About Us>Medical Advisory Board > Neil K. Taunk, MD, MSCTS

Neil K. Taunk, MD, MSCTS

Assistant Professor, Radiation Oncology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Director of Brachytherapy and Procedural Radiation for Penn Medicine

Highlights

  • LBBC Medical Advisory Board member since 2023
  • Radiation oncologist at the University of Pennsylvania
  • Works to improve outcomes in breast radiation
  • Interested in advanced imaging techniques for breast cancer detection and monitoring

Connect with Dr. Taunk

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Neil K. Taunk, MD, MSCTS, is an assistant professor of radiation oncology at the Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania. He trained at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and completed medical school at Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

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Dr. Taunk specializes in treating people with breast, gynecologic, and prostate cancers. His research interests include improving outcomes of women receiving breast radiation therapy, and using advanced imaging to improve cancer detection and monitoring.

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Experience & Accolades

Expertise

  • Radiation oncology

Education

  • Rutgers University
    • Doctor of Medicine, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
    • Master of Science in Clinical and Translational Science, Robert Wood Johnson Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
  • Cornell University
    • Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Biology

Experience

  • University of Pennsylvania (2017-Present)
    • Director of brachytherapy
    • Director of imaging services
    • Assistant professor, radiology
    • Assistant professor of radiation oncology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
    • Assistant professor of radiation oncology
    • Instructor A, radiation oncology
  • New York Philharmonic (2012-2017)
    • Staff physician
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (2013-2017)
    • Chief resident, radiation oncology
    • Clinical research methodology curriculum
    • Post-doctoral research fellow
    • Resident physician, radiation oncology
  • Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center (2012-2013)
    • Preliminary medicine intern

Awards & Distinctions

  • Eli Glatstein Mentorship Award, Radiation Oncology, 2022
  • Giulio D’Angio Resident Teaching Award, Radiation Oncology, 2021
  • Penn Medicine Healthcare Hero, 2020
  • Class of 2012 Excellence in Research Award, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 2012
  • ASTRO Scientific Abstract Award, 2011

 

Professional Memberships & Board Positions

  • Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs, Board of Governors, 2022-Present
  • American Board of Radiology, Maintenance of Certification Committee, 2022-Present
  • American Brachytherapy Society, Chair, Quality and Safety Committee, 2017-Present
  • Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, 2015-Present
  • Radiologic Society of North America, Oncologic Imaging and Therapies Task Force Member, 2013-Present
  • American Society for Radiation Oncology, 2009-Present
  • American College of Radiation Oncology, 2017-2021
  • Radiation Oncology Education Collaborative Study Group, 2016-2020
  • New York Roentgen Society, 2013-2017

Publications

  • Yoon J, Fitzgerald H, Wang Y, et. al. Does Prophylactic Paraortic Lymph Node Irradiation Improve Outcomes in Women With Stage IIIC1 Endometrial Carcinoma? Pract Radiat Oncol 2022
  • Verbus EA, Rossi AJ, Clark AS, et. al. Preoperative Use of a Radiation Boost to Enhance Effectiveness of Immune Checkpoint Blockade Therapy in Operable Breast Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol 2022
  • Shah NK, Kim KN, Grewal A, et. al. Activity Monitoring for Toxicity Detection and Management in Patients Undergoing Chemoradiation for Gastrointestinal Malignancies. JCO Oncol Pract 2022
  • Jacobsen MC, Beriwal S, Dyer BA, et. al. Contemporary image-guided cervical cancer brachytherapy: Consensus imaging recommendations from the Society of Abdominal Radiology and the American Brachytherapy Society. Brachytherapy 2022
  • Nasioudis D, Rush M, Taunk NK, et. al. Oncologic outcomes of surgical para-aortic lymph node staging in patients with advanced cervical carcinoma undergoing chemoradiation. Int J Gynecol Cancer 2022
  • Rhodes SS, Shah NK, Gray K, et. al. Nursing Telemedicine Educational Encounters: Improved Patient Satisfaction in Radiation Therapy Clinics. Clin J Oncol Nurs 2022
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Deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) during radiation therapy

05/07/24 | BY: Neil K. Taunk

To protect the heart during left-breast radiation therapy, doctors use a technique called deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH). This breath-holding technique can minimize radiation exposure to the heart.

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 | 9 Min. Read |

Radiation therapy for breast cancer

05/02/24 | BY: Neil K. Taunk

Radiation therapy directs high-energy x-rays to a specific part of the body to kill cancer cells. Radiation is often called local therapy because it is “local” to one part of the body.

Read More
 | 14 Min. Read |

Radiation schedules for breast cancer treatment

05/02/24 | BY: Neil K. Taunk

Radiation treatments are usually given in a series of short daily doses designed to kill cancer cells in the breast tissue.

Read More
 | 14 Min. Read |

Beyond the headlines: USPSTF screening guidelines, disparities, and mental health

05/17/23 | BY: Janine E. Guglielmino

Our May column focuses on the new USPSTF mammography screening guidelines, breast density, pregnancy, effective radiation therapy, and mental health.

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 | 8 Min. Read |

Beyond the headlines: February 2023

02/22/23 | BY: Janine E. Guglielmino

This month we discuss diversity in clinical trials, an FDA approval of elacestrant, heart health and chemobrain side effects, and more.

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 | 8 Min. Read

Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) breast cancer treatment

01/14/22 | BY: Neil K. Taunk

Intraoperative radiation therapy, or IORT, is a type of radiation therapy given during lumpectomy surgery to remove only the breast cancer tumor.

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 | 8 Min. Read

Breast radiation side effects

01/10/22 | BY: Neil K. Taunk

Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, is a very effective treatment for lowering the risk of recurrence in early-stage breast cancer and for managing pain or complications of metastatic breast cancer.

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 | 14 Min. Read |