MAYWOOD, IL – Tamer Refaat Abdelrhman, MD, PhD, MSCI, a radiation oncologist who treats head and neck, breast, prostate, gynecological and other cancers, has joined Loyola Medicine.
Dr. Abdelrhman will see patients at the new Loyola Center for Cancer Care & Research at the Palos South Campus in Orland Park, Illinois. The center is the first in Illinois to offer a MRI-guided radiation therapy that targets tumors with millimeter precision. The system, called MRIdian® Linac, delivers radiation precisely to the tumor, even if body functions such as breathing cause the tumor to move. The ultra-sharp beam of radiation minimizes damage to surrounding tissue.
Dr. Abdelrhman said MRIdian is an example of how new technology is making radiation therapy more effective, with reduced side effects. In many cases, treatments also are shorter. For example, the radiation treatment regimen for prostate cancer has decreased from eight weeks to as short as five days in selected patients.
"Since I began practicing 17 years ago, I have seen how fast-evolving technology is significantly improving treatments for patients," Dr. Abdelrhman said.
Dr. Abdelrhman said a diagnosis of cancer is very frightening, and every patient reacts differently.
"I take the time to listen carefully to my patients," Dr. Abdelrhman said. "I describe in fine detail the type and stage of cancer and explain treatment options, side effects and outcomes. Every patient is unique and every treatment plan is different."
Dr. Abdelrhman is an associate professor in the department of radiation oncology of Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. He has published more than 25 research papers in peer-reviewed journals and is board certified in radiation oncology.
Dr. Abdelrhman is president of the Cancer Fellows Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that provides training to accelerate the availability of radiation oncology expertise in areas where it's needed the most.
Dr. Abdelrhman comes to Loyola from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, where he was an adjunct associate professor of radiation oncology, and the Leonard C. Ferguson Cancer Center at FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport, Illinois.
Dr. Abdelrhman earned medical and PhD degrees from the University of Alexandria in Egypt. He completed a residency in radiation oncology at the University of Alexandria and fellowships in radiation oncology at Lille II University in France, Vienna Medical School in Austria and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He also earned a master of science in clinical investigations from Northwestern.
About Loyola Medicine
Loyola Medicine, a member of Trinity Health, is a nationally ranked academic, quaternary care system based in Chicago's western suburbs. The three-hospital system includes Loyola University Medical Center (LUMC), Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, MacNeal Hospital, as well as convenient locations offering primary care, specialty care and immediate care services from nearly 2,000 physicians throughout Cook, Will and DuPage counties. LUMC is a 547-licensed-bed hospital in Maywood that includes the William G. and Mary A. Ryan Center for Heart & Vascular Medicine, the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, the John L. Keeley, MD, Emergency Department, a Level 1 trauma center, Illinois's largest burn center, the Nancy W. Knowles Orthopaedic Institute, a certified comprehensive stroke center, transplant center and a children’s hospital. Having delivered compassionate care for over 50 years, Loyola also trains the next generation of caregivers through its academic affiliation with Loyola University Chicago’s Stritch School of Medicine and Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing.
For more information, visit loyolamedicine.org. You can also follow Loyola Medicine on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or X (formerly known as Twitter).
About Trinity Health
Trinity Health is one of the largest not-for-profit, faith-based health care systems in the nation. It is a family of 127,000 colleagues and more than 38,300 physicians and clinicians caring for diverse communities across 26 states. Nationally recognized for care and experience, the Trinity Health system includes 93 hospitals, 107 continuing care locations, the second largest PACE program in the country, 142 urgent care locations and many other health and well-being services. In fiscal year 2024, the Livonia, Michigan-based health system invested $1.3 billion in its communities in the form of charity care and other community benefit programs. For more information, visit us at www.trinity-health.org, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X (formerly known as Twitter).