Radiation Oncology Consultants (ROC)

William F. Hartsell, M.D.

Dr. Hartsell is the president of ROC and the medical director of the CDH Proton Therapy Center, a ProCure Center. He previously served as the medical director of radiation oncology at Good Samaritan Cancer Center and Lutheran General Cancer Care Center. Dr. Hartsell joined ROC in 1997 after completing his residency at Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago, where he spent six years as an assistant professor and three years as director of the residency program. He also served as an associate professor and clinical director of the radiation oncology program at the University of Tennessee, Memphis. Dr. Hartsell is a board certified radiation oncologist and specializes in brain tumors, pediatric tumors, head and neck cancers and lung cancer. He earned his medical degree at the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, and completed his internship at Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center in Denver. Dr. Hartsell has authored more than 120 papers on topics including palliative care and the treatment of breast, brain, prostate and head and neck cancers and Hodgkin’s disease. He has also directed a number of national studies and participated in more than 70 visiting professorship and guest lecture opportunities. Dr. Hartsell served on the Illinois board of directors for the American Cancer Society for 10 years.

Martin J. Boyer, D.O.

Dr. Boyer is the medical director of radiation oncology at St. Alexius Medical Center and Alexian Brothers Medical Center. Dr. Boyer is a board-certified radiation oncologist and specializes in the treatment of brain, prostate and breast cancers and gynecologic malignancies, and has expertise in head and neck, lung and gastrointestinal malignancies. He earned his medical degree from Ohio University, Athens. Dr. Boyer joined ROC in 1993 after completing his residency at Northwestern University Memorial Hospital in Chicago, where he was the chief resident from 1992 to 1993. He is currently a regional president of the American Cancer Society.

John Han-Chih Chang, M.D.

Dr. Chang is a board certified radiation oncologist practicing at Lutheran General Hospital and the CDH Proton Therapy Center, a ProCure Center. He joined ROC in 2000 after completing his residency at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Chang specializes in pediatric, breast, prostate, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, brain, lung, and head and neck cancers. He is the principal investigator for the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) and the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) research program, and is an assistant professor at the Rosalind Franklin School of Medicine and Science in Chicago. He is also a peer review editor for the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Physics and Biology. Dr. Chang earned his medical degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and was the assistant editor of the University of Pennsylvania’s Oncolink from 1997 to 2000.

Diana H. Chung, M.D.

Dr. Chung joined ROC in 2005 and has specialized in radiation oncology since she completed her residency at the University of Michigan in 1998. She is a board certified radiation oncologist, specializing in breast cancer and lymphomas and practicing at Resurrection Medical Center and Illinois Masonic Hospital. Dr. Chung received her medical degree from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and performed her internship at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s Hospital in Chicago.

Arica Hirsch, M.D.

Dr. Hirsch joined ROC in 2001 after completing her residency at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, where she also spent four years as an assistant professor. She is a board certified radiation oncologist and is the medical director at Lutheran General Hospital. Dr. Hirsch specializes in central nervous system tumors, breast, prostate and lung cancers, gynecologic malignancies and lymphomas. Dr. Hirsch earned her medical degree from Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill.

Christy M. Kesslering, M.D.

Dr. Kesslering is the medical director of radiation oncology at Central DuPage Hospital. She joined ROC in 2000 after completing her residency at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Dr. Kesslering is a board certified radiation oncologist with expertise in treating breast, lung and skin cancers and brain tumors. She earned her medical degree from Loyola University, Maywood, Ill., and is currently the vice chairperson of the Central DuPage Hospital cancer committee.

Rajiv J. Patel, M.D.

Dr. Patel joined ROC in 2008 and primarily practices at Alexian Brothers Medical Center and St. Alexius Medical Center. He earned his medical degree and completed his residency at Wayne State University, Detroit, where he was chief resident from 2004 through 2005. Dr. Patel is a board certified radiation oncologist and specializes in genitourinary and gynecological malignancies, breast cancer, sarcomas and palliative care. He served as the primary radiation oncologist and an assistant professor at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center at Wayne State University, and has published numerous studies. His research in genitourinary and gynecological cancers won him the Delmar H. Mahrt, M.D. award in 2003.

