New Program Director of Urologic Oncology Shares Thoughts on the Future of Urology

Posted on by Michael Chananie

Maz Ganat, MD, recently joined the cancer team at Englewood Health. As the program director of urologic oncology at The Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center, he intends to bring fresh eyes to a field that is in the midst of dramatic scientific and technological progress. Prior to coming to Englewood, Dr. Ganat completed a fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

What drew you to the field of urology?

I chose urology as my specialty in my third year of medical school. It’s a small field – people don’t usually know what it entails.

When I discovered it in my rotation, I was surprised to learn that urology is such a balanced mix of medicine, surgery, and technology. I get to do clinical procedures, prescribe medicine that really helps patients, and be in the operating room doing open, endoscopic, and robotic surgery. I found that mix worked well for me.

What’s new in the field of urology?

Over the past two or three decades, increased knowledge and technological advancements have allowed for improved detection of prostate cancer and a decrease in overtreatment.

A major addition to the field is the multiparametric MRI, which led to the creation of the MRI fusion ultrasound biopsy technology.

And what exactly is the MRI fusion ultrasound biopsy?

The conventional systematic biopsy uses ultrasound to take 12-14 random biopsies of the prostate. With fusion-guided biopsy, patients first go in for an MRI. The radiologist reads the MRI, noting any suspicious lesions. Then when the patient comes in for the biopsy, we superimpose the marked-up MRI image onto the real-time ultrasound image. That way, we can precisely target the areas of highest interest. We typically need to take only three or four samples of the prostate this way.

We still often do the traditional, systematic biopsy, but MRI fusion considerably improves our ability to home in on significant prostate cancer.

What does the advent of the MRI fusion biopsy mean for patients?

The ultimate goal of this technology is to decrease over-diagnoses – meaning, ideally, we want to pick up only those cancers that are significant and require treatment. We’re not there yet, but that is certainly the goal with this technique.

Our hope is that, eventually, the MRI fusion biopsy will help eliminate unnecessary invasive tests and surgeries, as well as allow us to provide patients with more complete and more accurate information on their options.

Besides prostate cancer, what kinds of issues do you treat in your practice?

The field of urology is broad. In terms of urologic oncology, the top diagnoses we treat – other than prostate cancer – are bladder cancer and kidney cancer.

In general urology, we deal with problems like kidney stones and bloody urine. Some urologists focus on, and treat, female sexual dysfunction.

Though my main focus is urologic oncology I also practice general urology. I treat a lot of cases of kidney stones, which are very common – and the incidence continues to rise.

What excites you about the future of urology?

In urologic oncology, as in all branches of oncology, we’re seeing a push toward genetic testing. Genomic analysis is the future of the field. In some cancer cases, we’re focusing on immunotherapy.

Both of these fall under the category of precision medicine. They represent efforts to find the right treatment for the particular patient, rather than use a standard treatment that may not work.

In terms of technology, robotic surgery has been established for more than a decade now – especially in prostate cancer. More than 90 percent of prostate surgeries are now done robotically. This is one of my main focuses at Englewood Health.

What do you want people to know about your work at Englewood Health?

I want to emphasize to patients that if they seek treatment for a urologic issue at Englewood Health, we will discuss all of their options and draw on the latest technologies and methods, when appropriate. We want to help patients make the choices that will best serve their health.

For us, the doctor-patient relationship comes first. With all the advancements that are happening in the field, what we will continue to emphasize is open dialogue and the availability of accurate and helpful information for our patients.

Posted September 2018; Updated January 22, 2020

Transitioning Your Teen From Their Pediatrician to an Internal Medicine Specialist

Posted on by Michael Chananie

Irina Tartakovsky, MD, is an internal medicine specialist with Englewood Health who has been in practice for more than 25 years.

