Departments
Radiology & Biomedical Imaging
We are committed to providing patient-focused, evidence-based care to all of our patients, pairing clinical expertise with the latest advances in technology. We offer a comprehensive range of imaging services, and tailor each exam to meet each patient’s specific needs. Our board-certified doctors are national and international leaders in diagnostic imaging and advanced image-guided therapies, and they are dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of care in patient safety, quality, and satisfaction. We employ a multidisciplinary approach to care, and collaborate with physicians from all medical specialties to make the most accurate diagnosis and determine the best treatment options. Yale patients have access to highly advanced imaging equipment, including an intraoperative MRI/IR/OR suite, and 3D tomosynthesis. Our radiologists conduct advanced research in MRI, MRS, PET, interventional oncology, and image processing. Specialized care is offered in the following areas: Abdominal imaging Breast imaging Cardiovascular imaging Emergency and trauma radiology Neuroradiology Nuclear medicine and molecular imaging (including PET/CT) Pediatric radiology Thoracic imaging Vascular/interventional radiology Rapid, in-house subspecialist imaging interpretations Overnight coverage by three in-house attending radiologists at Yale New Haven Hospital Leader in 3D tomosynthesis mammography imaging and research Leader in screening breast ultrasound Comprehensive multidisciplinary lung cancer screening program with ultra-low-dose CT scanning Cardiac CoreValue planning service, providing a minimally invasive transcatheter aortic valve implantation option for patients with severe aortic stenosis MRI for pacemaker patients Ultrasound contrast and elastography imaging Dedicated peripheral vascular ultrasound Integrated musculoskeletal ultrasound device Subspecialized pediatric interventional radiology expertise Recognized expertise in management of primary and secondary liver cancer Molecular imaging for recurrent prostate cancer and the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease Advanced tumor imaging for optimizing best treatment outcomes DaTscan, a diagnostic test for Parkinson’s Disease Portable neuro Intensive Care Unit (ICU) computed tomography (CT) scanning Interventional radiology with state-of-the-art minimally invasive image-guided therapy, including targeted and precision cancer treatments, back pain treatment, and biliary stone laser treatment, among othersMedical Oncology
Our nationally recognized oncologists provide unparalleled cancer expertise and are leaders in both the treatment of cancers and the development of innovative treatment strategies. Our physicians are board-certified in internal medicine, oncology, and/or hematology. They provide the most inclusive and innovative diagnostic and treatment methods available. We serve as a focal point in bringing together such other disciplines as therapeutic and diagnostic radiology, pathology, and surgery. Our section is a vital component of Yale Cancer Center, the only National Cancer Institute designated center in Southern New England. We provide medical oncology services at Smilow Cancer Hospital and a number of regional sites. We operate 13 multidisciplinary clinical programs, which allow our physicians and specialists to focus their expertise on specific types of cancers. Our patient-care navigator will address each patient’s individualized needs.Emergency Radiology
Our physicians play a critical role in the timely diagnosis and management of acutely ill patients. As an integral part of a Level I trauma center, we provide comprehensive imaging services for our inpatients and outpatients. We provide highly specialized care in all areas of acute care imaging, and are pioneers in developing emergency radiology standards of care.Center for Breast Cancer
The Center for Breast Cancer at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center provides coordinated, state-of-the-art care for patients with benign and malignant diseases of the breast. For patients diagnosed with breast cancer , we offer dedicated care, innovative treatment options, and cutting-edge research. A great deal of progress in the detection and treatment of breast cancer has been made in recent years, and our physicians are on the leading edge of finding even better solutions. Women with a diagnosis of breast cancer are cared for by a multidisciplinary team of physician specialists, including radiologists, breast surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, and plastic surgeons. From the tranquility of the building, to our complementary therapy services, to the most sophisticated personalized therapies and equipment available, Yale is committed to tailoring treatment to our patients to ensure they have the best experiences possible during their time in our care. Breast Surgery Although many general surgeons perform breast surgery, dedicated breast surgeons have the experience and knowledge to handle difficult or unusual cases, and are generally more likely to understand the complexities of breast diagnosis and treatment. The surgeons at the Center for Breast Cancer at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center perform breast surgery exclusively, and are nationally known as leaders in their field. Yale surgeons were among the first to perform a lumpectomy instead of a mastectomy, and were instrumental in the development of noninvasive procedures like sentinel lymph node biopsy, intraoperative guidance by ultrasound, and advanced oncoplastic procedures. Our surgeons are experienced in cutting-edge techniques, such as skin-sparing and nipple-sparing mastectomy, and often work hand-in-hand with our plastic surgeons to offer women a variety of options for breast reconstruction. Medical Oncology Many patients with breast cancer also need medical therapy, such as chemotherapy and/or endocrine therapy. Our team of experts utilizes both standard chemotherapies and novel targeted therapies to attack the cancer precisely while minimizing harm to normal tissues. Our medical oncologists are nationally recognized for their contributions to breast cancer research. For example, investigators at Yale helped to elucidate the biology of a cellular receptor called HER2. As a result, our medical oncologists have been successful in developing treatment strategies for HER2-positive breast cancer, and have extended this expertise to provide effective therapies for triple-negative/basal-like and hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. They continue to study new treatments, and patients at Smilow Cancer Hospital have the opportunity to receive such novel therapies through clinical trials, many of which are not available elsewhere in Connecticut. New and complicated patient cases are discussed weekly by the entire team so thatBreast Cancer Radiotherapy
