When the six of us met in early 2003 to consider "whether a private practice"... stand alone and unique, we did not know if it could be done. New and revolutionary technologies such as PET/CT were blossoming, but harnessing that with advanced technologies of radiation and chemo-radiation was another matter. The task seemed almost impossible, the complexity of new and relatively new radiation therapy technologies such as conformal and intensity modulated beams (IMRT) were challenging enough. The commercial market was full of bright promises, but few good examples.

The practice - as established - may boast an ideal location or state-of-the science technology or dedicated staff or compassionate experienced qualified physicians but many practices have similar claims. I would like to single out our circle of fiends and supporters who were instrumental in the success of the original push and are critical for our continuing viability. It is to this cohort of practitioners that we direct this letter as a message of hope, a message of thanks and earnest wishes for a glorious future.
In our opinion, nothing can brighten the day of an oncologist as the look of comfort and hope in a patient's eye. Knowledge is what helps all of us achieve the ability of conveying comfort to our patients. This site is dedicated to disseminate information about high tech management of cancer as well as the best of cancer care. It should be construed as a visit between friends and colleagues to exchange information and opinions. It is our hope that all our friends will participate by contributions of their own, which will make us a real village

Sameer Rafla has led the Radiation Oncology Departments at several hospitals in Brooklyn for more than 20 years. He has been the principal investigator of sevaral NCI national research studies and grants, is board certified and has been awarded several Fellowships including those from American College of Radiology, American College of Radiation Oncology, Royal College of Radiology and the prestigious Royal Society of Medicine.


Curriculum Vitae

Hani Ashamalla is the chairman of the Radiation Oncology Depart-ment at New York Methodist Hospital. He is an assistant clinical professor of Radiation Oncology at Weill-Cornell Medical School. He is board-certified and is a Fellow of the American College of Radiation Oncology as well as a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians.


Curriculum Vitae

Dr Selim has completed his training in Radiation Oncology in the United Kingdom in 1973. He was awarded Diplomas in Medical Radiotherapy from the Universities of London and Liverpool. He is also a fellow of the Royal College of Radiologists. He joined Radiation Oncology at New York Methodist Hospital in 1976. He is currently the Director of the Residency Training Program and Vice Chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology at New York Methodist Hospital. He is a clinical associate professor of Radiation Oncology at Weill-Cornell Medical School. He has been involved in cancer research for a long time. He was the principal investigator for the Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP), awarded by the National Cancer Institute to a consortium of hospitals in Brooklyn, from 1983 to 1986.

Curriculum Vitae

Kapila Parikh has been in charge of the Comprehensive Radiation Oncology site at Maimonides Medical Center for more than 15 years. She also has been an attending radiation oncologist at New York Methodist since 1981 and is a staff member at Weill Cornell Medical School.


Curriculum Vitae

Mounzer Tchelebi has been an attending radiation oncologist at New York Methodist and staff member at Weill Cornell Medical School for many years. He is also the acting chairman at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center. He is boarded in radiation oncology.


Curriculum Vitae

Bahaa Mokhtar obtained his boards in radiation oncology as the national top of his class in 1998. He has been an attending radiation oncologist at New York Methodist Hospital for several years.

Curriculum Vitae