Transitioning your teenager from pediatrician to internist

Around the age of 16—sometimes earlier, sometimes later—most kids start to feel out of place in the pediatrician’s office. As an internist, I take care of young adults age 18 and over. By that age, most feel that they’d like to talk to a doctor one on one, rather than with a parent in the exam room. I leave it up to patients whether they want their parent with them or not; whatever they are comfortable with.

Heading off to college is a big transition, and I like to make it an opportunity to educate my young patients. One of the most important subjects is drugs and alcohol. I try to raise the issue without intimidating them, so they feel comfortable enough to open up and ask questions or express concerns. As they transition into adulthood, they appreciate having someone they can confide in, someone who will address their concerns without preaching.

How can all patients help their doctor take better care of them?

Before you go to an appointment, write down your concerns and questions in order of priority. That way, we can deal with the most important things first.

If something worrisome comes up, don’t wait. Let’s diagnose it, treat it, and deal with it. When patients wait too long before seeking medical help, what started as a simple issue can become more complex and difficult to treat, and the consequences can be more serious.

Why is it important to find a doctor with whom you feel really comfortable and can have an open conversation?

It’s all about the continuity of care. Over time, if you stay with a physician, the continuity of care is what drives that relationship; it takes time to develop trust. The key is that you feel comfortable asking for help and that you have access to the doctor.

Internal medicine is about engaging everyone in a holistic way. The internist is the one who puts it all together for you. We aren’t dealing just with labs and test results; we are dealing with human beings. I try to engage my patients in preventive care, to have them get involved and be their own advocates. This is especially important for patients with chronic conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol. I recommend that they be consistent with their follow-up and participate in managing their condition. It’s a long-term commitment to your health—to your life.

Your background brings something special to the care of patients. What made you want to be a doctor?

My family came to the U.S. from Odessa, Ukraine, when I was just under 12 years old, and we settled in Forest Hills, Queens. When I was 12 or 13, my family befriended a physician who helped me to explore the world of medicine. I loved math and science. It was the combination of these things that made me want to be a doctor. From that time forward, I never even thought of doing anything else. Everything I did was always toward that goal of medicine. You know it in the depths of your soul.

What do you consider to be one of the greatest joys of being a physician and an internist, specifically?

My relationships with patients. As an internist, you get to know people on a very deep level. It’s not just their physical health—it’s their emotional health, as well. People open up and say, “I haven’t told anyone about this before.” It shows they are really comfortable and feel they can confide in me as their physician. I have a great appreciation for that, and I never take it for granted. It is very special to me.

Posted September 2018

High-tech Innovations That Are Advancing Radiation Therapy for Treating Cancer

Posted on by Michael Chananie

“Our treatment of patients has really advanced just in the last five years with newer, more accurate technology,” shares Dr. David Dubin, chief of radiation oncology at The Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center at Englewood Health. “With more sophisticated radiation technology and advanced imaging capabilities, we now can provide treatments that are easier on the patient and even more effective.”

Dr. Dubin explains how these advancements are expanding medicine’s ability to treat more challenging tumors in lung, prostate, and breast cancers.

Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)

Our goal is to treat a tumor with minimal healthy tissue exposed to radiation. The challenge is that, outside of the brain (which can be immobilized), parts of the body are moving all the time. For example, the lungs are not static. They move up and down, forward and back. It is a challenge to minimize the amount of damage to healthy tissue. We need to know at any point in time, where the tumor is in that moment. It takes a lot of technology. As part of treatment planning, a 4-dimension CT scan is taken so that every location can be identified during treatment. A lot of work goes into the treatment planning, with the help of two radiation therapy physicists.

Lung Cancer

In lung cancer, radiation therapy is used to treat very localized, small tumors that have not spread and can easily be seen on a CT scan, and for patients who are not candidates for surgery due to prior lung surgeries, who have more advanced disease or advanced age. With SBRT, the side effects and complications are generally less than surgery and the results are excellent.