Unlike a mastectomy, which removes the entire breast, breast-conserving surgery removes only the affected breast tissue, allowing patients to continue to radiation therapy on an intact breast. Yale was one of the first facilities in the country to offer this effective combination of treatments. Our physicians also perform radiation following mastectomy, and radiation for treatment of metastasis, or for cancer that has spread. To deliver radiation for breast cancer , we use a variety of novel treatments, including conventional external beam radiation, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH), and partial breast irradiation. We also offer hypo-fractionated breast radiation, a new treatment that reduces the duration of rational therapy, with fewer side effects.Pediatric Radiology
Children’s safety is our top priority. Our dedicated radiologists are trained in pediatric radiology and provide compassionate and personalized care to each of our patients. We use advanced imaging techniques and work closely with pediatric providers to determine the best way to diagnose a specific problem. We maintain the highest standards of care and patient safety. For exams that require radiation, special attention is given to minimize the radiation dose during a child’s exam without affecting image quality. We offer the latest in technology and equipment, and utilize a variety of imaging techniques, such as fluoroscopy, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and X-rays to accurately detect and diagnose disease.Musculoskeletal Imaging
Our highly specialized physicians perform and evaluate a comprehensive range of imaging exams for adults and children. Our services cover a wide variety of areas including trauma, arthritis, joint replacements, as well as disorders and injuries of the spine, foot, and ankle. We are committed to providing compassionate care to all of our patients and we use the safest and most advanced imaging techniques available.Therapeutic Radiology
The Department of Therapeutic Radiology works closely with the Yale Cancer Center to comprehensively evaluate and treat patients in need of any form of radiation therapy. We are widely known for our innovative approach to treatment, and have extensive experience in the following specialized areas: Breast cancer radiotherapy Central nervous system radiotherapy Gastrointestinal radiotherapy Head and neck radiotherapy Pediatric radiotherapy Prostate and genitourinary cancer radiotherapy Spine radiosurgery Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and Gamma Knife® radiosurgery Thoracic radiotherapy Total skin electron beam therapy (TSEBT) Our primary goal is to ensure our patients receive the right amount of radiation at the tumor site, with as little impact as possible on the surrounding healthy tissue. Our treatment planning program, also known as medical dosimetry, is focused on just that, providing a highly individualized external or internal radiation treatment course for each patient. Site of the only Gamma Knife® center in Connecticut One of the largest U.S. centers for stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) First program in Connecticut to incorporate SpaceOAR hydrogel technology in prostate radiotherapy First and only program in New England to combine SpaceOAR technology with Calypso radiofrequency tracing for precision prostate surgeryInternal Medicine
Covering every aspect of health care for adults, Internal Medicine is the largest department in the Yale School of Medicine, and the largest clinical service at Yale New Haven Hospital. We provide comprehensive and specialized services in all areas in a variety of outpatient settings as well as the Veterans Affairs (VA) Connecticut Health Care System campus in West Haven. Our culture of collaboration and research gives patients access to expert opinions from nearly 1,000 doctors, as well as opportunities to get tomorrow’s health care today through more than 100 clinical trials. Most importantly, we attend to our diverse community of patients with compassionate, thorough care. Specialized care is offered in the following areas: Allergy & clinical immunology Cardiovascular medicine Digestive diseases Endocrinology General internal medicine Geriatrics Hematology Infectious diseases Medical oncology Occupational health & environmental medicine Nephrology Pulmonology, critical care & sleep medicine Rheumatology International reputation for work in understanding function, independence, and quality of life in older persons Key research breakthroughs of the past decade that include the development of a protective Lyme bacillus disease vaccine, exploration of the underlying causes of allergic disease, and the discovery of novel inherited immunological diseases Largest interventional cardiology program in Connecticut Major referral center for patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, as well as other metabolic conditions Nationally ranked program in kidney diseases and the largest kidney transplant program in New England, with multidisciplinary care clinics One of the largest peripheral vascular programs in the country, with leadership and participation in multiple new percutaneous device trials Once of only a few motility centers in Connecticut to provide all motility procedures and services Unique medical forensic exams for individuals with claims of torture who are seeking asylum in the U.S.Center for Gastrointestinal Cancers
