October 28, 2010

(PHILADELPHIA) Two radiation oncologists, Vochita BarAd, M.D., and Wenyin Shi, M.D., Ph.D., both of whom are proven clinicians as well as medical researchers dedicated to advancing patient care, have been recruited to Thomas Jefferson University.

“Both physicians bring a great deal of patient experience with them,” says Adam Dicker, MD, PhD, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology.

“Dr. Shi has particular experience in translational medicine, anti-angiogenic therapies and radiosurgery. This is a powerful combination of skill sets for a clinician dedicated to the treatment of advanced cancers,” he says. “Dr. Bar-Ad has particular expertise in the treatment of gastrointestinal and tumors of the head and neck. She is well known for her efforts to understand the molecular mechanisms that drive the toxicity of cancer treatment and has developed strategies to mitigate the side effects of cancer therapies.”

Voichita (Voika) BarAd, M.D., a board-certified Radiation Oncologist, treats primarily head and neck and gastrointestinal cancer cases. She came to Jefferson from the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania Health System, and while there, her outstanding clinical skills, thoroughness and motivating personality were highly valued by her patients, colleagues and trainees. Dr. BarAd was honored with the “Teacher of the Year” award in 2008 from the American Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology for excellence in teaching and enthusiastic support of residency training.

Dr. BarAd’s research focuses on treatment-related side effects and toxicities, patient quality of life and symptom management. She has paid specific attention to radiation-induced oral mucositis for head and neck cancer patients treated with radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy, using the intensity- modulated radiation therapy technique.

Dr. BarAd received her M.D. degree at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Timisoara, Romania. She completed her residency training in Medical Oncology and Radiation Oncology at Hadassah-Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel, followed by a fellowship in Radiation Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Shi is an expert in the use of radiation therapy in the multidisciplinary management of brain tumors, genitourinary cancers, and lymphoma. He also has a strong interest in translational research in Central Nervous System (CNS) and Genitourinary (GU) malignancies.

His research focuses on incorporating novel molecular targeting agents into conventional anti-cancer therapy, especially in combination with radiation. His current research includes a variety of different new agents, such as anti-angiogenic agents, vascular disrupting agents, signal transduction pathway inhibitors, and immune modulators. These agents will be evaluated in clinical trials for the treatment of a broad spectrum of CNS and GU malignancies, with special focus on glioblastoma and prostate cancer. He is the author of dozens of research articles and several book chapters.

Dr. Shi received his medical education from Shanghai Medical University in China and his Ph.D. degree in biomedical sciences (pharmacology and therapeutics) from the University of Florida. He recently completed a four-year residency training program in the Department of Radiation Oncology, also at the University of Florida.

“We welcome Dr. Shi and Dr. BarAd to Thomas Jefferson University,” Dr. Dicker says. “These two superb physicians join our outstanding team. Our patients and our research mission will both benefit.”