Hackensack Meridian Health Brings Proton Therapy Expertise to New Jersey
Proton therapy delivers high-dose radiation therapy and reduces exposure to surrounding tissues
Nicholas DeNunzio, M.D., Ph.D., a Hackensack Meridian Health radiation oncologist, is bringing his expertise on a type of radiation therapy called proton therapy to patients in New Jersey through an innovative clinical affiliation. Proton therapy allows for the safe and precise delivery of higher doses of radiation therapy while reducing radiation exposure to surrounding tissues.
Fellowship-level Proton Therapy Expertise
Dr. DeNunzio received his medical and doctorate degrees from the Boston University School of Medicine in 2014. He completed his residency in radiation oncology at the University of Rochester Strong Memorial Hospital in 2019. In 2020, he completed a clinical fellowship in pediatric proton therapy at Massachusetts General Hospital (Harvard University) prior to joining the cancer care team at Hackensack Meridian Health.
Hackensack Meridian Health offers proton therapy through a clinical affiliation with ProCure Proton Therapy Center in Somerset, New Jersey. The lower toxicity and highly targeted delivery of proton therapy make it ideal for treating tumors located near critical organs or structures such as the brain, heart or spinal cord. It is also used to treat children with cancer who are still growing and are more sensitive to radiation damage.
Advancing Radiation Oncology
In addition to providing outstanding patient care, for which he was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society and received awards for as a resident, Dr. DeNunzio is committed to advancing the field of radiation oncology through research, mentorship, and education, having published several articles, book chapters, and teaching aids. “I look forward to bringing treatment innovations to my patients to provide them with comprehensive, state-of-the-art radiation therapy care tailored to their unique needs.”
Dr. DeNunzio serves on the American Society for Radiation Oncology’s guidelines committee through which he helps develop standardized clinical practice guidelines for treating cancer with radiation therapy. He co-authored the society’s guideline on treating small cell lung cancer with radiation.