BiliaryTractCancer near Danbury, CT

Biography: J. Gregory Mears, M.D. is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Medical Center. After receiving a B.S. at Trinity College, Dr. Mears obtained an M.D. at The College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University. He undertook his Internal Medicine residency at Boston University Medical Center and his Hematology-Medical Oncology fellowship at Columbia University Medical Center.Dr. Mears' early career was research based and involved studies of the molecular genetics of disorders of hemoglobin as well as chronic myelogenous leukemia. For the past 25 years Dr. Mears has maintained a clinical practice caring for people with blood disorders with an emphasis on leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and multiple myeloma. Dr. Mears has a strong clinical interest in women with breast cancer and is the Medical Director of the OctoberWoman Foundation.Additionally, Dr. Mears is pursuing clinical research in the fields of Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma as well as breast cancer. He is also actively engaged in the teaching of medical students, residents and fellows.

Biography: Lawrence Koutcher, MD, is the Regional Director of Clinical Operations for Radiation Oncology at New York Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital (NYP-HVH) in Cortlandt Manor, NY, and New York Presbyterian Westchester (NYP-W) in Bronxville, NY. He also sees patients at New York Presbyterian Medical Group Hudson Valley in Cold Spring, NY. Dr. Koutcher is an Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. He is currently Chair of the Cancer Committee and serves on the Medical Board at NYP-HVH. As a physician who treats all adult cancer types, he greatly values the long-term relationships that he forms with his patients and their families. Dr. Koutcher has served as Medical Director for Radiation Oncology at NYP-HVH since his arrival in 2014. During this time, he has brought multiple new programs to NYP-HVH, including stereotactic body radiation therapy for inoperable lung cancer, stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastases, Radium-223 (Xofigo) injections for select patients with metastatic prostate cancer, and along with his urology colleagues, SpaceOAR insertion to decrease the side effects of prostate radiation. Most recently, Dr. Koutcher and his colleagues have started the stereotactic body radiation therapy program for men with prostate cancer, which allows patients to complete their course of radiation in only five treatments. Dr. Koutcher joined NYP-W in 2021, and looks forward to adding to the robust set of services that this facility already offers. Dr. Koutcher earned his BA in biochemistry from Columbia University and his MD from Cornell University, where he received a National Cancer Institute Fellowship. He went on to complete his radiation oncology residency at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where he became Chief Resident. Following the completion of his residency, he went on to serve as Medical Director of Professional Radiation Oncology Services, and of the Herb and Sue Ann Redl Center for Cancer Care in Poughkeepsie, NY. In 2018 he was presented with the 40 under 40 Mover & Shaker Award by the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Koutcher has presented his research at national conferences, including the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). He has published papers in multiple peer-reviewed journals, such as the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, and Physics, American Journal of Clinical Oncology, andRadiotherapy and Oncology. Since joining Columbia, he has been an active member of the lung cancer and prostate cancer research teams.

Biography: NatalieBerger, MD will be joining the faculty as Assistant Professor of Medicine at CUMC, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology and Associate Director of Breast Medical Oncology at NYP-Hudson Valley Hospital with a focus in breast cancer. Dr.Bergerwill see patients at NYP/HVH and work in collaboration with leadership at NYP/HVH and CUIMC/Hematology and Oncology to develop and grow the breast medical oncology program at NYP/HVH through a patient centered multidisciplinaryapproach and increase access to clinical trials in the community. Dr.Bergerearned her MD from St. George's University. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Connecticut and fellowship in Hematology and Medical Oncology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Prior to joining CUMC/NYP-HVH, Dr.Bergerwas Assistant Professor of Medicine at Mount Sinai with a focus in breast cancer and gynecologic malignancies.