For SBRT we have several options. Either we suppress diaphragmatic motion by compressing the abdomen. If that is uncomfortable or unsuccessful, we utilize “gating,” in which the machine is turned on only during part of the breathing cycle, when the tumor is in the proper location. This avoids treating normal, unaffected lung. We also utilize makers placed by our pulmonologists near the tumor, which can be imaged in real time and compared to a computer model. This assures proper delivery of the radiation. The most common protocol for SBRT for lung cancer is three treatments, one week apart. SBRT has a 90-percent cure rate for very small lung cancers—it’s a real advance.

Prostate Cancer

In men, the prostate sits just against the wall of the rectum. The rectum can move a lot, with digestion, gas, stool, etc. When treating prostate cancer with radiation therapy, we place tiny metallic markers, or “beacons,” into the prostate that can be identified on a CT scan, and then during real-time treatment using radiofrequency. The technological intelligence of our systems allows a tumor to be targeted, like GPS, so that higher-dose, more accurate treatments can be delivered.

To minimize side effects, Dr. Dubin injects a bio gel in the space between the prostate and the rectum prior to treatment, which moves the rectal wall away from the prostate and protects the rectum during treatment. With SBRT, Englewood Health can treat prostate cancer in five every-other-day sessions. The standard treatment would be 8–9 weeks of daily treatment.

Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) combined with Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) for treating Breast Cancer

To treat breast cancer, Englewood Hospital’s radiation therapy team uses prone breast positioning, whereby the patient lies on her stomach and the breast hangs into a well, falling away from the body, to protect the heart and lungs.

For patients who need to be treated lying on their backs, the team practices Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH), during which the patient holds her breath briefly, on cue. By expanding the lungs, the heart is pushed down and back, further away from the area that is being radiated. This requires an advanced digital camera system to identify exactly where the body is at any point. Englewood Hospital is one of the only facilities using this new system, which ensures more accuracy and less healthy tissue

Posted September 2018

Teaching the Next Generation of Physicians and Scientists at Englewood Health

Posted on by Michael Chananie

This article was published in September 2018, nearly two years prior to the death of Dr. Dardik in May 2000.

On most afternoons, Herbert Dardik, MD, can be found in his office at Englewood Hospital, hosting a discussion with a group of students—some days surgery residents, other days high school students.

Dr. Dardik, chief emeritus of vascular surgery and general surgery, performed vascular surgery for more than 57 years. Now 82, he’s retired from the operating room, but still keeps office hours, works in the vascular research lab, and continues to teach vascular surgeons, surgery residents, and aspiring medical students.

A Founding Father of Vascular Surgery

Dr. Dardik, widely recognized as a founding father of vascular surgery, was recently presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for Vascular Surgery—the first surgeon from a community hospital to receive this prestigious award. In fact, he has received two lifetime achievement awards; the other is from the Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery.

“They recognized that I was doing academic work right here in the community at Englewood. Our work showed that research could be done in a community hospital, and these organizations began to ask, why can’t others do it? Today, many other community-based physicians are doing research.”

Vascular Surgery Training Program at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center—for Nearly 40 Years

When founded by Dr. Dardik in 1978, the vascular surgery fellowship (specialty training) was only the eighth such program in the nation. The hospital also trains general surgeons and internal medicine residents. Over the years, Englewood Health has trained more than 50 vascular surgeons, as well as dozens of general surgeons and countless general practitioners.

Vascular Research Lab at Englewood—Celebrating 30 Years

Englewood Health’s Vascular Research Lab allows surgery residents to conduct research and publish as part of their training. All of this has helped to make Englewood a leader in vascular surgery in the New York metropolitan area. “I say to surgeons, don’t throw away the books. There is a lot of joy in keeping the data and maybe even reporting on it.”

