Newswise — New Brunswick, N.J., September 18, 2014 – Several physicians at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey have been named as a ‘Top Doctor’ by Inside Jersey magazine.

Each year, Inside Jersey releases a list of the state’s top physicians in conjunction with Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., which publishes America’s Top Doctors. Based on peer nominations, attributes such as board certification, clinical skills, training, years in practice, achievements and other criteria are reviewed and assessed by a physician-led research team. More than 24,000 physicians and 6,000 hospital CEOs, presidents and vice presidents from across the nation were asked to take part in the 2014 nomination process.

Cancer Institute of New Jersey physicians on this year’s list are also faculty members at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and practice at the Cancer Institute’s Flagship Hospital Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. Those named to the 2014 list are:

Joseph Aisner, MD, Co-Director, Lung Cancer/Thoracic Oncology Program; specialty: lung cancer David A. August, MD, Chief, Surgical Oncology; specialty: gastrointestinal malignancies Robert S. DiPaola, MD, Director; specialty: prostate cancer Richard Drachtman, MD, Interim Chief, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology; specialty: pediatric cancers and blood disorders James S. Goydos, MD, Director, Melanoma and Soft Tissue Oncology Program; specialty: melanoma, skin cancer and sarcomas Bruce G. Haffty, MD, Chair, Radiation Oncology; specialty: breast cancer Thomas Kearney, MD, FACS, Director, Breast Care Services; specialty: breast cancer Pauline Lerma, MD, medical oncologist; specialty: breast cancer, solid tumors  Michael G. McKenna, MD, radiation oncologist; specialty: prostate IMRT, breast cancer, and head and neck cancers  Lorna Rodriguez, MD, PhD, Director, Precision Medicine; specialty: gynecologic cancers Roger Strair, MD, PhD, Chief, Hematologic Malignancies/Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; specialty: leukemia and lymphoma Deborah L. Toppmeyer, MD, Chief Medical Officer; specialty: breast cancer Robert E. Weiss, MD, urologic oncologist; specialty: urologic cancers

“As the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey has a tremendous responsibility in providing the highest quality of patient care. We accomplish this in part through cutting-edge research that is directly translated into anti-cancer therapies. It is an honor that our colleagues in the field recognize the dedication put forth by Cancer Institute physicians, as well as those named from our Network of hospitals across the state, as we work together toward eradicating cancer,” said Cancer Institute Director Robert S. DiPaola, MD.

A full listing of ‘Top Doctors’ can be found at: http://www.castleconnolly.com/doctors/index.cfm?source=ijtd#incart_special-report. Full profiles of Cancer Institute doctors named to the list can also be found at http://www.cinj.org/physician/index.php.

About Rutgers Cancer Institute of New JerseyRutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey (www.cinj.org) is the state’s first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. As part of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, the Cancer Institute of New Jersey is dedicated to improving the detection, treatment and care of patients with cancer, and to serving as an education resource for cancer prevention. Physician-scientists at the Cancer Institute engage in translational research, transforming their laboratory discoveries into clinical practice, quite literally bringing research to life. To make a tax-deductible gift to support the Cancer Institute of New Jersey, call 732-235-8614 or visit www.cinj.org/giving. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheCINJ.

The Cancer Institute of New Jersey Network is comprised of hospitals throughout the state and provides the highest quality cancer care and rapid dissemination of important discoveries into the community. Flagship Hospital: Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. System Partner: Meridian Health (Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Ocean Medical Center, Riverview Medical Center, Southern Ocean Medical Center, and Bayshore Community Hospital). Major Clinical Research Affiliate Hospitals: Carol G. Simon Cancer Center at Morristown Medical Center, Carol G. Simon Cancer Center at Overlook Medical Center, and Cooper University Hospital. Affiliate Hospitals: JFK Medical Center, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (CINJ Hamilton), Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset and University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro.

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