fellowship Award from the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore.
He serves as clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at the Florida State University and serves as an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Central Florida. He is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Society of Hematology, American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Florida Medical Association and the Orange County Medical Association.
Jeffrey M. Feiner, MD
Jeffrey Feiner, MD, graduated magna cum laude with his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He received his doctoral degree, graduating first in his class, from the University at Buffalo (UB), State University of New York, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He then completed his residency in the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Dr. Feiner specializes in plastic and reconstructive surgery, with an emphasis on reconstructive microsurgery and cutting-edge perforator flap breast reconstruction.Throughout his medical tenure Dr. Feiner has won several awards, including the Morris and Sadie Stein Neuroanatomy Award, the Maimonides Medical Society Award, and the Dr. Louis Sklarow Award from the UB School of Medicine
and Biomedical Sciences. He was awarded the Johns Hopkins/ University of Maryland Residency Teaching Award by his peers for his commitment to excellence in teaching.
Dr. Feiner has numerous published works and has given manypresentations at the Johns Hopkins Medical Grand Rounds and
for of the Plastic Surgery Research Council. He is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society.
Elizabeth Feldman, MS, DMD, MS
Dr. Elizabeth Feldman leads the Dental Section as part of the Thoracic/Head and Neck Cancers Department at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando where she provides maxillofacial prosthodontics/dental oncology services.
Dr. Feldman received a master’s degree in medical radiation physics from Chicago Medical School, and then went on to earn her dental degree from Nova Southeastern University (NSU). She completed her specialty training in prosthodontics at the University of Florida where she also earned a master’s degree in science. She completed her fellowship training in maxillofacial prosthodontics and oncologic dentistry at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
Dr. Feldman focuses on prosthetic correction and management of the head and neck cancer patient with maxillofacial rehabilitation needs. She is trained to make intraoral and extraoral prostheses. Her special interests include orofacial implant rehabilitation as well as taking care of patients with bisphosphonate and radiation osteonecrosis, chemotherapy and radiation therapy effects on the oral cavity. She has extensive experience with traumatic injuries and children with ectodermal dyspalsia and other special needs.
Dr. Feldman’s clinical expertise unites dentistry with multiple medical specialties including head and neck surgery, plastic and reconstruction surgery, radiation and medical oncology, dermatology, pediatrics, speech pathology and psychiatry.
Dr. Feldman received the 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award from the NSU College of Dental Medicine. Dr. Feldman is a fellow of the American Association of Maxillofacial Prosthetics, a member of American College of Prosthodontics, American Dental Association, Academy of Osseointegration and a fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. She is also a member of the Nova Southeastern College of Dental Medicine. Dr. Feldman is fluent in Russian.
Vincent Giusti, MD
Dr. Giusti serves as chair for the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Department with MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando. Dr. Giusti is board certified in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology as well as General Pediatrics.
Dr. Giusti earned his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania's School of Medicine in Philadelphia. He served as an intern and resident in pediatrics at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville where he also completed a fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology.
Prior to joining MD Anderson - Orlando, Dr. Giusti worked for the Nemours Children's Clinic. He also served in the United States Army.
He is a member of the Florida Pediatric Society, Central Florida Pediatric Society, American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Society of Pediatric Hematology Oncology and the American Society of Hematology.
Dr. Giusti has served as chairman of the Pediatrics Department at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women. He also has served as a member of MD Anderson - Orlando's Institutional Review Board and as chief of the pediatric oncology specialty section. His clinical interests include acute leukemia and pediatric solid tumors.
Julio Hajdenberg, MD
Dr. Hajdenberg serves as Chairman of the Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology as well as the section leader for Genitourinary Oncology and Non-malignant Hematology at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando. He is board certified in internal medicine, medical oncology and hematology.
Dr. Hajdenberg joined MD Anderson - Orlando in 2004. He completed his medical internship and residency at UMDNJ/Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey. He fulfilled a fellowship in hematology and oncology at Harvard Medical School in Boston, where he served as clinical instructor. He currently holds academic appointments at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine and Florida State University College of Medicine.
Fluent in Spanish, Dr. Hajdenberg received his medical degree from the Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Dr. Hajdenberg has received training awards from the American Association for Cancer Research and American Society of Clinical Oncology. He is a fellow with the American College of Physicians and a member of the American Society of Hematology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. He has served on the board of the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology. He serves in multiple committees and leadership positions at MD Anderson - Orlando as well as Orlando Health. He has been consistently ranked as one of the Best Doctors by his peers in the Orlando area for the past few years.
His clinical research interests include cancers of the prostate, kidney and bladder as well as some hematologic neoplasms, such as lymphomas, Hodgkin's Diseases and chronic leukemias. He serves as the principal investigator on multiple cancer clinical trials involving those conditions.
Luis Herrera, MD
Dr. Herrera, thoracic surgeon, is a member of the Rod Taylor Thoracic Care Center at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando. He joins MD Anderson– Orlando from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston where he served as chief resident of thoracic surgery.
Fluent in English and Spanish, Dr. Herrera graduated suma cum laude with his medical degree and magna cum laude with a bachelor’s in biology from the University of Puerto Rico. He fulfilled a general surgery residency at the University of Pittsburgh and a cardiothoracic surgery residency at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and the Texas Heart Institute in Houston, focusing on thoracic surgical oncology.