High School Shadow Program Inspiring Students for More Than 20 Years

“One of my biggest passions is high school students. At Englewood, since 1996 we’ve had a shadow program, where 10 high school seniors come for a full day every week and rotate out to different areas and specialties. They are exposed to all aspects of how a hospital works—right down to how the instruments are sterilized. By the end of the school year, they have seen the entire hospital. Many of them go on to careers in healthcare. On other afternoons, two groups of eleventh graders get a chance to learn about science. They learn research, safety, and how to deal with scientific challenges. These  students have no idea what medical research is like. They might like it!”

Did you always want to be a doctor?

“Actually, I wanted to be a pianist. When I was told I had no talent I had to find something else. I went to college in the Bronx with a lot of other great students and got caught up in the competition. All of a sudden, I was in medical school! I didn’t want to be a surgeon, didn’t think I’d be a vascular surgeon. And I would do it all again! I tell the high school students we mentor, you may be ready to make up your mind, but be open to new possibilities. It’s so important.”

 

New Tools for Treating Heart Disease

Posted on by Michael Chananie

Advancements in Technology Help Patients Avoid Heart Surgery

Several new advancements in technology used to treat heart disease can potentially help people with heart disease avoid open heart surgery. Dr. Aron Schwarcz, an interventional cardiologist with Englewood Health, explains two of these new tools used in Englewood Hospital’s Cardiac Catheterization Lab.

What is a CTO?

A chronic total occlusion (CTO) occurs when a coronary artery (a vessel supplying blood to your heart) is completely blocked for more than three months. “There are many people living with chest pain and with other symptoms, such as shortness of breath or general fatigue, for which the source may be a chronic total occlusion of an artery, but it may go undetected,” says Dr. Schwarcz. “There is a large population of people not getting adequately treated.”

Dr. Schwarcz co-led the development of the Chronic Total Occlusion (CTO) program at Englewood Health, the only one of its kind in northern New Jersey. Now in its third year, the CTO program has a 90-percent success rate and, with the new technology, doctors are able to treat even more complex cases.

Who is the typical patient qualifying for the CTO program?

“Patients who have symptoms and a diagnostic catheterization, or angiogram, showing a CTO, but heart muscle in the area still functioning,” may be eligible for the CTO program, shares Dr. Schwarcz.  “If that is their only blockage; or if they are not a candidate for cardiac surgery, for example because of health, age, or previous cardiac surgery; or if they are looking for alternatives to open heart surgery, CTO treatment may be an option.”

How is CTO treated?

The procedure is performed in the cardiac catheterization lab similar to other coronary interventions, where a catheter is placed into the artery of the leg or arm and advanced to the heart. “With new technology we can either go through the blockage or around it using the vessel wall, or go through the nearby collateral vessels in the heart and backward through the blockage,” explains Dr. Schwarcz. “Then we open the artery with a balloon angioplasty and place a stent.”

What if I’ve previously attempted treatment for a CTO in the past and it failed?

“Even if there has been a previous attempt at fixing a CTO which wasn’t successful, it is still possible that, with the new technology, it can be successful now,” asserts Dr. Schwarcz. “It’s worth an evaluation,” he adds.

What other new innovations are being used in the Cath Lab?

The Impella® heart pump is a device that supports the heart’s function during procedures, and allows Englewood Hospital’s interventional cardiologists to perform more complex procedures in a safe and efficient manner. “Like other procedures performed in the Cath Lab, the Impella is inserted into the artery in the leg using a tiny puncture. It is then advanced with wires into the main pumping chamber of the heart,” says Dr. Schwarcz. “It helps support the heart’s pumping function.”

Why is the new technology important in CTO treatment?

“We can now perform interventional cardiology procedures for patients who, in the past, would have been assessed as poor or high-risk candidates for a procedure, especially those with very poor heart muscle function. For example, patients considered high-risk surgical candidates or evaluated as too high-risk for surgery, we can now treat with stenting procedures. It gives us another alternative to surgery,” explains Dr. Schwarcz. “Also, for people who come to the hospital with heart attacks and super low blood pressure, we can improve survival by placing an Impella. Patients who are in cardiogenic shock (for example, from a severe heart attack) can be treated in a safe manner, where in the past there might not have been an option for them. This is especially important for patients who are too sick for cardiac surgery. We now have more treatment options for saving a person’s life.”

