Program Director: Lydia Komarnicky, M.D.
Associate Director: Wayne H. Pinover, DO
Program Coordinator: Eleanor Michele
Overview of the Residency Program
Since its inception in the first quarter of the twentieth century the department has helped set the pace for new developments in the field, establishing for itself a distinguished reputation. The Radiation Oncology Residency Program at Hahnemann University Hospital, which began in 1969, was one of the early fully approved training programs in radiation oncology.
This program provides residents with a broad exposure to clinical care, teaching and research through two components: clinical radiation oncology and radiation research. In addition to rotations at Hahnemann University Hospital residents will complete a rotation each year at the residency primary clinical site, Abington Memorial Hospital as the integrated site. As well, there are electives within the institution and outside in related disciplines, such as pediatric radiation oncology or medical oncology.
The clinical radiation oncology component provides training in diagnosis and management of malignant diseases, application of external radiation therapy and brachytherapy for malignant diseases in adults and children. The department’s technology and programs include Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT), Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), fully integrated 3D Multi-leaf Collimator (MLC), 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy treatment planning system, high dose rate brachytherapy (HDR) for breast, prostate, GYN and lung; and low dose rate brachytherapy services. Additional programs are, total body irradiation for bone marrow transplants, total skin irradiation for mycosis fungoides, stereotactic radiotherapy and stereotactic radiosurgery, and a joint program with Wills Eye Surgery Center for the treatment of ocular malignancies. The Department also offers hyperbaric oxygen therapy for healing of radiation injury.
The radiation research program includes training in clinical research activities, radiation physics, and radiation biology. The program participates in national cooperative group protocols. The faculty developed a number of intra-departmental and interdepartmental research protocols involving brachytherapy procedures, monoclonal antibody treatments for brain tumor and colorectal cancer, histone-1, bone marrow transplantation, and cutaneous T-cell lymphomas.
Lydia Komarnicky, M.D.
Professor and Chair, Department of Radiation Oncology
Cancer Program Director
Residency Program Director
Please note that residents are employed by and insured by the hospital; they are not employees of Drexel University College of Medicine.
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