Specializing in surgery for all thoracic malignancies, Dr. Herrera has particular interest and expertise in multimodality (chemotherapy/radiation/surgery) treatment for lung and esophagus cancers. In addition, he often performs minimally invasive thoracic surgery including videothoracoscopic (VATS) lobectomy and laparoscopic/thoracoscopic esophagectomy. Another minimally invasive approach he uses is the da Vinci® Surgical System for removal of small tumors in the mediastinum (chest) and esophageal surgery, as well as for pulmonary resection of lung cancers.
Dr. Herrera has received several awards for his work including the Minority Scholar Award in Cancer Research from the American Association in Cancer Research, the National Institutes of Health Minority Supplement Grant from the National Cancer Institute and the United States Surgical Corporation Resident Research Grant. Also, he has been published in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Clinical Chemistry and the Journal of Pediatric Surgery and has given presentations in several national meetings.
Active in several professional organizations, Dr. Herrera has served as a member of the American Association of Cancer Research and the American College of Surgeons.
Tirrell Johnson, MD
Board certified in internal medicine and medical oncology, Dr. Johnson is a medical oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando. He serves as a member of the Hematology, Melanoma/Sarcoma and Thoracic/Head & Neck Cancers Departments.
Dr. Johnson fulfilled a fellowship in hematology/oncology from Brown University Medical School’s teaching hospitals in Providence, Rhode Island. He completed a residency in internal medicine at Orlando Regional Medical Center. Dr. Johnson earned his medical degree from the University of Florida and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s in chemical engineering from Florida A&M University.
As a medical student, Dr. Johnson was the recipient of the Mark Herrbold Award, which recognizes outstanding academic accomplishments during the first three years of medical school.
Actively involved in medical research during his fellowship and currently at MD Anderson – Orlando, Dr. Johnson has served as the primary investigator for several forms of chemotherapy for advanced head and neck cancers and thoracic malignancies.
He is a member of the American College of Physicians, American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Hematology.
Alan D. Johnston
Dr. Johnston is a thoracic surgeon in the Department of Thoracic Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando. He also serves as an active member of the Department of Surgery at Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC). He is board certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.
He received his medical degree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and completed a general surgery internship at the University of Miami Health System. He completed a residency in general surgery at ORMC. He completed a second residency in cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in the Department of Surgery.
Dr. Johnston is a member of the medical staff of Orlando Health and has served as vice chair and chairman of the Department of Surgery at ORMC. He also served as president-elect and president of the American Lung Association of Central Florida from 2000 to 2002.
He currently serves as chairman of the board of directors for the American Lung Association of the Southeast. Dr. Johnston holds memberships in several professional organizations including the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, Florida Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons and the General Thoracic Surgical Club. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Chest Physicians.
Michael P. Kahky, MD, FACS
Dr. Kahky is the team leader for Breast Cancer Surgical Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando. He received his medical degree from SUNY-Downstate Medical Center in New York City.
He is board certified in general surgery. He completed his surgical oncology fellowship at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and his surgical residency at State University of New York-Downstate Medical Center Department of Surgery.
Dr. Kahky has been the assistant chief at the Orlando Cancer Center Department of Surgery, junior faculty associate at MD Anderson in Houston, assistant instructor at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Department of Surgery and a clinical assistant Instructor at SUNY-Downstate Medical Center Department of Surgery.
He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and is a member of the Society of Surgical Oncology, Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract and the American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association. Dr. Kahky has published a number of articles on the effects of human liver natural killer cells on cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as articles on Paget's disease of the breast, melanoma and thyroid surgery.
Omar R. Kayaleh, MD
Dr. Kayaleh serves as chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine as well as chief of Hematology Oncology Specialty Section at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando. He also serves as the medical team leader for the Gastrointestinal Cancers Specialty Section and as a member of the Breast Cancer, Genitourinary Cancers, Hematology, Lymphoma/Myeloma and Head and Neck Cancers Specialty Sections at MD Anderson - Orlando.
He received his medical degree from the University of Florida Medical School and completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Franklin Square Hospital in Baltimore and a fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina.
Dr. Kayaleh is board certified in internal medicine and the specialties of medical oncology and hematology. He is a member of the Orange County Medical Society, Florida Medical Association, American Medical Association, the American Society of Hematology, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Dr. Kayaleh has also held a number of offices and memberships on numerous medical staff committees including the Critical Care Committee, the Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee, and the Medical Education and Quality Assurance committees.
Patrick Kelly, MD, PhD
Dr. Patrick Kelly, MD, PhD serves as a radiation oncologist for the Radiation Oncology Specialty Section at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando. He specializes in gastrointestinal and breast malignancies.
Dr. Kelly graduated from Duke University School of Medicine with both his MD degree and PhD degree in Cancer Biology. He completed his internship at the University of Florida Department of Medicine prior to a Radiation Oncology residency at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
He has received several awards and grants, including the Duke Medical Alumni MD/PhD Training Grant. Dr. Kelly was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society and won the Experimental Biology/IUPS Travel Award. He has also received a nomination for the AAAS/Science Program for Excellence in Science.
Dr. Kelly is adept in several advanced treatment techniques, including GammaKnife-based intracranial stereotactic radiosurgery, proton therapy for adult and pediatric cancers, and stereotactic body radiotherapy for gastrointestinal, lung and spinal tumors.
