ArunaTurakaMD

Radiation Oncology • Hershey, PA

Breast Cancer, Hematologic Malignancies, Thoracic Cancer

Associate Professor, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

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Office
400 University Dr
Hershey, PA 17033
Phone+1 717-531-0003

Fax+1 717-531-0446

Summary

Dr. Aruna Turaka is a radiation oncologist in Hershey, PA working currently as Associate professor at Penn state university. I was faculty at Fox chase cancer Center and was head of the thoracic radiation oncology, lymphoma, TBI with expertise in stereotactic body radiation therapy, SBRT to both thoracic and extrathoracic lesions. My research experience was in head and neck malignancies, both NSCLC, SCLC, thymoma's and Hodgkin's/non-Hodgkin's lymphoma's, brain metastasis and Merkel cell carcinoma. I was PI on a phase 2 clinical trial and published papers related to my area of clinical expertise on different malignancies in several journals including red journal, AJCO and was speaker both at National (ASTRO) and international conferences in the past 2 decades. I also served as a committee member at ASTRO in the past 10-14 years including scientific counsel, international educational committee and a state captain. I am presently on the ASTRO guidelines subcommittee from the past 4 years and involved in reviewing different published guidelines of the ASTRO in collaboration with radiation oncologists from all cancer centers in US. My hobbies include gardening, and I was a board-certified master gardener from Iowa State University (ISU) with 2 years of training and expertise. I would like to establish my own greenhouse apart from being a radiation oncologist in the next coming few years

Education & Training

Iowa State UniversityInternship, 2018 - 2020
Temple University Hospital/Fox Chase Cancer CenterFellowship, Radiation Oncology, 2008 - 2009
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, IndiaMD, Senior Resident, 2002 - 2005
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India MD, Junior Resident in Radiation Oncology, 1999 - 2002
Guntur Medical College NTRClass of 1991

Certifications & Licensure

IA State Medical License 2015 - 2026
PA State Medical License 2009 - 2024
HI State Medical License 2020 - 2022
American Board of Radiology Radiation Oncology
Iowa State University Master Gardner

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

Awarded with Recognition as Chairman of Radiation Oncology Nazareth Hospital, Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic, 2023
Philadelphia Magazine Top Doctors 2023 in Radiation Oncology Philadelphia Magazine Top Doctors 2023, 2023
Second in Most Intern Volunteer Serivce Hours for Dubuque County Award Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach, 2020
Women of Distinction Trademark Publishing Group, 2018
Castle Connolly Regional Top Doctors: Dubuque, IA. Castle Connolly Regional Top Doctors, 2017
Elsevier’s Reviewer recognition award to Clinical Lung Cancer (CLC) Clinical Lung Cancer (CLC), 2016
Elsevier’s Reviewer recognition award to Practical Radiation Oncology (PRO American Society of Radiation Oncology, 2015
Elsevier’s Reviewer recognition award to JAAD Case Reports American Academy of Dermatology, AAD, 2015
Top 10 Doctor, Lawncrest, PA Vitals, 2012
CMS Meaningful Use Stage 1 Certification EpicCare Ambulatory EMR, Epic Systems Corporation, 2013
Best Student of the year in the State Board Examinations. State Scholarship by the Government of Andhra Pradesh
“Poster of Distinction” Award. AHNS 2009 Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona
Certificate of Merit in Microbiology Guntur Medical College, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Certificate of Merit in Forensic Medicine Guntur Medical College, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Distinction in Forensic Medicine University of Health Sciences, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Adjudged First in 1st Interinstitutional Medical Quiz VI Northern Chapter AROI Conference, October 1999, Ludhiana, India.
ARRO Poster Walk with a Professor ASTRO Annual Meeting
ARRO Poster Walk with a Professor I ASTRO Annual Meeting
ARRO Poster Walk with a Professor I” program ASTRO Annual Meeting
ARRO Best of ASTRO Selection, QOL Presentation #142. ASTRO Annual Meeting
Travel grant 2011 Pan Pacific Lymphoma Conference, Island of Kauai, Hawaii, August 15-19, 2011.
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Clinical Trials

Combination Chemotherapy, Surgery, and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Start of enrollment: 2002 Jul 01
Completed
Phase 2

