Yi-Ju Chen, MD

Bhupesh Parashar, MD, DrPH, a radiation oncology specialist, is vice-chair of research and co-director of the head and neck cancer service in Radiation Medicine at the Center for Advanced Medicine, and chief of Northwell Queens Radiation Center. He is also a professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. Dr. Parashar’s areas of clinical focus include head and neck, thoracic, gastrointestinal and brain cancers. He’s known for innovative research of these cancers, and is the principal investigator in a number of protocols. He has had more than 100 articles published in peer-reviewed journals. His early research involved gene therapy, hepatocyte transplantation and radiation. He won several awards for this research, including the Liver Research Fellowship Award from the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD). Over years, his research has also covered areas such as functional imaging and novel brachytherapy techniques in various cancers. Current research interests include psychedelics, functional imaging, mindfulness and meditation. Dr. Parashar’s interest in medicine dates back to his childhood with several family members involved in medicine serving as role models. “When a close family member was suffering from incurable cancer, I became determined to contribute to advancements in cancer medicine,” he says. Dr. Parashar attended Maulana Azad Medical College in New Delhi, India. After medical school, he came to the U.S. to pursue research and clinical training. He did his residency in radiation medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine – Yeshiva University. He is board certified in radiation oncology. He also earned doctorate in public health with a focus in environmental health sciences from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. “My life’s aim is to improve the lives of cancer patients through a combination of innovation, collaboration, and humanity as well as focus on patients’ quality of life,” Dr. Parashar says.

Abhisek Swaika, MD, is a board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist at Northwell Health, as well as an assistant professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. After attending Kasturba Medical College in India, followed by residency at the State University of New York at Buffalo and a fellowship at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, Dr. Swaika joined Queens Medical Associates, which became part of Northwell in 2020. Dr. Swaika was drawn towards oncology as it proved to be appealing and both as a quickly changing field and one that’s intellectually fascinating. He also likes how the field allows him to forge long-term, compassionate patient connections—bringing together the science and care he’s cultivated from the start. Queens Medical Associates, as a practice, provides culturally sensitive and cutting-edge care for the borough, and the connection with Northwell gives patients a community-focused practice with considerable resources, including access to clinical trials. “This is comprehensive, individualized care at its best,” he says. “You can have a huge team working for you and on your side, while still getting the one-on-one relationship with your oncologist.” That’s especially important with how much cancer takes a toll on both patients and families. “Recognizing that family members need support, too, is very important because this is a vulnerable time for everyone,” he says. “It can definitely be challenging, physically and emotionally, so with my team, I try to take some of that weight off patients and their loved ones.” Physicians and staff represent fluency in over 30 languages, an important part of making patients feel at ease. Dr. Swaika is fluent in Hindi and Bengali and appreciates the team-based approach at both the clinic and within Northwell. Often when he meets new patients and they realize he speaks their language and understands their culture, confidence in the treatment soars. “Patients just want to be heard and understood, on every level,” he says. “We’re able to provide that, and in a meaningful way.”