He has spent many years studying the biology of cancer and cancer metastasis. He has published over 20 peer reviewed articles and has presented at several national conferences, including the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, American Society for Radiation Oncology, American Radium Society and Gordon Research Conferences. He reviews papers for many medical journals.
Susan Kelly, MD
Susan Kelly, MD, graduated from the University of Florida (UF) with both her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary medical science in 1994 and her doctorate degree in 1997. After graduating, she completed a clinical investigation in the K30 program at UF. She completed her residency in pediatrics at UF in 2000, followed by two fellowships at the Duke University Medical Center. She completed the first, in pediatric hematology/oncology, in 2003, and the other, in pediatric stem cell transplant, in 2004.
Throughout her career Dr. Kelly has had a number of administrative responsibilities, including as director of the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program at UF and fellowship program director of the Pediatric Hematology/ Oncology Fellowship at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
In addition, Dr. Kelly has won several awards, including the NIH Cancer Clinical Investigator Team Leadership Award in 2010, the Mortimer M. Bortin Award for Best Clinical Research in 2003, and multiple grants ranging from travel funds to project funds.
She is a member of the American Board of Pediatrics, Children’s Oncology Group, American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplant, American Society of Hematology and many more.
Richard Klein, MD, MPH
Richard Klein, MD, MPH, oversees MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando’s Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Department and is a member of the Breast Care Center at Orlando Regional Medical Center.
Board certified by the American Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Dr. Klein specializes in advanced cosmetic and reconstructive surgery procedures of the face and body. His area of expertise is in microvascular perforator flap reconstruction of the breast, head/neck and extremities after cancer resection and trauma wounds.
Dr. Klein joins the center from H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute and the University of South Florida, where he served as an assistant professor of plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Dr. Klein received his medical and public health degrees from Tufts University School of Medicine. He trained in general surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and a four-year research fellowship in trauma and burn surgery preceded his residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Michigan (UM) School of Medicine. His research culminated in being awarded a prestigious five year research grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute at the National Institutes of Health as a research fellow at UM.
Following his research he completed a plastic and reconstructive surgery residency at UM and was named chief administrative resident. Following his training at UM, Dr. Klein worked at the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health as a plastic surgeon consultant.
Sought out as an expert in his field, Dr. Klein frequently presents at professional conferences across the country. He is the author of numerous peer-reviewed articles and has contributed to several medical textbooks. Additionally, he is fluent in French and Spanish.
Chad. D. Kollas, MD
Dr. Kollas, MD, is the medical director of Palliative and Supportive Care at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando and medical director of the Palliative Care Unit at ORMC's Lucerne Pavilion.
He received his medical degree from the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine in Hershey, Pennsylvania. He is board certified in palliative medicine and internal medicine.
Dr. Kollas received an SGIM National Award for Innovation in Medical Education and the John Templeton Foundation Award for Spirituality Curricula in Primary Care Residency Programs. Dr. Kollas serves as the AMA delegate and immediate past chair of the Public Policy Committee of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. He serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. He received the AAHPM's 2006 Paper Award for his analysis of legal reasoning in the Terri Schiavo case.
Dr. Kollas has achieved fellowship status in the American College of Physicians, the American College of Legal Medicine and the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
His published research includes articles on end-of-life care, healthy policy and medicolegal issues.
Daniel Landau, MD
Dr. Daniel
Landau, board certified in internal medicine, serves as a medical
oncologist and hematologist for the Medical Oncology and Hematology
Specialty Section at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando.
Dr. Landau received his medical degree from the
University of South Florida College of Medicine, where he also completed
his residency. Dr. Landau completed his medical oncology and hematology
fellowship at MD Anderson - Orlando, serving as chief fellow.Dr. Landau received several honors and awards,
including recognition as a top oncologist by SmartestOncologist.com
three consecutive times. He is currently a member of the American
Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Hematology.
Kenneth R. Lee, MD, FACS
Kenneth
R. Lee, MD, FACS is a Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon with the MD
Anderson Cancer Center Orlando's Department of Surgery and the Breast
Care Center at Orlando Regional Medical Center. He is dual board
certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American
Board of Surgery.
Dr. Lee received his college and medical school degree as
part of the prestigious Northeastern Ohio Universities College of
Medicine BS/MD program, graduating cum laude with his bachelor of
science degree. He then completed a five year general surgery residency
with Orlando Health, where he served as Chief Resident in his final
year. While at ORMC, Dr. Lee served as an Advanced Trauma Life Support
Instructor, educating other physicians about the management of trauma
patients; and he worked as an organ procurement surgeon with the
transplant team. He was featured in The Learning Channel's "Trauma: Life
in the ER" series.
Dr. Lee completed a second residency in Plastic and
Reconstructive Surgery at the University of South Florida / H. Lee
Moffitt Cancer & Research Institute Program. Additionally, he served
as Administrative Chief Resident for three years while in Tampa,
Florida.
Dr. Lee specializes in complex reconstruction of oncological
and traumatic defects in adults and pediatric patients. His expertise
includes microvascular reconstruction, breast reconstruction with
perforator free flaps, head and neck reconstruction, pediatric plastic
surgery and aesthetic surgery. He serves as faculty with the position of
Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery with the University of Central
Florida College of Medicine and Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery
with Florida State College of Medicine. He also teaches within the
Medical Education Department for the general surgery and orthopedic
residencies.
The author of many publications and a book chapter, Dr. Lee
presented widely and nationally on breast reconstruction.