Doctor’s Orders? Unwind.

Dr. Schwarcz emphasizes the importance of taking time to relax. “It’s always important to occasionally disconnect. Give yourself time to unwind at the end of the day. Listen to music, read a book, or do whatever works for you to unwind.” As for Dr. Schwarcz, he enjoys lingering over a Sunday breakfast with his family and playing basketball outside with his kids. Dr. Schwarcz recommends spending time with family. “Reconnecting with family and friends can be very important.”

Posted September 2018

How to Stand Tall with a Healthy Spine and Back

Posted on by Michael Chananie

The spine is the backbone of human function. It allows us to stand upright, supports our weight, and enables movement. It also protects the spinal cord, which controls mind and body. So what can we do to guard it? Dr. Marc Arginteanu, chief of neurosurgery at Englewood Health, shared his advice.

Who may be at risk for spine and back problems?

Dr. Arginteanu: If you have a family history of scoliosis, you should have your children checked just before puberty. Pediatricians know what to look for in an initial screening. If there is a problem, a child should go for X-rays and then be seen by a spine specialist. Those with spondylolisthesis—where one vertebra slips forward over the next—should also be checked if they have a lot of back pain.

What are some common spine and back issues you see?

Dr. Arginteanu: The most common issue in younger people is a herniated disc in the lower back or neck, which can cause sciatica pain to run down the leg or arm. In older people, the most common issue is stenosis—pinching of the nerves. Stenosis occurs as the joints, spine, and connecting tissue deteriorate over time, crowding the nerves that run through the neck and lower back. It can lead to sciatica and neurogenic claudication (inflammation of the nerves stemming from the spinal cord), limiting walking. It can also cause myelopathy, weakness in the arms and legs.

How can people be proactive about spine and back care?

Dr. Arginteanu: First, maintain a healthy weight. Fat in males tends to be on the belly, which pulls them forward, putting stress on the spine. Second, don’t smoke. Smoking decreases the oxygen that goes to the spinal discs. Third, exercise regularly, staying active 3–5 times a week. Those who do heavy lifting at work should also see if their employers offer a “back class” demonstrating techniques to prevent injury.

With the winter weather and holidays approaching, what should we be aware of?

Dr. Arginteanu: With all the holiday parties, we tend to eat more and exercise less. As you grab a plate, remember that extra weight puts stress on the spine, so make healthy diet choices whenever possible. It’s important to exercise, even when your schedule is busy. Wear appropriate footwear and be careful not to slip on ice. If you fall backward, try to tuck your chin and keep your shoulders, neck, and head up off the ground. Throw your hands and forearms to the ground with palms facing down. Exercise caution before moving someone who’s fallen and has neck pain or weakness in the arms or legs. When in doubt, wait for emergency medical services.

What are the warning signs that a person should seek help?

Dr. Arginteanu: Pain is usually the body’s sign that things aren’t right. But certain conditions like myelopathy can be painless. Progressive weakness or numbness of the arms or legs can indicate a spinal problem—even without spinal pain. Neurogenic claudication can also be painless, but if you have it you may find that you’re able to walk less and less, or experience cramping or weakness in the legs when you do.

Posted September 2018

Ask the Doctor: Dr. Maz Ganat

Posted on by Michael Chananie

Maz Ganat, MD, is program director of urologic oncology at The Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center at Englewood Health. He specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancers that affect the male and female urinary tract and the male reproductive organs.

My husband absolutely hates going doctors’ appointments, and I’m sure the responsibility of getting him to prostate screenings at the appropriate age will be mine. That being said, at what age should men begin regular prostate exams?

Dr. Ganat: If your husband has an average risk for developing prostate cancer, he should begin prostate exams at age 50–55. If he is at a higher risk for prostate cancer—for example, if he is African-American or has a father or brother who was diagnosed with prostate cancer—he should begin exams at about 45. If he is at even higher risk—meaning multiple first-degree relatives had prostate cancer at a young age—he really should be seen by a doctor by about 40.

If life gets in the way, as it often does, and I miss my cancer screenings, are there any physical symptoms I can look for that would let me know if I have prostate cancer?

Dr. Ganat: Prostate cancer symptoms can vary, and often there are no symptoms in the early stages of the disease (which is why screenings are so important). However, some men may experience difficulty urinating, blood in the urine, bone pain, erectile dysfunction, and discomfort in the pelvic region, typically in the later stages of the disease.

Truth or myth: my father had prostate cancer, so I will, too, someday.

Dr. Ganat: Myth… with this caveat: having a first-degree relative with prostate cancer does increase your chances of getting the disease. However, that does not mean you will definitely get it. You may have a genetic predisposition to developing the disease. Young men who have a father or brother who has had prostate cancer should focus on maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle and consider starting prostate screenings in their early to mid-40s.

Posted September 2018; updated September 2021

First in New Jersey, and One of First in Nation, to Use New Technology for Treatment of Lung Cancer

Posted on by Michael Chananie
The radiation oncology team at Englewood Health administers lung stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) with Varian Calypso® Anchored Beacon® transponders.

August 27, 2018 – The Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center at Englewood Health is the first center in New Jersey, and one of the first in the entire nation, to offer lung stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) with Varian Calypso® Anchored Beacon® transponders for lung. The team at Englewood Health has successfully performed this new, more advanced form of radiation therapy on an 83-year-old New Jersey resident with stage 1 lung cancer.

The Calypso system, which was cleared by the FDA in April 2018, is the only device on the market that delivers real-time, 3D tumor position information 25 times per second, improving confidence that the prescribed dose has been delivered to the tumor.

Originally introduced for the treatment of prostate cancer, the Calypso system uses transponders, each the size of a grain of rice. These transponders are inserted into and around the lung tumor and are used to continuously track the exact location of the tumor during treatment. This allows for previously unachievable levels of precision and accuracy, enabling better tumor targeting and sparing of nearby healthy tissue.

David Dubin, MD, chief of radiation oncology at Englewood Health, explains that “SBRT is a relatively new method of delivering very high doses to small, targeted areas. In lung, this is especially challenging as the target naturally moves as the patient breathes.”

“Calypso is like a real-time GPS of the target, which is exceptionally powerful for lung treatments,” Michael Speiser, Ph.D., chief physicist at Englewood Health, said of the Calypso system. “Restricting dose to the target and sparing healthy tissue requires that you know where the target is, and Calypso lets us track the tumor with sub-millimeter precision.”

“Here at the Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center at Englewood Health, we have been successfully performing SBRT for multiple sites for years,” says Dr. Dubin. “However, not all SBRT is equal. This new technique provides a clear improvement in accuracy that is not otherwise achievable.”

Bergen Neurology Consultants Joins Englewood Health Physician Network

Posted on by Michael Chananie

August 17, 2018 – Bergen Neurology Consultants, a group of eight neurologists specializing in all areas of brain, spine, and nerve disease, has joined the Englewood Health Physician Network. The group—Gary Alweiss, MD; Yun-Beom Choi, MD, PhD; Lauren DeNiro, MD; James Ko, MD; Kirk Levy, MD; Sepideh Akbaripanahi, MD; Rikki Racela, MD; and Jamuna Rajasingham, MD—has been located in Englewood for more than 25 years and the physicians are members of the medical staff at Englewood Hospital, part of Englewood Health. As part of the Englewood Health Physician Network, Bergen Neurology Consultants offers patients a more integrated care experience through a shared electronic health record and greater collaboration and coordination of care with other specialists in the network and at Englewood Hospital.

