Rajiv Sharma, MD

Rajiv Sharma, MD, is a board-certified radiation oncologist at Northwell Health Cancer Institute Radiation Medicine at the Center for Advanced Medicine. He specializes in thoracic cancers, primarily lung cancer, and gastrointestinal cancers. He is the primary physician in radiation oncology for pediatric cancers. Additionally, Dr. Sharma administers radiation treatments for benign cardiac conditions, including brachytherapy for drug-eluting in-stent restenosis and stereotactic radiation for refractory ventricular tachycardia.

“I always envisioned becoming a doctor,” Dr. Sharma says. In fact, his mother recalls him drawing pictures of himself as a doctor in preschool and kindergarten. While the technology was part of what drew him to radiation oncology, the time he gets to spend with patients was the real appeal. “I’ve never felt rushed in my ability to be able to talk about treatments, to counsel patients and guide them through what’s a very difficult process and time in their life,” he says.

An assistant professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Dr. Sharma is the program director for residents in radiation oncology. “It’s always exciting to train the next generation of physicians in radiation oncology,” he says. “I find it very fulfilling to teach and have an impact on other physicians’ careers, to guide and mentor them.”

Dr. Sharma received his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine and did his residency at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he was chief resident in radiation oncology. He did a fellowship in proton therapy at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

A member of the American Society for Radiation Oncology, Dr. Sharma publishes and speaks about radiation oncology.

Dr. Sharma’s patients appreciate the time he spends with them and how well he explains the radiation process, their treatment plan, and recommendations and compliment his thoroughness. “Patients are happy to see that’s a priority for me,” he says.