Professor of Radiation Oncology
University of Colorado School of Medicine

Dr. David Raben trained at John Hopkins Hospital in radiation oncology,  is internationally recognized as an expert in the treatment of head and neck cancer, and is a professor at the University of Colorado Health. Over the past 20 years, Dr. Raben has focused on innovative radiation techniques to improve outcomes of head and neck cancer patients. In addition, he has interest and expertise in translational radiation oncology with a focus on delivery of precision drugs as well as exploration of molecular biomarkers and targets to enhance the effects of radiation therapy. From a national perspective, Dr. Raben remains an active participant in the NRG head and neck cancer steering committee and translational committee focusing on national, NCI approved clinical trials. In addition, Dr. Raben serves on the planning committees for the ASTRO HNC Symposiums and served as chair for the 2014 meeting. He has planned and implemented national meetings in targeted therapies and radiation in HNC over the past decade. Having developed the IMRT program in head and neck cancer at UCCC in 2002 he has continued to innovate with recent advances in submandibular and thyroid sparing approaches. Dr. Raben has successfully completed multiple Phase I trials using novel radio sensitizers in HNC. He currently is focused on studies related to combinations of DNA repair inhibitors or TGFb inhibitors with radiation.

Assistant Professor, Radiation Oncologist
Columbia University Irving Medical Center

Dr. Horia Vulpe, MD, CM, is a board-certified Attending Radiation Oncologist and Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at New York Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Dr. Vulpe received his BSc. and MD, CM degree from McGill University in Montréal, Canada, and trained in radiation oncology at the University of Toronto, Canada.

His clinical interests are in cancers of the Head & Neck including oral cavity and high-risk skin cancers, spine and brain tumors, melanoma, sarcoma, and metastatic cancers. Dr. Vulpe’s research is focused on reducing side-effects during and after treatment of Head & Neck tumors and on improving the outcomes of brain radiosurgery using the Gamma Knife Icon technology. He is involved in international cancer collaborations, leads a study on barriers to cancer care in low and middle-income countries, and is a reviewer for the Journal of Global Oncology. For his international work, Dr. Vulpe was awarded the University of Toronto’s Robert Sheppard Award for Health Equity and Social Justice and McGill University’s Young Alumnus award.

Dr. Vulpe collaborates closely with the multi-disciplinary cancer teams at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center to provide the best quality care to complex patients. He is a member of the New York Presbyterian Hospital’s workgroup on Quality and Patient Safety and is proficient with the newest radiation techniques including Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT), Gamma Knife Radiosurgerly, and Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT).