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Department and Faculty

The Department of Radiation Oncology at Mayo Clinic's campus in Rochester, Minnesota, uses the most sophisticated technology available and employs highly experienced, dedicated personnel to deliver radiation therapy with skill and compassion.

Department staff members care for more than 1,900 patients with malignant diseases each year. Each radiation oncologist at Mayo Clinic specializes in treating two or three types of cancer. This specialization ensures that even patients with rare cancers receive care from someone who is highly skilled at treating their specific condition.

The department offers the full spectrum of radiation therapy modalities and equipment, including:

  • Standard external beam radiation, including high-energy photons and electron beam
  • Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT)
  • Brachytherapy for a wide variety of malignancies using low and high dose rate methods
  • Image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT)
  • Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
  • Intraoperative irradiation via electron beam or high dose rate irradiation
  • Ultrasound superficial hyperthermia
  • CT and fluoroscopic simulation
  • Proton beam therapy

In addition, the department offers more than 250 cancer clinical studies for brain, breast, head and neck, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, gynecologic, and lung cancers. Protocols also are available for lymphoma, melanoma and sarcoma.

Faculty

The faculty members involved in the Advanced Radiation Oncology Fellowship include 20 radiation oncologists. Collectively, they have a wealth of experience in every aspect of radiation oncology.

Their expertise includes all areas of clinical practice and basic and applied research, education and professional activity. This expertise is demonstrated through leadership in national organizations, the certification and peer-review processes, and educational involvement.

Each faculty member works with fellows and is available for clinical and research mentorship. In addition, 15 radiation oncology physics consultants work directly with the staff physicians, fellows and residents and direct the teaching of radiation physics.

Safia Ahmed, M.D.

Safia Ahmed, M.D.

Medical school: Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine

Residency: Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education

Career interests: 

  • Soft tissue sarcoma
  • Bone sarcoma
  • Breast cancer
  • Pediatric malignancies
  • Proton therapy

Dr. Ahmed's PubMed citations

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Brian Davis, M.D., Ph.D.

Brian Davis, M.D., Ph.D.

Medical school: University of Illinois School of Medicine

Residency: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Career interests: 

  • Prostate cancer
  • External beam radiotherapy
  • Protons
  • Brachytherapy
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Nadia Laack, M.D.

Nadia Laack, M.D.

Medical school: Loma Linda University School of Medicine

Residency: Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education

Fellowship: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Career interests: 

  • Pediatric cancer
  • Central nervous system tumors
  • Radiosurgery
  • Sarcoma
  • Lymphoma
  • Cognitive effects of therapy

Dr. Laack's PubMed citations

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Jann Sarkaria, M.D.

Jann Sarkaria, M.D.

Medical school: University of California, Los Angeles

Residency: University of Wisconsin, Madison

Research fellowship: Institute of Cancer Research

Career interests:

  • Central nervous system tumors
  • Lung cancer
  • Radiobiology

Dr. Sarkaria's PubMed citations

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Visiting professors

Many prominent professors visit Mayo Clinic each year. They present their work during conferences and special Mayo Clinic Cancer Center presentations. Fellows can meet with these individuals to discuss topics in the visiting professors' area of expertise. You are encouraged to take full advantage of these opportunities.