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Challenges in Treating Incarcerated Patients With Cancer
Aruna Turaka
International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics. 2016-07-01
2 citations
Bilateral granulosa cell tumors: a novel malignant manifestation of multiple endocrine neoplasia 1 syndrome found in a patient with a rare menin in-frame deletion
Michael J. Hall, Julie Innocent, Christina Rybak, Colleen Veloski, Walter J. Scott
The Application of Clinical Genetics. 2015-02-17
73 citations
Veliparib in combination with whole brain radiation therapy in patients with brain metastases: results of a phase 1 study
Minesh P. Mehta, Ding Wang, F. Wang, Lawrence Kleinberg, Anthony Brade
Journal of Neuro-Oncology. 2015-02-15

Journal Articles

A New Evolution in towards better SBRT using “Ultra-High Dose Rate Radiotherapy (UHDR-RT).
Aruna Turaka, AROI CON-“Healthy lifestyle, less cancer”), North East Chapter, Agartala, Tripura, 9/8/2023
Intramedullary spinal cord metastases from non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) associated with carcinomatous meningitis: A Case Report.
R D’Silva, J Jaiswal, A Turaka, Journal of Radiotherapy in practice, 12/2/2022
Clinical presentation of cancer Cervix
Aruna Turaka, Onco-Illuminati, 2021
What is New in the Treatment of Eyelid Tumors with Radiation Therapy?
Kiran T, Aruna T, Koneru BN, OMICS J Radiol, 8/1/2016
Role of Radiation Therapy for Choroidal Hemangioma: A Brief Review
Turaka K, Turaka A, Koneru BN, Journal of Clinical Research and Ophthalmology, 7/14/2016
Diagnosis and Treatment of Radiation Therapy induced Ocular Surface Disorders.
Turaka K, Turaka A, OMICS J Radiol, 6/20/2016
Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis and Treatment of Choroidal Metastasis from Primary Lung Cancer
Turaka K, Turaka A, BN Koneru, Remedy Open Access - Ophthalmology, 5/14/2016
Linear Accelerator Based Stereotactic Ablative Radiation of Orbital Malignancies
Turaka K, Turaka A, BN Koneru, OMICS J of Radiology, 4/25/2016
Role and Effect of Radiation Therapy for Retinoblastoma Treated with Prior Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy.
Turaka K, Turaka A, J Nucl Med Radiat Ther, 1/31/2016
A Brief Editorial on Clinical Presentation and Treatment of Radiation Retinopathy following Plaque Brachytherapy of Choroidal Melanoma.
Turaka, K, Turaka, A, J Clin Res Ophthalmol, 1/6/2016
Radiation Oncology Strategies for Patients with Poor Pulmonary Function in Non-small Cell Lung Carcinoma
Aruna Turaka*, J Nucl Med Radiat Ther, 11/4/2015
Interval to biochemical failure is prognostic for distant metastases after salvage radiation therapy for prostate cancer
Nicholas George Zaorsky 1 & Tianyu Li2 & Aruna Turaka1,3 & David Y. T. Chen4 & Eric M. Horwitz 1 & Mark K. Buyyounouski 1,5, J Radiat Oncol, 7/26/2015
Results of Radiation Therapy (RT) for Primary Extranodal Lymphoma of the Head and Neck: RT Techniques and Literature Review
Aruna Turaka, J Nucl Med Radiat Ther, 6/12/2015
Treatment Options for Extra-nodal Mucosa Associated Lymphoma Tissue (MALT) of the Stomach: Role of Radiation Therapy.
Turaka A*, Karlovits S, and Fuhrer R, OMICS J Radiol 3: 1000e128., 8/30/2014
Small cell lung cancer metastatic to the submandibular gland
Talha Shaikh, Hormoz Ehya, Aruna Turaka, Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice, 8/4/2014
Radiation Therapy for Patients with Thymoma: When, Where and How?
Aruna Turaka, J Nucl Med Radiat Ther, 7/25/2014
Radiation Therapy for Patients with Thymoma: When, Where and How?
Aruna Turaka*, J Nucl Med Radiat Ther 5: e111., 7/25/2014
Metastatic small cell lung carcinoma to the thyroid gland: A case report.
Pamela Boimel, Aruna Turaka, Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice, Cambridge University Press” First view: 1-4, September 2013., 6/2/2014
Secondary Plasmacytoma of the Orbit in a Patient with Refractory Ig G kappa Multiple Myeloma. A case report.
Aruna Turaka, Delhi J Ophthalmol (DJO). 24 (4): 245-247, 2014., 5/10/2014
Primary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma of the thyroid with concomitant papillary carcinoma
Shaakir Hasan, Aruna Turaka, Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice, 1/24/2014
Evolving treatment methods in the management of Primary Breast Lymphoma (PBL).
Talha Shaikh, Aruna Turaka, OMICS Journal of Radiology 2013, 3 (1): e 122., 11/27/2013
Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for the Para-nasal sinus (PNS) malignancies.
Aruna Turaka, J Nucl Med Radiat Ther 2013, 4: 2, e 109., 6/10/2013
Dose Response to Radiation Therapy for Primary Ocular Lymphomas.
Aruna Turaka, OMCIS J Radiology, 2013, 2: 3, e 118., 4/19/2013
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy for Thyroid Cancer: Is it Beneficial?
Aruna Turaka, J Nucl Med & Radiat Ther, 2012, 3: e 102., 5/24/2012
. Head and Neck Cancer Metastasis to the Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) tube site: A Report of Two Cases.
Matthew Johnson, Aruna Turaka*, and Steven J. Feigenberg, Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice, Cambridge University Press, 9: 261-264, 2010., 11/11/2010
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Books/Book Chapters

