The Team

The radiation oncologists*, who provide clinical care at the Northwestern Medicine Proton Center, will plan the course of therapy, and conduct weekly check-ups to ensure your proton therapy treatment is on track. With specializations in brain, head and neck, breast, lung, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, prostate and pediatric cancers, you receive a treatment plan customized to you and your cancer.

They are experienced in the delivery of:

  • 3-D conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT)
  • Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
  • Gamma Knife radiosurgery (stereotactic radiosurgery)
  • Stereotactic radiotherapy, TomoTherapy
  • High dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy
  • Low dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy
  • Proton therapy

Stephen A. Mihalcik, MD, PhD*

Stephen Mihalcik, MD, PhD

Stephen A. Mihalcik, MD, PhD
Medical Director, NM Proton Center
Radiation Oncology Consultants

Education & Training

Undergraduate: University of Maryland, College Park

Medical Degree: Mayo Medical School

Internship & Residencies: Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Boston Children's Hospital, Boston Medical Center

Board Certification: American Board of Radiology in Radiation Oncology

Adil S. Akthar, MD*

Adil Akthar, MD

Adil S. Akthar, MD
Radiation Oncology Consultants

Education & Training

Undergraduate: University of Missouri, Kansas City, MO

Medical Degree: University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO

Internship: NorthShore University Health System, Evanston, IL

Residency: University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL

Board Certification: American Board of Radiology in Radiation Oncology

Neal Andruska, MD, PhD*

Neal Andruska, MD, PhD

Neal Andruska, MD, PhD
Radiation Oncology Consultants

Education & Training

Undergraduate: Benedictine University, Lisle, IL

Medical Degree: University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine at Urbana, Champaign, IL

Internship: University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine at Urbana, Champaign, IL

Residency: Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO

Board Certification: American Board of Radiology in Radiation Oncology

Vinai Gondi, MD*

Proton Center

Vinai Gondi, MD
Radiation Oncology Consultants

Education & Training

Undergraduate: University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI

Medical Degree: Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY

Internship: Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons
St. Luke’s/Roosevelt Hospital, New York, NY

Residency: University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI

Board Certification: American Board of Radiology in Radiation Oncology

William F. Hartsell, MD, FACR, FACRO*

Proton Center

William F. Hartsell, MD, FACR, FACRO
Radiation Oncology Consultants

Education & Training

Undergraduate: University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK

Medical Education: University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Oklahoma City, OK

Internship: Presbyterian-St. Luke’s, Denver, CO

Residency: Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke’s, Chicago, IL

Board Certification: American Board of Radiology in Radiation Oncology

Dr. Hartsell is the president of Radiation Oncology Consultants (ROC) and a radiation oncologist at Northwestern Medicine Proton Center. He previously served as the medical director of radiation oncology at Good Samaritan Cancer Center and Lutheran General Cancer Care Center. Dr. Hartsell joined ROC in 1997 after completing his residency at Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago, where he spent six years as an assistant professor and three years as director of the residency program.

Nasiruddin Mohammed, MD, MBA*

Proton Center

Nasiruddin Mohammed, MD, MBA
Medical Director, Radiation Oncology for Central DuPage Hospital
Radiation Oncology Consultants

Education & Training

Undergraduate: University of Illinois, Chicago, IL

Medical Degree: Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL

Internship & Residency: William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI

Board Certification: American Board of Radiology in Radiation Oncology

Eric Gerard Nesbit, MD

Eric Gerard Nesbit, MD
Northwestern Medical Group

Education & Training

Undergraduate: Whitman College

Medical Degree: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Internship: Providence Health & Services-Oregon/St Vincent Hospital and Medical Center

Residency: McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University

Board Certification: American Board of Radiology in Radiation Oncology

Arpi D. Thukral, MD, MPH*

Arpi D. Thukral, MD, MPH
Radiation Oncology Consultants

Education & Training

Undergraduate: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Medical Degree: University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI

Internship & Residency: University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA

Board Certification: American Board of Radiology in Radiation Oncology

James S. Welsh, MD, MS, FACRO*

James, Welsh, MD

James S. Welsh, MD, MS, FACRO
Loyola University Medical Center

Education & Training

Undergraduate: SUNY at Binghamton, NY

Medical Degree: SUNY at Stony Brook HSC School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY

Residency: Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD

Fellowship: University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI

Board Certification: American Board of Radiology in Radiation Oncology