Welcome to the Department of Human Oncology (DHO) at the University of Wisconsin.
We provide comprehensive radiation oncology services with dedication to improve the outcome for cancer patients using state-of-the-art treatment techniques combined with highly compassionate care. Our clinical focus is on each individual cancer patient and their families; however, our mission extends more broadly to include cutting-edge research and advanced training for the next generation of MD and PhD students to ensure cancer therapy improvements for the future.
Paul M. Harari, MD, FASTRO
Jack Fowler Professor and Chairman
Department of Human Oncology
NEWS
Dr. Jacob Witt Earns 2nd Place at UWCCC Research Retreat for Presentation on MRI-Guided SBRT
Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)—a technique for delivering precise high dose external beam radiation—can be used to target metastatic lesions in the spine. But treating certain spinal lesions can be challenging given their proximity to the spinal cord and nerve roots. In a presentation that won second place for trainee oral presentations at the recent UW Carbone Cancer Center Research Retreat, Jacob Witt, a UW radiation oncology resident, outlined a new MRI-guided SBRT approach for spine metastases that potentially offers “higher confidence in terms of what we’re treating and, importantly, what we’re not treating.” Read more.
Dr. Matthew Witek Featured in Story about UW Health’s Free Head and Neck Cancer Screening
Matthew Witek, assistant professor in the Department of Human Oncology, was featured in a Spectrum News story about UW Health’s recent free head and neck cancer screening. The screening, which took place on April 12, is an annual event intended to detect head and neck cancer in its early stages. Early detection can increase a patient’s likelihood of survival and reduce treatment side effects.
DHO Excels in MR-Guided Pancreas Competition
Congratulations to Tera Kruser, UW Health dosimetrist, and Dr. Kate Mittauer, DHO staff physicist, for their excellent showing in the recent MR-guided pancreas ProKnow Plan Study. Each participant in this competition, which was open to all ViewRay Users, created a pancreas stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) plan for the same case study. Kruser’s plan came in fourth place and Mittauer’s ranked fifth. Their performance is a testament to the success of the department’s MR-guided radiation therapy program, and their plans will serve as a resource for others to improve their radiation treatment planning techniques.
UW Cancer Center Johnson Creek Begins Treatment with New State-of-the-Art Radiation Therapy Technology
On Jan. 14, the UW Cancer Center Johnson Creek commenced cancer patient treatments in a freshly upgraded radiation oncology clinic. At the heart of this upgrade is a highly sophisticated and newly commissioned Varian TrueBeam Radiotherapy System. This state-of-the-art linear accelerator will enable the clinic to provide cancer patients in Southeastern Wisconsin convenient access to many high-precision radiation treatments available at the UW Carbone Cancer Center in Madison. Read more.
Handmade Quilts of Compassion
Denise Wright recently delivered 27 handmade quilts to the Radiation Oncology Clinic at University of Wisconsin Hospital, where her brother completed treatment for nasopharyngeal cancer eight years ago and remains cancer-free. The quilts—and others she will make in the future—are intended for patients who are having a particularly difficult treatment experience or whose family is struggling emotionally or financially. Read more.
Find Us in the Community
Wisconsin Head and Neck Cancer SPORE
The Wisconsin Head and Neck SPORE is designed to promote translational laboratory and clinical research to improve overall outcome for patients with Head and Neck Cancer (HNC).
The Ride for Cancer Research: September 22, 2019
Thank you to all riders and supporters for The Ride 2018! We had another record year, bringing us to nearly $1 million raised in 3 years!
2018 Milestones:
>$365,000 raised for cancer research,
>1450 registered riders,
>300 volunteers,