Alejandro Levy, MD
Alejandro Levy, MD, is a member of the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Department at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando.
Dr. Levy
received his medical degree from Universidad Central Del Caribe in
Puerto Rico. He completed a residency in pediatrics at Miami Children’s
Hospital where he received the Third Year Resident of the Year award.
Dr. Levy also fulfilled a fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology at
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston where he
focused on neuroblastoma research.
Dr. Levy
is a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatrics and has presented
several topics at the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
annual conference as well as several other national and international
events. He is also an active member in the community and is the founder
of “No Matter What,” an advocacy and mentorship program.
Mickey Liao, MD
Mickey Liao, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology.
Dr. Liao graduated from the Pennsylvania State University Accelerated Premedical-Medical Program. He received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. He later participated in the Graduate Training Program in Translational Investigation at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Dr. Liao completed a post-sophomore fellowship in anatomic and clinical pathology at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, an internal medicine internship and residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and a chief medical residency at the Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center, also in Chicago. He then completed geriatric medicine, hematology and medical oncology fellowships, all at UCLA.
While at the University of Illinois, he was awarded The Gold Foundation Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Award and the AOA Clinical Teaching Award. Dr. Liao has presented his research at several national meetings, including the annual meetings of the American Society of Hematology and the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. He is an associate member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. His clinical interests include specialized care of our aging population.
Sreeram Maddipatla, MD, MPH
Dr.
Maddipatla is board certified in internal medicine as well as
hematology and oncology. He serves as a medical oncologist/ hematologist
for the Medical Oncology/Hematology Specialty Section at MD Anderson
Cancer Center Orlando.
Dr. Sreeram Maddipatla received his medical degree from Sri Devaraj
Urs Medical College in Bangalore, India and his master’s degree in
public health at the University of North Texas Health Science Center at
Fort Worth. He completed an internal medicine residency at State
University of New York at Buffalo and a fellowship in hematology
oncology at MD Anderson – Orlando.
Dr. Maddipatla presented his research at various
national meetings including the American Society of Clinical Oncology,
American Society of Hematology and the Society of Surgical Oncology. He
has published articles in peer-reviewed journals including Clinical
Cancer Research and Oncology.
Dr. Maddipatla received numerous awards including
Outstanding Public Health Student from the University of North Texas. He
was presented with the Exemplary Physician Colleague award by the
Orlando Health nursing staff. During his fellowship, he was awarded the
Dinah Kukes research grant from Phi Mu Foundation as well as travel
grants to the Lynn Sage Cancer Symposium and American Society of
Clinical Oncology annual meetings.
His interests include gastrointestinal and genitourinary
cancer, as well as lymphomas. He is currently a member of the American
Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, the American
Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Hematology.
Rafael Mañon, MD
Dr. Manon, MD, is board certified in radiation oncology and serves as a radiation oncologist for MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando.
He received his medical degree from the University of Florida College of Medicine. He completed a residency in radiation oncology at the University of Wisconsin (UW) Hospital and Clinics, where he served as chief resident. Dr. Mañon completed an internship in internal medicine at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami and earned a medical degree from the University of Florida. At UW, he served as the chief resident of radiation oncology during his final year and as an instructor in radiotherapy technology.
Dr. Rafael Mañon brings a wealth of experience in helical tomotherapy to MD Anderson - Orlando. Through the University of Wisconsin, where tomotherapy was created, he is researching and developing more aggressive treatments for cancer, with the aim of improving cancer cure rates while maintaining a clinically acceptable level of side effects.
Dr. Mañon received the Outstanding Achievement in Science, Engineering and Mathematics Award from the Office of Naval Research.
Additionally, Dr. Mañon published several peer-reviewed articles in medical journals including the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Radiotherapy and Oncology and International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology and Physics. His professional affiliations include the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology and the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group. He has faculty appointments at the University of Central Florida, Florida State University and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and has many interests including martial arts.
Nathalie Dauphin McKenzie, MD, MSPH
Nathalie Dauphin McKenzie, MD, MSPH, a gynecologic oncology surgeon, specializes in the care of women with ovarian, endometrial, uterine, cervical, vulvar and vaginal cancers. Her surgical expertise focuses on advanced minimally invasive laparoscopic or robotic techniques and extensive debulking procedures to remove cancerous tumors.
Dr. McKenzie received her medical degree from the University of Buffalo in New York and went on to the University of Miami - Jackson Memorial Hospital for her residency training in obstetrics and gynecology, followed by a fellowship in gynecologic oncology, which included earning a Masters of Science in public health and epidemiology.
She has written numerous articles, authored several institutional handbooks, and co-authored a book chapter as well as presented her research at national and international conferences. Dr. McKenzie also continues to serve as adjunct faculty at the University of Miami. She is the recipient of several awards and honors, most recently receiving the prestigious ASCO Young Investigator Award for a phase I clinical trial in the treatment of women with advanced cervical cancer. Being a cancer survivor herself, Dr. McKenzie has a clear understanding of the many obstacles and fears experienced by her cancer patients and their families.
Rebecca Lynn Moroose, MD
Rebecca Lynn Moroose, MD, is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in medical oncology and serves as a medical oncologist specializing in breast cancer at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando.
Dr. Moroose received her medical degree from The University of Connecticut School of Medicine in Farmington. She completed an internship in Internal Medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore before returning to The University of Connecticut Health Center to complete her residency in internal medicine, where she served as chief resident. Dr. Moroose also completed her hematology/oncology fellowship at the University of Connecticut Health Center.