Prostate Brachytherapy
Chapter: Prostate Brachytherapy
Page 121 - 127Giridhar P, Turaka A.Springer, Singapore 2020
Practical Radiation Oncology.
Chapter: Orbital tumors and Retinoblastoma.
Page 245 - 253Turaka K, Turaka ASpringer, Singapore2020
Practical Radiation Oncology
Chapter: Clinical Cases: Orbital Tumors and Retinoblastoma
Page 245 - 253Turaka K, Turaka AEditors: Mallick S., Rath G., Benson R.Springer, SingaporeEdition 1,2019
Practical Radiation Oncology
Chapter: Prostate Brachytherapy
Page 121 - 127Giridhar P, Turaka AEditors: Mallick S., Rath G., Benson R.Springer, SingaporeEdition 1,2019
Endobronchial Brachytherapy: Concept, Indications, Technique and Outcomes.
Chapter: 9: Endobronchial Brachytherapy: Concept, Indications, Technique and Outcomes. Interventions in Pulmonary Medicine
Page 137 - 145Aruna Turaka, Michael UngerEditors: Jose Pablo Díaz-Jimenez, Alicia N. Rodriguez.Springer, LondonEdition 1,2013
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Abstracts/Posters

The Impact of Dose Heterogeneity on Local Recurrence (LR) Rates Following Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT).
M.A. Hallman, A. Turaka, S. B. Hayes, J.E. Meyer, R.A. Price Jr., ). International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics, Vol. 90, Issue 1, S18, 56th Annual Meeting American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO), San Francisco, CA, 9/1/2014
Respiratory Motion-Encompassing Planning Target Volume (ME-PTV) for Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) of Lung Cancer.
M. Hossain, T. A. Shaikh, L. Jin and A. Turaka., International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics, Vol. 90, Issue 1, S897, 56th Annual Meeting American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO), San Francisco, CA, 9/1/2014
Can PET/CT predict pathological response for Operable NSCLC patients treated with Dose-Escalated Radiation Therapy (DE-RT) in Trimodality setting
A. Turaka, S. Hasan, T. Li, J.Q. Yu, P.C. Shah, R. Mehra, and W.J. Scott., International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics, Vol. 90, Issue 1, S611–S612, 56th Annual Meeting American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO), San Francisco, CA, 9/1/2014
Correlation of PET/CT response to the Mediastinal Down staging in Operable NSCLC: Impact of RT dose.
A. Turaka, S. Hasan, T. Li, R. Mehra, W.J. Scott, and J.Q. Yu., International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics, Vol. 90, Issue 1, S607–S608, 56th Annual Meeting American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO), San Francisco, CA, 9/1/2014
Correlation of PET results with pathological response after dose-escalation RT for NSCLC.
S. Hasan, T. Li, A. Turaka., ESTRO 33 Annual meeting, abstract book #EP-1152, 459., Vienna, Austria, 4/4/2014
Presence and clinical significance of Polymyovirus in Merkel cell carcinoma of Unknown vs. Known primary cutaneous origin.
Kathryn T. Chen, Janet Y. Sun, Aruna Turaka, Jeffrey M. Farma, Yi-Wei Tang, Hong Wu., 9th Annual Academic Surgeons Congress (ASC),, San Diego, CA., 2/4/2014
Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Adrenal Metastases: the Fox Chase Cancer Center Experience.
Matthew E. Johnson, Shelly B. Hayes, Joshua E. Meyer, Mark K. Buyyounouski, Aruna Turaka, International Stereotactic Radiotherapy Symposium, Houston, Texas, 10/19/2013
Dose Conformity Predictors of Symptomatic Toxicity in Patients Treated with Stereotactic Body Radiation (SBRT).
M. A. Hallman, F. Zhu, A. Turaka, S. B. Hayes, T. Tam, J. E. Meyer, R. Price., ASTRO, Atlanta, GA, 10/3/2013
Effectiveness and Timing of Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation (PCI) in Limited Stage Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (LS-SCLC) Patients: A Single Institution Experience.
Aruna Turaka, T. Li, M. J. Naik, M. Unger, E. King, P. C. Shah, W. J. Scott, H. Borghaei, M. K. Buyyounouski., ASTRO, Atlanta, GA, 10/1/2013
Twice-daily versus Once Daily Radiotherapy in an Unselected Limited-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients: “Medicine-Based” Evidence
Aruna Turaka, T. Li, M. J. Naik, M. Unger, E. King, P. C. Shah, W. J. Scott, H. Borghaei, M. K. Buyyounouski, ASTRO, Atlanta, GA, 10/1/2013
