Dwight Heron,  MD, FACRO is committed to making a difference in the lives of his patients

Dwight E. Heron, MD, FACRO, is chairman of radiation oncology at UPMC Shadyside, vice chairman of radiation oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, and associate professor of radiation oncology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He specializes in stereotactic radiosurgery, high-dose rate brachytherapy, intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), intraoperative radiotherapy and interstitial hyperthermia.

Dr. Heron's clinical research interests focus on improving cancer treatment and recovery. Areas include the evaluation of PET/CT in the staging and management of cervical cancer patients, stereotactic radiotherapy for benign and malignant brain tumors, pediatric brain tumors and treatment with radiotherapy, acupuncture in patients treated for cervical cancer and IMRT for the treatment of breast and gynecological malignancies.

Dr. Heron received his medical training at the University of Rochester in New York. He completed his postgraduate training in internal medicine at the Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola, N.Y. He is a member of several professional associations including the American Brachytherapy Society, the American College of Radiation Oncology and the American College of Radiology.

DR. HERON: Cancer is a life threatening disease and remains the second leading cause of death in the United States. As a radiation oncologist, I use one of the most potent tools, radiation, in the fight against cancer. Like surgery, radiation can be use to destroy tumors in a very local area, or may be use all over the body, like chemotherapy. Radiation Oncology has helped to transform the modern cancer care by improving cure rates and improving the quality of life in cancer patients today. My greatest passion (and reward) is making a difference in the life of each patient. It is fair to say that each patient's life story, the relationships we form really weave the fabric of a family that is so common in radiation oncology since our patients see us every day for up to 2 months while they are being treated.

DR. HERON: The relationships I have been so privileged to form. I approach each patient as a family member or friend and in doing so, we both grow. I also enjoy the opportunity to bring this world class care that we have developed in western Pennsylvania to faraway places such as Europe, the Middle and Far East as we expand the scope of UPMC Cancer Centers

DR. HERON: I am quite happy in my many roles of seeing patients, directing one of the nation's largest integrated cancer center networks, expanding our reach to help patients overseas. As the stressors continue with the economy, undoubtedly we will have more pressures at home with some patients deferring screening and therefore presenting with later stages of cancer. Our goal will be to be sure that healthcare, particularly cancer care is not compromised by polices in Washington or Harrisburg. I remain passionate about my work with cancer health disparities and I should be finding out in the next few weeks whether our grant has been refunding to continue the work that we started 5 years ago in McKeesport. We have helped countless number of patients find their way through a complicated healthcare system, performed screening and outreach, cancer and general health education, participation in clinical trials etc. Information on what we have done can be found here: http://www3.cancer.gov/rrp/cdrp/index.html & ttp://www3.cancer.gov/rrp/cdrp/presentations.html