Prior to joining MD Anderson – Orlando, Dr. Moroose worked at the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute, where she served as medical director. She served on the founding faculty as an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Central Florida, where she was also the director of the Psychosocial Issues in Healthcare module and co-director of the Hematology/Oncology and Focused Individualized Research modules. In 2010, she received the University of Central Florida College of Medicine Visionary Award, which was selected by the class of 2013.
She published book chapters as well as many published refereed articles. She is currently a columnist for Orange Appeal, where she writes a quarterly column featuring community education issues, including genetic causes of breast cancer, HPV vaccines, alcohol use and abuse and many other topics. Dr. Moroose is a member of several professional organizations including the Academy of Pharmaceutical Physicians and Investigators, the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Hematology. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Shepher's Hope.
Rajesh M. Nair, MD
Dr. Rajesh
M. Nair, an oncology surgeon, is a member of the Department of
Surgery at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando and a member of the
Graduate Medical Education team.
Dr. Nair graduated magna cum laude from the
University of Akron in Ohio and Northeastern Ohio Universities College
of Medicine in Rootstown, Ohio. He spent three years at Albert Einstein
Medical Center in Philadelphia as a surgery resident and completed his
surgical residency at Orlando Regional Medical Center where he served as
chief resident. Dr. Nair fulfilled a fellowship in surgical oncology at
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa. He serves
as Assistant Professor of Surgery for the University of Central Florida
College of Medicine and Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery for
Florida State University College of Medicine.
He has been principal investigator in multiple research
projects and has presented at national and regional medical and surgical
meetings, including the Society of Surgical Oncology, the American
Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons and a Tripartite meeting with
similar groups from Great Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand in
conjunction with the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.
Dr. Nair has published several articles in peer-reviewed journals including Cancer Control, Diseases of Colon and Rectum and the Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, just to name a few.
Akash Nanda, MD, PhD
Dr. Akash Nanda is board certified in radiation oncology and serves as director of Genitourinary and Hematologic Radiation Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando. He also serves as director of radiation oncology at Dr. P. Phillips Hospital and Health Central Hospital. Dr. Nanda is an assistant professor of radiation oncology at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine and an adjunct professor of radiation oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Dr. Nanda graduated from the combined MD-PhD program at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he also received his doctorate degree in human genetics and molecular biology. He completed his residency training in radiation oncology at the Harvard Radiation Oncology Program, where he received a resident research grant from the Radiologic Society of North America. He was selected by the American Brachytherapy Society to participate as a prostate brachytherapy fellow at the Seattle Prostate Institute.
Dr. Nanda’s primary research interests include outcomes analyses and the design of prospective clinical trials for men with prostate and bladder cancer. He is also interested in developing and testing new technologies aimed at improving the precision of radiation treatment delivery. Dr. Nanda has presented his research findings at several national meetings, including the American Society for Radiation Oncology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the American Association for Cancer Research. He also has numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Journal of Clinical Oncology, and the International Journal of Radiation Oncology · Biology · Physics.
He is currently a member of ASTRO, ASCO, RSNA, and the AMA.
Kavita M. Pattani, MD, FACS
Dr.
Pattani serves as a head and neck surgical oncologist as part of the
Thoracic/Head and Neck Cancers Specialty Section at MD Anderson Cancer
Center Orlando. Dr. Pattani received her medical degree at St. George’s
University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies. She completed her
residency and surgical internship at Louisiana State University Health
Sciences Center. She completed her head and neck surgery fellowship at
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions in Baltimore, Maryland.
Dr.
Pattani has presented at several meetings all across the United States,
including the International AHNS Head and Neck Meeting where she spoke
on the effects of radiation on anti-apoptotic pathways in head and neck
cancer. She has also been in several publications, including The Annals
of Surgical Oncology.
She has
received several awards, including the AHNS Travel Grant Award from the
Internal Head and Neck society meeting and the Humanitarian Travel
Grant.
Gregory Pennock, MD
Board certified in internal medicine and medical oncology, Dr. Pennock serves as medical director of clinical trials for MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando and as team leader for the Melanoma/Sarcoma Specialty Section.
Dr. Pennock joined MD Anderson – Orlando in August 2004. Dr. Pennock was previously a staff oncologist at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute.
A magna cum laude graduate from Texas A & M University, Dr. Pennock earned a medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. He completed an internship in internal medicine at the Tulane School of Medicine in New Orleans and received additional training through an internal medicine residency at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. Dr. Pennock completed his fellowship in hematology and oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Dr. Pennock was recently elected to the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Cancer Education Committee for Melanoma/Skin Cancers. Additionally, he is a member of the American College of Physicians and the American Medical Association. His research interests include developing novel therapies for melanoma and sarcoma.
Anna Priebe, MD
Dr. Anna Priebe is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and has extensive experience in the minimally invasive management of gynecologic cancers, including robotic and laparoscopic surgery.
After receiving her undergraduate degree from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, Dr. Priebe returned to her native Poland and received her medical degree from the Poznan University of Medical Sciences in 2001. She subsequently completed a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Massachusetts in 2005, and a fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at the University of Michigan in 2008.