Phase I study of vorinostat with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for locally advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (NCT01059552).
Ranee Mehra, Aruna Turaka, Joshua Meyer, Mary Pinder, Keisuke Shirai, Neeta Somaiah, Brian Egleston, Hossein Borghaei, George Simon., 2013 NCCN Annual Conference, Hollywood, Florida, 3/14/2013
Absolute Lymphocyte Count as a Prognostic Factor for Merkel Cell Carcinoma.
M. E. Johnson, A. Turaka, F. Zhu, T. Galloway, J. Farma, C. Perlis., International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics, Vol. 84, Issue 3, Supplement: Page, Boston, MA, 11/1/2012
Spine stereotactic body radiotherapy is better delivered by the CyberKnife versus a standard linear accelerator system.
Tiffany Tam, Jiajin Fan, Mark Buyyounouski, Fang Zhu, Aruna Turaka, Shelly Hayes., RSNA 2012 Annual meeting (Abstract ID # 12042554, Chicago,IL, 11/2012
Extranodal Lymphoma and Radiation Therapy: A Single Institution experience.
Mauricio Gamez, Tianyu Li, Michael M. Millenson, Mitchell R. Smith, Aruna Turaka., International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics, Vol. 84, Issue 3, Supplement: Page, Boston, MA, 11/1/2012
Results of Radiation Therapy for Primary Extranodal Lymphoma of the Head and Neck: A Report of Case Series.
A. Turaka, T. Li, M. M. Millenson, M. R. Smith., International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics, Vol. 84, Issue 3, Supplement: Page, Boston, MA, 11/1/2012
Role of Radiation Therapy for Malignant Thymoma: A Single Institution Experience.
A. Turaka, T. Li, W. J. Scott, H. Borghaei, P. C. Shah, M. K. Buyyounouski., International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics, Vol. 84, Issue 3, Supplement: Page, Boston, MA, 11/1/2012
Is Use of Radiation Therapy for Stage II Malignant Thymoma A Controversy?
A. Turaka, T. Li, W. J. Scott, P. C. Shah, M. K. Buyyounouski., Journal of Thoracic Oncology, 7(15): S 303-304, September 2012, (Abstract ID # 1055)., Chicago, IL, 9/2012
Correlation of PET response to treatment outcomes in patients treated with Trimodality therapy for locally advanced Non-small cell lung cancer.
E. Duffy, F. Zhu, W. J. Scott, J. Q. Yu, A. Turaka, Journal of Thoracic Oncology, 7(15): S 296, September 2012 (Abstract # 1034)., Chicago, IL, 9/2012
Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy to the Lung: Does CyberKnife Provide any Dosimetric Advantage over a Standard Linear Accelerator?
L. M. Keller, S. Hayes, F. Zhu, J. Fan, L. Jin, J. Meyer, T. Tam, A. Turaka., Journal of Thoracic Oncology, 7(15): S 264-265, September 2012 (Abstract # 241)., Chicago, IL, 9/2012
Image-Guidance using Cone-Beam CT for Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) of Lung Cancer Patients: Bony alignment or soft tissue alignment?
Lu Wang, Aruna Turaka, Joshua Meyer, Dennis Sopka, Max Jin, James Fan, Charlie Ma., AAPM 54th Annual 2012 meeting, Charlotte, NC, 8/2012
Role of chemotherapy (CTx) for merkel cell carcinoma: A single institution experience.
Marion E Cole, Aruna Turaka, Fang Zhu, Paul Engstrom, Jeffery Farma, Miriam Lango, Hong Wu, Clifford Perlis., AHNS 2012 (8th International Conference on Head and Neck Cancer), Toronto, ON, Canada, 7/22/2012
Curative Radiotherapy for Orbital Lymphomas: The Fox Chase Cancer Center Experience
DM Sopka, T Li, MR Smith, MM Millenson, AD Cohen, B Pro, TI Al-Saleem, A Turaka., 2012 Pan Pacific Lymphoma Conference, Maui, HI, 7/17/2012
Extranodal Lymphoma and Radiation Therapy: Fox Chase Cancer Center Experience.
Aruna Turaka, Mauricio Gamez, Tianyu Li, Michael M. Millenson, Mitchell R. Smith., 2012 Pan Pacific Lymphoma Conference, Maui, HI, 7/17/2012
Optimal treatment approach for lymph node metastases in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma.
P. Papavasiliou , K.T. Chen, R. Arrangoiz, C.T. Murphy, F. Zhu, C. Perlis, H.Wu, A. Turaka, J.M. Farma., Ann Surg Oncol, 19 (Suppl 1): S132, Orlando, Florida, 2/2012
Merkel Cell Carcinoma of Unknown Origin: A Better Prognosis?
K.T. Chen, P. Papavasiliou, F. Zhu, C. Perlis, H.Wu, A. Turaka, J.M. Farma., Ann Surg Oncol, 19, (Suppl 1): S129, Orlando, Florida, 2/2012
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Press Mentions