Tanya M. Powell, M.D.

Dr. Powell is on staff at Lutheran General Hospital and Good Shepherd Hospital. She attended medical school at Wayne State University and completed her residency at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit Michigan. Dr. Powell was chief resident from July 2002 through June 2003. She completed a research year in radiobiology and won the Delmar H. Mahrt, M.D. award for research. She has written publications and given lectures locally and nationally on the effects of radiation therapy of the heart after treatment for breast cancer, the dosimetry of breast irradiation, the use of BAT ultrasound for prostate localization, esophageal cancer, lymphoma and oncologic emergencies. Dr. Powell is trained in the use of conformal 3-D radiation therapy, intensity modulated radiation therapy(IMRT), high dose brachytherapy, permanent brachytherapy (seed implants), neutron radiotherapy and Gamma Knife radiosurgery. She has a particular interest in gynecologic malignancies, breast cancer, gastrointestinal malignancies, prostate cancer and palliative care.

James E. Ruffer, M.D.

Dr. Ruffer is the medical director of radiation oncology and chairman of the cancer committee at Good Shepherd Hospital. He joined ROC in 1998 after completing a five-year appointment as assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, where he completed his residency in 1993. Dr. Ruffer is a board certified radiation oncologist and specializes in pediatric and adult brain tumors; pediatric solid tumors; neuro-oncology; and breast, gastrointestinal, lung and genitourinary cancers. He has given local, national and international lectures on medical, medical-economic and computers in medicine issues.

Paul R. Schabinger, M.D.

Dr. Schabinger is the medical director of radiation oncology at Resurrection Medical Center. Dr. Schabinger joined ROC in 1982 after completing his training at Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke’s in Chicago, where he remained on staff as a clinical associate professor. He also taught as a clinical associate professor at the University of Illinois, Chicago, and is currently an associate professor in the department of medical physics at Chicago Medical School. Dr. Schabinger is a board certified radiation oncologist and specializes in gynecologic, prostate and breast malignancies. He is currently the vice president chair of the breast cancer committee at Resurrection Medical Center and serves on medical physics Ph.D. review panels.

Michael A. Stutz, M.D.

Dr. Stutz is the medical director of radiation oncology at Good Samaritan Hospital, and also practices at the Chicago Prostate Center. He joined ROC in 1998 after completing his residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, where he was chief resident from 1997 to 1998. Dr. Stutz is a board certified radiation oncologist and specializes in prostate, lung and colorectal cancers. He also has expertise in breast, head and neck, skin and rectal cancers, and lymphoma. Dr. Stutz is president of the American Lung Association’s Lung Cancer Advisory Board - Chicagoland chapter and he is a member of the Good Samaritan Cancer Committee.

Patrick J. Sweeney, M.D.

Dr. Sweeney is medical director of radiation oncology at the Illinois Gamma Knife Center and also practices at Good Samaritan Hospital. He joined ROC in 1998 after completing his residency at Ohio State University, Columbus, an American Cancer Society Fellowship at the University of Chicago, and five years as an assistant professor for the Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology at the University of Chicago Center for Radiation Therapy. Dr. Sweeney is a board certified radiation oncologist and specializes in brain tumors, sarcomas, and prostate malignancies.

Santosh V. Yajnik, M.D.

Dr. Yajnik joined ROC in 2004 and is the medical director at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. He completed his residency at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, after earning his medical degree from the University of Chicago. Dr. Yajnik is a board certified radiation oncologist and treats a broad range of cancers including lung, genitourinary, breast, head and neck, central nervous system and gynecologic malignancies. He has conducted research in the areas of prostate brachytherapy, radiation therapy for thoracic tumors and gene therapy for prostate cancer. Dr. Yajnik has served on a variety of committees for the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).