Prior to joining the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at?MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando in 2012, Dr. Priebe was in practice at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD, where she developed the clinical research program and was the principal investigator for more than 30 clinical trials for women with gynecologic cancer. Her research interests include cancer cell metabolism and the molecular targeting?of these aberrant pathways. She is particularly interested in patient education and empowerment and cancer survivorship
Naren R. Ramakrishna, MD, PhD
Naren
R. Ramakrishna, MD, PhD, is the Director of Neurologic and Pediatric
Radiation Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando.
After
completing his bachelor of arts in biology at Johns Hopkins University,
Dr. Ramakrishna went on to the Medical Scientist Training Program at
Cornell University Medical College where he received his medical degree,
and a doctorate in cell biology and genetics from Cornell University
Graduate School of Medical Sciences.
After an
internal medicine internship at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, he
completed a residency in radiation oncology at The Johns Hopkins
Hospital, where he was the chief resident. He also completed a Koch
Research Fellowship in Gene Therapy at The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Oncology Center and Brady Urological Institute and received an
AACR-Glaxo Wellcome Oncology Scholar Award.
Dr.
Ramakrishna served for eight years on the faculty of Harvard Medical
School where he was an Instructor in Radiation Oncology. He was also the
Chief of Central Nervous System Radiation Oncology at Dana-Farber
Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the Director of
the CNS Radiation Oncology fellowship program. He is a diplomat of both
the United States Medical licensing Examination and the American Board
of Radiology.
Dr.
Ramakrishna’s extensive research is published in numerous medical
journals and textbooks and he is often invited as a guest speaker to
conferences and universities.
Garrett Riggs, MD, PhD
Garrett Riggs, MD, PhD is a diplomat for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He serves as a neurologist in the Medical Oncology Department at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando. He has a special interest in the care for patients with cognitive side effects of cancer.
Dr. Riggs received his medical degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine. He completed his residency in the Department of Neurology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Riggs completed his experimental therapeutics and clinical trials fellowship in the Department of Neurology at the University of Rochester. In conjunction, he also completed a fellowship in cognitive and behavioral neurology in the Department of Neurology at the University of Rochester.He has a Master of Science in Communicative Disorders and holds a PhD in anatomical sciences and neurobiology, both received from the University of Louisville. Dr. Riggs currently holds a faculty appointment as assistant professor of neurology and medical education at the University of Central Florida’s College of Medicine. Recently, he received the Award for Curricular Innovation at UCF. He has also received many other honors and awards, including the Neurology Faculty Teaching Award by the Department of Neurology at the University of Rochester.
Dr. Riggs has published many refereed articles and currently sits on three editorial boards as an ad hoc reviewer for Primary Care Companion to CNS Disorders, Advances in Physiology Education and Neurology. He is has many professional memberships including the American Academy of Neurology, the Neurocritical Care Society and the Linguistic Society of America.
Justin M. Rineer, MD
Dr. Rineer serves as a radiation oncologist physician for the Radiation Oncology Specialty Section at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando. He specializes in melanoma/sarcoma and thoracic malignancies.
Dr. Rineer graduated magna cum laude with his medical degree from State University of New York – Downstate, where he also completed his residency in radiation oncology and served as chief resident. During his residency, he became a recipient of the 2008 and 2009 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Foundation Award for original research presented at the ASCO annual meeting. He was an advanced radiation oncology fellow at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston where he gained extensive experience in applying advanced technologies to lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies.
Dr. Rineer's primary research interests include improving outcomes through the application of multi-modality treatment in lung and esophagheal cancer. He has presented his original research at top national and international meetings, including the annual meetings of the American Society of Radiation Oncology, the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Dr. Rineer has also published several peer-reviewed articles in high-impact journals such as Chest, Cancer, Radiotherapy and Oncology and the Journal of Thoracic Oncology.
He is currently a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Radiation Oncology.
Regan D. Rostorfer, MD
Regan D. Rostorfer, MD, graduated magna cum laude with his Bachelor of Science degree in the biology honors program from the University of South Florida and his doctoral degree from the Florida State University College of Medicine. After graduating, he began his residency in internal medicine at Orlando Health, where he was on several committees. In 2007 he was awarded the Charles D. Engelhardt, MD, Memorial Award in Neurology, and in September of 2008 he was awarded the ACP Chief Resident Award. He was named Fellow of the Year in 2012.
While at MD Anderson – Orlando he has researched multiple projects, including lines of chemotherapy in stage IV cancer, multiple case reports on cancers, and readmission rates for chemotherapy patients undergoing induction TPF. He has also presented at national meetings for head and neck cancer.
Dr. Rostorfer is currently a member of the American College of Physicians, Orange County Medical Society, American Medical Association, American Board of Internal Medicine, American Society of Clinical Oncology and American Society of Hematology.
Josè E. Sarriera, MD
Dr. Sarriera, MD serves as a medical oncologist/hematologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando. Dr. Sarriera is board certified in medical oncology and hematology.
He received his medical degree from the University of Puerto Rico and completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine. He completed a fellowship in medical oncology/hematology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston where he underwent specialized training in lymphoma, leukemia and multiple myeloma.
Dr. Sarriera has published several articles in peer-reviewed journals and has a published book chapter on urologic complications. He has received several honors and awards, including the University of Puerto Rico Academic Scholarship Award. He is also involved in several Orlando Health committees, including being a member of the blood bank committee as well as a member and current chairman of the Hematology and Oncology subcommittee.
Dr. Sarriera is a member of the American Society of Hematology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Veronica Schimp, DO
Internationally recognized for her expertise in minimally invasive surgery, Veronica Schimp, DO, is the section chief of MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando’s Gynecologic Cancers Department.