A patient story who was with treated with concurrent chemo-radiation therapy for the locally advanced Head & Neck cancer at Nazareth Hospital Cancer Center. January 4th, 2023
Lung Cancer- Part 2: Q & A: Treatment and follow up surveillance for early stage. Daily Newspaper; OpinionJanuary 26th, 2022
What are the symptoms of lung cancer? Lung Cancer- Part 1: Q & A: symptoms, diagnosis and survival for early stage, Philadelphia InquirerJanuary 21st, 2022
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Committees

Member, “Optimizing Mentorship/Sponsorship/Leadership Development”, work group of ASTRO’s Women in Radiation Oncology (WRO) affinity sub-group. 2023 - Present
Member, Member Executive Council (MEC)- Nazareth, Trinity Health Network, Nazareth Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. 2022 - 2023
Member, Lung Force Executive committee, American Lung Association (ALA), Eastern division, Philadelphia, PA. 2022 - 2023
Member, Regional Physician Advisory Council-TH, Trinity Health Network, Together Care- powered by EPIC to deliver people-centered care. 2022 - 2023
Member, Trinity Health Clinical Excellence Council (CEC)- Radiation Oncology Expert panel. 2022 - 2023
Member, HP/GR Joint Council, ASTRO Advocacy group 2022 - 2023
Member, Guidelines subcommittee (“Clinical Affairs and Quality Council”, CAQC), American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), Annual Meetings. 2020 - 2023
State Captain IA state, State Captain Initiative Committee, American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) 2018 - 2023
Member, Indo-American Cancer Association (IACA) Traveling Fellowship Selection Committee. 2017 - 2021
Member, Merkel cell carcinoma Multi-center Interest Group (MMIG). 2014 - 2023
Member, Research grants evaluation committee, American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) 2014 - 2018
Member, Grants Subcommittee, American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) 2014 - 2018
Member, Lung Clinical Trials working group ("LCT- WG") at the division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute (“NCI”) 2013 - 2014
Member, Institutional Review Board (IRB), Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 2011 - 2014
Member, International Education Subcommittee, American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), Annual Meetings. 2009 - 2013

Research History

Editor, SM Radiology journal (SMRJ), International Peer Reviewed Open Access journal2015 - Present
Editor, Journal of Radiation Oncology & ResearchEditor, Journal of Radiation Oncology & Research, Jacobs Publishers2014 - Present
Editor, Journal of Radiology, OMCIS group2012 - Present
Editor, Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Radiation Oncology (JNMRT), OMCIS group2011 - Present