Led by Gary S. Alweiss, MD, Englewood Hospital’s chief of neurology, Bergen Neurology Consultants specializes in diagnosing and treating a full range of neurological conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, concussion, dementia, epilepsy, migraines, movement disorders, multiple sclerosis, neuromuscular diseases, stroke, spine disorders including back and neck pain, and sleep disorders. Using innovative techniques, the team provides up-to-date diagnostics and treatments including EMG and nerve conduction studies, Neurotrax™ testing for concussion and cognitive disorders, ambulatory EEG, sleep studies, Botox® injections for migraine and dystonia, CPAP, and other specialized treatments.

“Our physicians are highly compassionate in treating some of the most difficult diseases. Each of the neurologists in the practice has an area of expertise and specialized clinical interests,” said Dr. Alweiss. “Members of our team also serve in various roles throughout Englewood Hospital, including providing medical direction for the certified Stroke Center, the Center for Sleep Medicine, the Intensive Care Unit, The Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center, and for the Department of Neurology as a whole.”

“Patients with complex neurological diseases often have co-existing conditions,” said Dr. Alweiss. “By sharing a medical record and improved communications systems, we can work together to enhance care for our patients.”

Additionally, Dr. Ko, a neurologist and sleep medicine specialist who has been in private practice in Englewood and a member of the medical staff at Englewood Hospital for over 10 years, has joined Bergen Neurology Consultants and the Englewood Health Physician Network. Dr. Akbaripanahi, a general neurologist who recently completed her residency at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, also joins the team.

Bergen Neurology Consultants is located at 25 Rockwood Place in Englewood, New Jersey. Dr. Ko sees patients at 177 North Dean Street. The staff speak multiple languages including Korean, Polish, and Spanish and accept a full range of insurance plans.

To reach Bergen Neurology Consultants or to find an Englewood Health physician, visit englewoodhealthphysicians.org or call 833-234-2234.

Dr. Maz Ganat Appointed Program Director of Urologic Oncology

Posted on by Michael Chananie

August 3, 2018 – Dr. Maz Ganat has been named program director of urologic oncology at The Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center at Englewood Health. Dr. Ganat completed a two-year fellowship in urologic oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), where he received an outstanding clinical performance award and additionally achieved a Responsible Conduct of Research Program certificate. Most recently, Dr. Ganat was a member of a basic science research lab at MSKCC that focuses on translational research in kidney cancer with the ultimate goal of using precision medicine for metastatic kidney cancer.

A urologic surgeon who practices general urology and specializes in urologic oncology, Dr. Ganat will help meet an important clinical need for patients in the Englewood Health Physician Network and broader Englewood Health community.

“With a growing population of individuals diagnosed with cancer in our region, Dr. Ganat adds to an already superb base of physicians who have put our cancer center in a position to not only meet, but exceed expectations and deliver the highest possible standard of care,” says Dr. Steven Brower, medical director of The Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center at Englewood Health.

Dr. Ganat specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancers of the prostate, bladder, kidney, testis, and penis. He performs robotic surgery, laparoscopic and open urologic procedures, and MRI ultrasound fusion biopsies, which superimposes MRI images with real-time ultrasound images to produce a 3D image of suspicious areas which leads to a more accurate biopsy of the prostate.

“As we continue to expand the Englewood Health Physician Network and focus on providing complete and personalized cancer care for our community, we are thrilled to have Dr. Ganat join the Englewood family,” says Dr. Stephen Brunnquell, president of the Englewood Health Physician Network. “His expertise in urology, and urologic oncology are great additions to the growing number of specialists and primary care physicians in our network who are dedicated to helping patients make choices that will best serve their health.”

In addition to English, Dr. Ganat is fluent in Farsi and has a working knowledge of Spanish.

For appointments and referrals, call 201-608-2849.

 

This post was updated in January 2020 to reflect a legal name change.