Each year, nearly 300,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with a type of gastrointestinal cancer. Many of these cancers are too complex or difficult to be treated with just one type of treatment. The Center for Gastrointestinal Cancers at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center provides patients with gastrointestinal cancers a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of complex disease. As experts in the treatment of cancers of the esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, colon, bile ducts, rectum, and anus, we collaborate with diagnostic and interventional radiologists, gastroenterologists, and pathologists to provide the most up-to-date and effective treatments available. Our advanced diagnostic imaging services, including Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), MRI/MRCP (ERCP in conjunction with MRI), high-resolution CT scans, Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), and EUS-guided fine needle aspiration, allow for patients to be comprehensively evaluated at the onset of their diagnosis. Surgical Oncology Surgery is commonly used to effectively manage certain types of gastrointestinal cancers, including malignant and premalignant tumors in the stomach, liver, bile ducts, pancreas, small intestine, and colorectum. Our team of surgeons incorporate a variety of state-of-the-art surgical techniques into procedures when necessary. These include: Laparoscopic and robotic surgery for stomach, small bowel, and colorectal tumors, as well as for primary and metastatic liver tumors and biliary tumors Cytoreduction and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy Pancreatectomy (Whipple procedure, distal pancreatectomy, total pancreatectomy, central pancreatectomy, pancreas preserving enucleation) Medical Oncology In addition to chemotherapy, our medical oncology experts provide innovative nonsurgical treatment options including: Targeted Therapy, in which a special type of chemotherapy targets the changes in cancer cells that help them grow, divide, and spread Immunotherapy, which uses a patient’s own immune system to find and destroy cancer cells Yale Cancer Center emphasizes the importance of clinical trials for all stages of disease. Many of these drugs are exploring new types of therapy and new combinations of therapies, and many of our studies are available as part of our network of Care Centers. We perform state-of-the-art genomic profiling and laboratory explorations to determine the biologic weaknesses of the tumors and to develop better therapies for patients. Radiation Oncology Patients who need radiation oncology to treat their gastrointestinal cancers can feel confident that they are receiving the highest quality care from the most experienced team of radiation oncologists in Connecticut. We offer innovative therapies including: Three-dimensional Conformal Radiation: This technique may be used to target radiation to tumors by matching their particular shapes. Four-dimensional (4-D) CT simulation makes CT scans fCenter for Thoracic Cancers
The Center for Thoracic Cancers at Smilow Cancer Hospital consists of a multidisciplinary team of experts dedicated to providing evaluation of and treatment for patients with a thoracic malignancy, including lung cancer, esophageal cancer, thymoma, or chest wall tumors. Patients in Connecticut and beyond have access to nationally recognized expert clinicians, who provide an organized, collaborative approach to cancer care, as well as the latest technologies and treatments. Our team consists of a collaboration of specialty physicians, including medical oncology, radiation oncology, thoracic surgery, pulmonary medicine, digestive diseases, pathology, diagnostic imaging, and nursing. In addition to our expert clinicians, patients also receive comprehensive care to help with the physical, emotional, and psychological issues that are part of confronting cancer. Patients also benefit from the attention of the team's care coordinators, who make management of even the most detailed multidisciplinary treatment plan less complicated. Our team is active in clinical research, and focuses on developing advances to care in areas of thoracic oncology where the standard treatment needs improvement and where the optimal treatment approach remains unclear. To provide the best care, most of our patients are enrolled in a clinical trial where they can receive innovative therapy for their advanced disease, including immunotherapy, which was first used in clinical trials at Smilow Cancer Hospital. The Center for Thoracic Cancers offers second opinions that are easy, convenient, and all done remotely. Call (203) 200-LUNG for more information and learn how to schedule a second opinion appointment with one of our providers. Medical Oncology Our medical oncologists are nationally recognized for their leadership and expertise in lung cancer treatment and research, and are dedicated to offering personalized treatment options. Biomarker testing is often performed on the tumor to look for specific mutations that can be targeted by medication. There are currently FDA-approved lung cancer treatments for tumors showing abnormalities in EGFR, KRAS, ALK, ROS1, BRAF V600E, MET, RET , and NTRK genes. Recent studies conducted at Yale have led to FDA approval of drugs for the treatment of lung cancer, such as the immunotherapy drug Tecentriq (atezolizumab), which has been proven to improve patient survival for newly diagnosed NSCLC. This drug is designed to block PD-L1, a protein that was discovered by scientists at Yale and that has been instrumental in improving survival for lung cancer patients. Another FDA-approved drug, osimertinib, which stemmed from Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital researchers, was approved for the treatment of adults with early-stage NSCLC with EGFR gene mutations. Surgery Many patients in need of surgery are referred for a minimally invasive surgery known as a video-assisted thoracoscopiYale Cancer Center
Yale Cancer Center is Connecticut's only cancer center designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute—and one of only 57 in the nation. The significance of this designation has profound implications for those who choose Smilow Cancer Hospital as the place where they will be cared for and receive treatment for their cancer. National Cancer Institute cancer centers are national leaders in cancer research, prevention, detection, and treatment. This provides patients at Smilow Cancer Hospital with novel treatment options and expert care.