Bhupesh Parashar, MD, DrPH, a radiation oncology specialist, is vice-chair of research and co-director of the head and neck cancer service in Radiation Medicine at the Center for Advanced Medicine, and chief of Northwell Queens Radiation Center. He is also a professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. Dr. Parashar’s areas of clinical focus include head and neck, thoracic, gastrointestinal and brain cancers. He’s known for innovative research of these cancers, and is the principal investigator in a number of protocols. He has had more than 100 articles published in peer-reviewed journals. His early research involved gene therapy, hepatocyte transplantation and radiation. He won several awards for this research, including the Liver Research Fellowship Award from the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD). Over years, his research has also covered areas such as functional imaging and novel brachytherapy techniques in various cancers. Current research interests include psychedelics, functional imaging, mindfulness and meditation. Dr. Parashar’s interest in medicine dates back to his childhood with several family members involved in medicine serving as role models. “When a close family member was suffering from incurable cancer, I became determined to contribute to advancements in cancer medicine,” he says. Dr. Parashar attended Maulana Azad Medical College in New Delhi, India. After medical school, he came to the U.S. to pursue research and clinical training. He did his residency in radiation medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine – Yeshiva University. He is board certified in radiation oncology. He also earned doctorate in public health with a focus in environmental health sciences from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. “My life’s aim is to improve the lives of cancer patients through a combination of innovation, collaboration, and humanity as well as focus on patients’ quality of life,” Dr. Parashar says.