Ashwatha Narayana, MD

Ashwatha Narayana, MD, is chair of radiation medicine at Northern Westchester Hospital, where his focus is treating brain tumors, as well as breast, prostate, rectal and skin cancers. He employs advanced forms of radiation therapy, including intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT), given during surgery; high-dose rate brachytherapy, or radioactive implants; and Gamma Knife radiosurgery and stereotactic body radiotherapy, which are high-dose, targeted treatments that limit damage to healthy tissue.

A leader in his specialty, Dr. Narayana established the hospital’s skin cancer brachytherapy program and introduced the use of space OAR therapy for newly diagnosed prostate cancer, which reduces the dose of radiation to the rectum.

Dr. Narayana values establishing supportive relationships with his patients, built on trust. “I listen to patients and their families with undivided attention,” he says. “I take as much time as needed to explain a diagnosis and its treatments.”

Inspired to study medicine by an uncle who was an accomplished biochemist, Dr. Narayana earned his medical degree at Bangalore Medical College. He went on to complete an internal medicine residency at Loyola University Medical Center and a fellowship in radiation oncology at Johns Hopkins.

At Northwell Health, Dr. Narayana works with pathologists, radiologists, surgical oncologists, gastroenterologists, dermatologists, urologists and nurses, among others, to create personalized treatment plans. “We have great communication among our providers, contributing to high patient satisfaction,” he says.

Dr. Narayana is a professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. He is a member of the American Society for Radiation Oncology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the Society of Neuro-Oncology, the Indian Society of Neuro-Oncology and the Indian College of Radiation Oncology. His humanitarian work includes establishing prostate and breast cancer screening programs and helping to improve access to cancer therapy in developing countries in Southeast Asia. He has also set up radiation therapy programs in Russia, India and Nepal. He has published more than 80 peer-reviewed articles and 15 book chapters and has given more than 120 lectures around the world.

Dr. Narayana’s work revolves around providing patient-centered care. “I always put patients first, which helps to put them and their caregivers at ease,” he says.