Welcome to the Department of Radiation Oncology
Message from James M. Metz, MD — Chairman
Penn Radiation Oncology is dedicated to a three-part mission of excellence in patient care, basic and translational research, and the education of residents and students. We are committed to delivering excellence in every area and as such we steadfastly believe that "Excellence is Standard."
Penn Radiation Oncology is one of the most comprehensive radiation oncology programs in the world. The outstanding faculty and staff, combined with Penn’s extensive collection of advanced technology, gives patients access to nearly every treatment option available for their cancer. The broad range of radiation treatments available include Proton Therapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), high-dose rate (HDR) and low-dose rate brachytherapy, partial breast irradiation, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), and Gamma Knife radiation. With the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Radiation Oncology provides patient care at the Ruth and Raymond Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine (PCAM), six major hospitals, and nine community-based sites.
News
-
ASTRO President Neha Vapiwala urges members to move from ‘data to dialogue’
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Neha Vapiwala, MD, the Eli Glatstein Professor in Radiation Oncology and president of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), closed her presidential address at the 2026 ASTRO Annual Meeting by reminding attendees of the tangible actions everyone can take to be a storyteller for radiation oncology: be mindful of jargon, leverage AI and multimedia tools to better serve patients and clearly explain the specialty to others. “Data doesn’t speak to people,” she said. “That requires dialogue, and that is what we do.”
-
Penn Medicine, IBA form joint venture to advance proton therapy
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Penn Medicine and Ion Beam Applications (IBA) have formed Noventra Oncology Alliance, a new joint venture designed to help healthcare providers develop, implement, and optimize proton therapy and advanced radiation oncology programs. “By combining Penn Medicine’s decades of experience building and operating one of the world’s leading proton therapy programs with IBA’s expertise in proton therapy technology and implementation, we are creating a unique platform to help healthcare organizations deliver exceptional care to patients while building sustainable, high-performing oncology programs,” said James Metz, MD, chair of Radiation Oncology.
-
Penn Medicine opens FLASH proton radiation clinical trial in Philly
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center is launching a first-of-its-kind clinical trial to test a faster, more powerful form of radiation therapy for cancer treatment. “We are now able to deliver radiation at very high velocity,” said principal investigator Alexander Lin, MD, the Morton M. Kligerman Professor of Radiation Oncology. “That’s why we call it FLASH.” FLASH proton therapy is designed to deliver cancer-killing radiation therapy in less than a second, through fewer total sessions, with potentially less risk of damaging side effects.
Penn Medicine News Release • WHYY