Dr. Schimp is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and gynecologic oncology. She has focused her career on improving the health of patients and preserving fertility in young women afflicted with cancers of the reproductive system and using minimally invasive surgical approaches, such as vagina surgery, laparoscopy and DaVinci Robotics. Her research interests include cervical, ovarian and uterine cancers with an emphasis in racial disparities, cancer outcomes and quality outcomes in surgery and cancer care.
Before joining MD Anderson – Orlando, Dr. Schimp served as director of inpatient surgery, cancer center chairwoman and co-director of Minimally Invasive Surgery program at Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center in Detroit. Also, she served as a clinical educator at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
Dr. Schimp completed a post-doctoral fellowship in gynecologic oncology at MD Anderson in Houston and earned a doctorate in osteopathy from Michigan State University. She completed a two year residency in general surgery at St. John/Oakland General Hospital in Madison Heights, Michigan, and a four year residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Hutzel Hospital/Wayne State University in Detroit.
As the author of chapters in two medical books and numerous published articles and case studies on cancer of the female reproductive organs, Dr. Schimp has presented at more than 50 seminars and conferences. She has been recognized as one of Detroit’s top doctors by HOUR Detroit Magazine and has received the Patient's Choice Award the past three years, as well as America's Top Oncologists Award in 2009.
Dr. Schimp is a member of several organizations including the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, American Association of Cancer Research, American Medical Association and American Osteopathic Association.
Nikita C. Shah, MD
Dr. Shah is the Breast Cancer Department leader at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando. In addition, Dr. Shah is the medical director of the Cancer Risk Evaluation Program.
She received her medical degree from Baroda Medical College, India, and did an externship in the Emergency Department at Methodist Hospital in Indiana. While she was a medical student, Dr. Shah had the highest annual score in Forensic Medicine and also received an Outstanding Medical Student award. Dr. Shah completed her residency training in internal medicine at St. Francis Hospital in Illinois, and a fellowship in hematology/oncology at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
As part of her internship and residency, she mentored second- and third-year medical students in various disciplines including medicine, obstetrics-gynecology, general surgery and ophthalmology. In addition, she instructed medical residents and students on a variety of hematology/oncology related topics. Dr. Shah is board certified in internal medicine, medical oncology and hematology.
Dr. Shah is a member of the Orange County Medical Association, the Florida Medical Association, American Society of Clinical Oncologists, American Medical Association, American College of Physicians, M.S. University Alumni Association and the Association of Physicians from India.
Asad Sheikh, MD
Asad Sheikh, MD, a board certified medical oncologist, serves as the director of oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando at South Seminole Hospital. Dr. Sheikh joins MD Anderson - Orlando from the Medical College of Georgia where he served as chief fellow of the hematology/oncology fellowship program.
Dr. Sheikh earned his medical degree from Allama Iqbal Medical College in Pakistan and completed an internship for the Department of Surgery and Medicine at Services Hospital in Pakistan the following year. He worked at the Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia in Decatur, GA, where he was a clinical research physician and awarded permanent residency in the United States under the special category of Outstanding Professor/Researcher in the Field of Cancer. Dr. Sheikh went on to complete his internship and residency in internal medicine at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL.
Dr. Sheikh has a license to practice medicine in California, Florida, Georgia and Pakistan. He is a member of several organizations, including the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Society of Hematology and Oncology and the Patient Welfare Society. He has received several awards, including Best Teaching Resident 2005 from the University of Florida and the Blue Ribbon of Commendation from the Georgia Cancer Coalition.
Dr. Sheikh has published several studies for the American Society of Clinical Oncology and presented the second largest data trial published in the US on breast cancer in the community setting. Dr. Sheikh also designed, developed and maintained MS Access and SQL databases for cancer patients. His research has been featured in national and international scientific assemblies such as the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Society for Radiation Oncology, the British Oncologic Association and the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
Amy Smith, MD
Amy Smith, MD, is a pediatric oncologist who is a member of the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Specialty Section at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando. Dr. Smith is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics.
Dr. Smith received her medical degree from Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. Following her medical degree, she completed an internship in pediatrics at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, where she also completed her pediatric residency. Dr. Smith then completed her postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology and bone marrow transplantation from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.
Prior to joining MD Anderson - Orlando, Dr. Smith worked as an assistant professor of pediatrics as well as a joint assistant professor in the Department of Neurosurgery for the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville. She has won many honors and awards, including receiving the Best Doctors in America honor for 2009 and 2010 and the 2010 Ocala Royal Dames: Royal Lady Award.
Dr. Smith has many published articles in peer-reviewed journals as well as a published book chapter. She involved with many professional organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Society of Hematology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Society of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and the Children's Oncology Group, where she is a full member.
Jeffrey R. Smith, MD, FACS
Dr. Smith is a member of the Melanoma/Sarcoma, Gastrointestinal and Breast Cancer Departments at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando. Additionally, he is on faculty as an assistant clinical professor at Florida State University.
Dr. Smith was chief surgical resident at Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he completed an internship in general surgery. He earned a medical degree from the University of Florida. Board certified in general surgery by the American Board of Surgery, Dr. Smith is a diplomat of the National Board of Medical Examiners. Also, he serves on the board of directors for the Central Florida Chapter of the American Cancer Society.
A fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Smith has made multiple presentations and has been published in several journals, including the American Journal of Surgery.
Robert Sutphin, MD
A member of the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Specialty Section at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando, Robert Sutphin, MD, is board certified in general pediatrics and board eligible in pediatric hematology/oncology.
Dr. Sutphin completed his fellowship in pediatric hematology and oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and his pediatric residency at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando. He earned his medical degree from Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine Marshall University in West Virginia and his bachelor’s at Midwestern State University in Texas.
Dr. Sutphin’s research interests include the development of novel therapeutic agents, cancer immunology and notch signaling pathway activity in myeloid leukemia. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at annual meetings of the American Society of Hematology and the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. In 2010, he received the Samsung's Hope for Children Spirit Award, which was presented in recognition of his dedication to the children fighting cancer. He has received a $50,000 grant from T.J. Martell Foundation to explore new therapeutic pathways in pediatric leukemia.
Prior to medical school, Dr. Sutphin served the United States Air Force as a medical laboratory technician/instructor. He was bestowed a Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster and named Sheppard Air Force Base (Texas) Junior Instructor of the Year.
Dr. Sutphin’s professional affiliations include memberships in the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Society of Hematology, American Society of Pediatric Hematology Oncology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Sajeve Samuel Thomas, MD
Sajeve Samuel Thomas, MD, is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and serves as a GI medical oncologist for MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando with specific interest in neuroendocrine malignancies and melanoma. Dr. Thomas also has genuine interest in medical education of the fellows, residents and medical students. He serves as an associate professor for the University of Central Florida College of Medicine.
As a computer engineering graduate from the University of South Florida, Dr. Thomas went on to receive his medical degree from the University of Florida. He completed his internal medicine residency at the University of South Florida, receiving the Outstanding Resident Award; and his hematology/oncology fellowship at the University of Florida, where he served as the chief fellow in his final year.
He is a member of many organizations, including the American Society of Hematology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American College of Physicians. He has made multiple presentations in oncology topics and has published articles in several journals. Dr Thomas is currently a very active investigator on multiple cooperative group and industry-supported clinical trials.
Dr Thomas looks forward to being fully involved in clinical research and medical education while providing excellent clinical care to his patients.
Dipali Trivedi, MD
Dipali Trivedi, MD, is board certified in internal medicine and medical oncology. She specializes in general hematology and oncology for MD Anderson – Orlando. Dr. Trivedi, a native Floridian, received her bachelor’s degree from Emory University and her medical degree from New York Medical College. She completed her internship, residency and fellowship at Emory University School of Medicine. She also served on the Emory faculty as an instructor in internal medicine at Winship Cancer Institute / Grady Memorial Hospital from 2007-2008. She completed her fellowship in 2011, after which she was an attending physician at the Tampa VA Hospital, an affiliate of the University of South Florida.
Dr. Trivedi has a great deal of experience in benign and malignant hematology as well as breast cancer. During her fellowship, she served as clinical supervisor of the Grady Sickle Cell Acute Care Center. She has worked in the basic science laboratory on both platelet functionality as well as drug-resistance in breast cancer cell lines. She also received a Medical Student Teaching Award in 2007 and served on the internal medicine residency class representative committee at Grady Memorial Hospital. She was awarded the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Achievement Award in 2010 and has participated in numerous research fairs during her years in training. She has published work in Current Breast Cancer Reports pertaining to breast cancer hormone resistance in metastatic disease and attended the School of Breast Oncology conference in 2010. Dr. Trivedi is a member of the American Medical Association, the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Hematology.
Jennifer E. Tseng, MD
Dr. Tseng is the Thoracic and Head & Neck Cancer Department leader and the associate director for clinical research for medical oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando. She received her medical degree from Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina.
She did her residency and served as assistant chief resident in Internal Medicine at Duke University Medical Center. She completed her fellowship in medical oncology/hematology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Tseng is board certified in internal medicine and the specialty of medical oncology.
Dr. Tseng has received several awards and honors. Awards received include the C.D. Howe Award for Clinical Excellence in Medical Oncology and a Clinical Research Award from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; the American Medical Women's Award, Hewlett Packard Award, and the Alpha Omega Alpha Research Symposium Award from Duke University, and a Beneficial-Hodgson scholarship from Johns Hopkins University. In addition to her clinical studies, Dr. Tseng has published research on various topics including molecular alterations in lung cancer, gender differences in lung cancer and novel agents in the treatment of head and neck cancer. She has recently presented at the Annual Thoracic Oncology Symposium of the Puerto Rican Society of Hematology Oncology and spoke on neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment strategies in lung cancer.
Mark Vollenweider, MD, MPH
Dr. Vollenweider, board certified in internal medicine and pulmonary medicine, is an Intensivist specially trained in interventional pulmonology who serves on the Medical Critical Care team at Orlando Regional Medical Center. He also works with the Cancer Medicine Specialty Section at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando to provide complete medical care for all patients.
He received his medical degree from St. George University School of Medicine in Grenada. He completed both his residency and internship at the University of Louisville School of Medicine in Kentucky, where he also served as chief resident. He completed his fellowship in pulmonary-critical care medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine and also received a Master's in Public Health in Epidemiology from Loma Linda University in California.
Dr. Vollenweider has presented at many national and international meetings. His research interests include complicated airway management and pleural malignancies. He is using several innovative technologies to diagnose and treat benign and malignant airway and pulmonary lesions.