Cyril Danielkutty, MD

Chika Ngozi Madu, MD, joined Northwell Health in 2015 as an attending physician in radiation medicine, and in January 2022 was named chair of radiation oncology for Staten Island University Hospital. In this role, she oversees all radiation oncology clinical care, research, and training programs. “We see an underserved population here on Staten Island, and our pledge is make sure every single patient, no matter their circumstance, gets the best care available,” she says. “We provide multidisciplinary care that puts the patient first.” After receiving her medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School, Dr. Madu completed her residency in radiation oncology at the University of Pennsylvania. She is currently an assistant professor of radiation medicine at Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. Throughout her career, Dr. Madu has focused on meaningful clinical care as well as patient safety, quality improvement, and diversity and inclusion. Nationally, she holds a leadership position on the American Society for Radiation Oncology’s CHEDI committee, where she serves as co-lead in an advocacy working group aimed at eliminating barriers to minority enrollment in clinical trials. “One of my passions is to expand opportunities for clinical trials among those who are underrepresented,” she says. “Northwell Health is a leader in this because we have a team that shares clinical trial enrollment across all our sites. That type of coordination is very important for making trials more accessible for patients.” Dr. Madu is opening two new trials—one on radiation for breast cancer, and the other on treatment for brain tumors—that are likely to advance patient options in the future. Dr. Madu is also excited about the progress of Northwell’s Florina Cancer Center at SIUH, which is expected to be completed by summer 2023. “It’s incredible to see everyone coming together in support of cancer care. This will bring all subspecialties under one roof, including a pediatric cancer unit and a state-of-the-art infusion center,” she says. “No one plans on a cancer diagnosis, and it can involve many tough days when we all cry together, but our patients bring an incredible amount of resolve and perseverance to their treatment. I’m proud that we're able to do our part to provide the best care available.”