Rich C. Zellars, MD

Bio

Dr. Zellars is the William A. Mitchell Professor and Chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Indiana University School of Medicine. Before joining the IU School of Medicine team in 2015, Dr. Zellars was an Associate Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and Assistant Director of Clinical Trial Accrual at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins. He graduated from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and subsequently completed a residency in radiation oncology at the University of Michigan where he was Chief Resident.

Prior to his most recent appointment at Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Zellars held positions as Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and at Georgetown University in Washington DC.

Titles & Appointments

Chair, Department of Radiation Oncology
William A. Mitchell Professor of Radiation Oncology

Education

1991 MD Johns Hopkins University

1986 AB Bowdoin College
Research

Dr. Zellars has designed and completed two phase 1 clinical trials evaluating partial breast irradiation and concurrent chemotherapy, a phase III randomized control trial evaluating cardiac perfusion changes in women receiving radiation with or without active breathing control, and a trial to assess the use of PET/CT to identify the lumpectomy bed for radiation treatment. His research aims to improve the facility, safety and efficacy of radiation for breast cancer.

Dr. Zellars is also founder and co-director of the Cancer in the Under-Privileged Indigent or Disadvantaged (CUPID) Summer Fellowship at Johns Hopkins. The goal of CUPID is to promote the discipline of Oncology in first-year medical students who have demonstrated an interest in serving disadvantaged populations. Given the success of CUPID, he subsequently co-founded the Summer Translational Oncology Program (STOP) to promote the discipline of Oncology to medical students from schools without an NCI-designated cancer center. Since arriving at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, Dr. Zellars has opened an Indiana University chapter of CUPID which is closely linked to the one at Johns Hopkins. In line with his commitment to education, Dr. Zellars has successfully restructured the IU Radiation Oncology Residency Program. Dr. Zellars’ ulitmate goal, as Chairman of Radiation Oncology, is to build a network of radiation oncology centers in central Indiana through which clinical trials can be available where previously they were not. He presently oversees 6 radiation oncology facilities in central Indiana.

Dr. Zellars is a member of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. He is the co-Chair of the NCI-designated task force, Breast Oncology – Local Disease (BOLD).

Dr. Zellars has been listed as one of the top doctors for women in Redbook, Ladies Home Journal and Newsweek magazines.
Professional Organizations

American Society for Radiation Oncology(ASTRO)

American Society of Clinical Oncology

Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC) Breast Cancer Project Team
Board Certifications

American Board of Radiology - Radiation Oncology*
Clinical Interests

Breast Cancer

Gynecologic Malignancies
Awards

Org: National Cancer Institute
Desc: Appointed to Board of Scientific Advisors
Scope: National
Date: 1905-07-15

Org: US News and World Report
Desc: Top Doctors
Scope: National
Date:

Org: Indiana University School of Medicine
Desc: William A. Mitchell Professor
Scope: University
Date:

Org: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Desc: Director's Teaching Award in Clinical Science SKCCC
Scope: University
Date:

Org: Ladies Home Journal
Desc: Top Doctors for Women
Scope: National
Date:

Org: Red Book Magazine
Desc: Best Doctors for Breast Cancer
Scope: National
Date:

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